Tom Bourcier promotes jazz at Luther

Instructor in Music Tom Bourcier gave a jazz piano recital in the Noble Recital Hall last Thursday, Sept. 18. Tom Gullion was featured on tenor and soprano saxophone.

Bourcier and Gullion played some old standards from jazz greats such as Thelonious Monk and also played pieces they composed themselves. The genres ranged from classic jazz to R&B to Gospel.

At the end of the performance, Bourcier and Gullion received a standing ovation from the audience and were encouraged to come back with an encore.

When Bourcier isn’t performing recitals, he teaches a class on improvisation, directs the Jazz Band, advises jazz combos, recently started the Jazz Quintet and works with the Theatre and Dance Department by training accompanists.

Outside of Luther, Boucier plays professionally and composes. He teaches and performs throughout the region and also composes for television and film. Currently, he is working on music for a film by Francesca Soans, a professor at the University of Northern Iowa.

His new project, the Jazz Quintet, involves Bourcier on piano with four of Luther’s best student jazz performers.

Quintet member Jon Ailabouni (‘10) has positive feelings about the quintet.

“I want to promote jazz at Luther to prospective students, to increase the size of the jazz program and to have a good time playing jazz with people who are passionate about the music.”

Ailabouni expressed his respect for Bourcier as a composer and as a musician.

Ailabouni said, “Tom is always challenging himself in his composition and his improvisation.”

Bourcier’s ultimate goal is to bring more students in to study jazz and to someday add a jazz minor.

“We need the infrastructure,” Bourcier said. “Increased course offerings and faculty would be needed to accomplish this.”