The Student Jazz Ensemble will have its first concert of the fall semester at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, in the Bruce Owen Theater.

Music by composer Thelonious Monk and the jazz group Snarky Puppy will be performed.

Music Professor Michael Boyle directs the group. He said he is proud of his students’ success and their passion for music.

“Our student jazz group sounds like a pro jazz group.”

Boyle said he gives the students challenging pieces each semester and they nail it every time.

“This semester we are pushing the envelope, “ he said.

“I’ve picked some crazy stuff. We will see how it turns out.”

Zach Lebo, Jared Bross and Stanley Hall are returning to the group this semester.

Hall is an OCCC student who has been a part of the group for about two years. Hall plays the tenor and alto saxophone.

Hall said there also might be a trumpet and trombone for the performance.

Bross graduated with a music degree from OCCC and is now working on his business degree. He plays the guitar.

Lebo is one of the bass players this semester.

“Boyle plays with us sometimes but for this show we have a student pianist, “ Lebo said.

Boyle said Monk’s music can be challenging because he breaks the traditional rules of harmony and rhythm.

The Snarky Puppy piece is called “Gone Under.”

“I don’t like to choose favorites,” Lebo said, “but ‘Gone Under’ would probably be the group favorite from the show.”

Admission is free. For more information, contact Boyle at mboyle@occc.edu or by phone at 405-682-1611 ext. 7245.