Twice a month, the most laid-back atmosphere on campus can
probably be found at Kerckhoff Coffeehouse.
This past Monday, members of the group Simple Citizens kicked
off the Jazz Performance Series at the coffeehouse, which features
a jazz band every other Monday from 7 ““ 9 p.m. The series,
presented by the Cultural Affairs Commission, produces the kind of
relaxed ambiance that’s in short supply at UCLA. Backpacks
and notebooks are strewn about, and the air is filled with small
chatter, improvised melodies and the smell of lattes.
Simple Citizens is a quintet from Tarzana that fuses hip hop,
funk and reggae. But on Monday, the three members who performed
stuck mainly to jazz improvisation, serving up the lengthy
15-minute jams which lend themselves so well to coffee houses. On
the whole, the music was engaging enough for the actively listening
jazz fans, while at the same time conducive to just kicking back
after a long day.
“It’s cool,” remarked drummer Sam Halterman.
“It’s a smaller venue, which allows you to improvise
more for a warmer feeling and also interact with the people
watching or studying. It’s a really laid back
vibe.”
Halterman’s percussion propelled the collective groove
forward, while the bass and electric guitar played off each other
with fluidity and ease. Though the group made a noticeable effort
to reel things in, the diverse leanings of Simple Citizens were
still on display. The set included a Meters cover and a reggae jam,
and the MC was even goaded on stage for a minute to spit a few
bars.
The group’s conduct was also consistent with the friendly
and inviting nature of the evening. A back-and-forth with the
audience was established between songs, and during their break the
members mingled among the customers with the same looseness with
which they performed.
Most of the students present were reading or studying, but those
who prefer to study in peace would be better off coming without
their books. This certainly wasn’t background music, as the
high volume of the proceedings proved.
“I wouldn’t be able to study. I’d pay too much
attention to the music,” said Quan Vu, a second-year English
student. “It’s great. The bass is
unbelievable.”
But the physical surroundings, well-lit and comfortable,
certainly seemed to encourage studies.
“I like Kerckhoff to study in general. It’s cozy,
and the atmosphere is lively, which helps keep me from falling
asleep,” said Sobrina Tung, a fourth-year economics and
psychology student.
At least one student found the music a bit more
contemplative.
“It’s not for hard-core studying, but it’s
great for the type of studying where you end up thinking about
life,” said Sarah Duran, a fourth-year Chicana/o studies and
English student.
But whether one’s motives are to unwind, study, or mull
over Descartes, it’s clear the jazz brewed up every other
Monday in the coffeehouse makes it one of the most student-friendly
places on campus.