The Omnibus

Issue date: 10/26/07 Section: Gallery

Media Credit: Mary Cherrito Saxophone player Dominic Haygood brought the crowd to life in Meyer Recital Hall Monday, Oct. 22. Haygood was just one of the many Prime Time All-Stars.

About 100 people situated themselves around the Meyer Recital Hall for the Prime Time All-Stars concert on Monday, Oct. 22, at 8:30 p.m. The crowd was diverse, with the majority of audience members above the age of 50. What happened for the next hour and a half was an avalanche of musical epiphany.
The Prime Time All-Stars is a jazz band that Bolivar resident Neal Finch put together. Many of the band members are currently part of shows in Branson.
The band truly includes a list of all-stars including Dominic Haygood, playing the violin and saxophone, who also appears on the Haygood Show in Branson. This young man hit amazing notes on the sax especially on "Pick up the Pieces" where he danced around, kicking his feet outward from side to side, while making tantalizing runs on the sax. "Pick up the Pieces" was by far the crowd's favorite, and received ecstatic applause for longer than 30 seconds.
The most amazing thing to see that night was the 88 year- old organizer and sax player Finch, walk up on stage and start honking on his saxophone. He can still play really for his age. He pays the musicians to come to Bolivar and expose us to the charms of jazz music.
"We don't ever get to rehearse, we just walk on stage," said Finch.
The band's all-around talent fueled a wonderful night with only a few minor mistakes.
It was surprising to know that older people are into music just like younger people are. There were people shouting out at the concert "oh yeah" and hollering when a band member would have an amazing solo. Even the younger crowd got into the music, though most people were there for class credit, it was hailed by many students as the most exciting concert of the year.
"Jazz is a sometimes weird and wonderful agglomeration born in the mean streets of New Orleans and performed in concert halls of New York," said announcer Mike Stephens.
The Prime Time All-Stars lifted the audience away from the rainy evening in Bolivar making us feel the pleasures and heartaches of life through their incredible jazz playing.

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