Talented athletes, a winning team, a sea of red and blue, overpriced stadium food, face-painted and cheering students, and a giant River Hawk are all characteristic of UMass Lowell’s home hockey games. Oh, and an enthusiastic jazz rock big band. The jazz rock big band, or hockey pep band as it is also known as, is directed by Dan Lutz and Deb Huber and provides UMass Lowell home games with an extra element as their songs, which are anything from jazz to rock, blues to funk, and even a little fusion, add to the already buzzing atmosphere of the games.
The audition based band, which is open to all majors, practices once a week, for about two hours, as it perfects the music it will perform to frequently sold out hockey crowds. Its past performances have included notable numbers, such as the ska-swing song “Zoot Suit Riot” and jazz big band piece “Groovin’ Hard.” Other components of its repertoire include numbers by Bill Chase, Miles Davis and Tower of Power.
The band’s big brass sound, characteristic of jazz and blues songs, adds to the energy of the students, who cheer loudly from the student section. The saxophone section, reflected in the funk and ska pieces the band performs, adds a mellow vibe to the energetic brass section and the rhythmic force of the percussionists, which drive the tempo of the group and encourage the spectators. The band’s powerful and spunky sound has quickly become a staple of and the soundtrack for UMass Lowell’s hockey games.
The band has received praise from around the state, from sports writers and University officials, other pep bands and alumni alike. The pep band can be found performing at local festivals, UMass Lowell concerts and state finals and championships of the area in addition to its contributions to UMass Lowell’s hockey games.
At the games, the band can be found jamming out to their own tunes and the UMass Lowell “Fight Song,” performing great jazz pieces, encouraging the energy of the stadium, especially the student section, and sporting some sweet UMass Lowell hockey jerseys. Sometimes they hang out with Rowdy, too.
