Photo: Megan Berberich
The usual chatter that surrounds Quad Creek Cafe during the dinner hour is silenced and replaced by the exuberant energy of a single saxophonist. Behind the dark sunglasses is Matt Corey: the man who is “bringing the sax back.”
Corey played dozens of hit songs for the 50 people sitting attentively in the cafe. Keri Hilson’s “Pretty Girl Rock,” Cee-Lo’s “Forget You,” Andy Grammar’s “Keep Your Head Up” and a mash-up of Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” and Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” were just a few songs Corey performed to start off his show.
During most of Corey’s songs he used an electronic wind instrument, which gives unlimited possibilities for how Corey can conduct his performance.
“I’ve always used the EWI,” Corey said. “I can make it sound like a piano or like Dr. Dre.”
The second half of Corey’s show consisted of songs the audience chose from, artists such as Drake, Lil’ Wayne and Justin Timberlake. “Teach Me How to Dougie” by Cali Swag District and “Lollipop” by Lil’ Wayne evoked great crowd response.
Corey, a native of Canton, Ohio, is fresh off of the “I am Music” tour in which he opened for Lil’ Wayne and Mike Posner. He said he likes the contrast between sold out stadium shows and intimate college performances.
“I am not as established as the bigger artists so I need to be on top of my game,” Corey said. “Shows like these I have to convince the audience for the first 20 minutes why they should stay.”
Corey hopes that these shows will break people’s stereotypes of saxophone players, and that playing it can be modern and cool.
“College kids don’t normally listen to the saxophone,” Corey said. “Kenny G and elevator music ruined it.”
Listeners at Thursday night’s show had nothing but positive remarks for Corey’s performance.
Senior Courtney Lowell came to the show as a requirement for her music and western culture class, but left and said she was “pleasantly surprised.”
“I liked the Drake song as well as the mix of the Michael Jackson and Katy Perry songs,” she said.
Accompanying Lowell, senior Cortney Marschuetz said she didn’t think she would stay long but thought the concert was the best Student Activites Board event by far.
“He was really good,” Marschuetz said. “My favorite part was when Corey described how he discovered notes that led him into playing ‘Lollipop.’”
This was the first time SAB has ever brought a saxophonist to Drake, and sophomore Bands Co-Chair Carly Kinzler said she thought it was a great move.
“We found him at the (National Association for Campus Activities) conference and we were impressed,” Kinzler said. “I think it was great to have this show in Quad Creek because it gave an opportunity for people to see Corey who might not have otherwise known about it.”
SAB also provided pink and white cupcakes to those attending the show.
Watch out for the next SAB sponsored music event The Foam Dance. It will be held during Homecoming week on Oct. 1 from 10 p.m.-1 a.m.
