Symphony meets jazz to create original sound

Two members of the St. Louis Symphony and two of St. Louis' best jazz musicians have joined together into one dynamic quartet to form The 442's.

The group was created in St. Louis in 2012. Members of the band include Bjorn Ranheim and Shawn Weil from the St. Louis Symphony as well as Adam Maness and Sydney Rodway from the Erin Bode Group, which is a world-renowned jazz band from St. Louis. The 442's music has also featured jazz vocalist Erin Bode.

Maness is the band's composer, guitarist and keyboardist. He started playing piano at age 10 and began playing professionally with several St. Louis jazz artists by the time he was 16.

Roadway plays the double-bass. However, he spent much of his musical career as a jazz saxophone player. In 2004, Rodway bought an upright bass and began learning how to play so that he would be able to accompany his wife, Bode, in her musical journey.

The cellist of the group is Bjorn Ranheim, who has been a member of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra since 2005. He also has been part of several other symphonies and orchestras across the country including in Atlanta, Cleveland, Detroit and Baltimore. As a soloist, he has performed with the New World Symphony, Colorado Music Festival and the National Repertory Orchestra.

Weil, the violinist, also has been a member of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra since 2005. He also performs in the Sun Valley Summer Symphony in Idaho and is on the violin faculty of the Eastern Music Festival in North Carolina. Weil was also the co-concertmaster of the New World Symphony for four seasons.

Although the four men come from different musical backgrounds, when they join together they create a style that is all their own. Music history and literature professor Dr. Jeffrey Noonan described the band's musical style as pop music "in the sense that the pieces that they play are accessible," or generally enjoyable for most people. However, he said their music is also somewhat sophisticated. According to Noonan, their music can often be open-ended when it comes to determining a specific genre.

"I've heard them a bunch of times, and it's always a little bit different," Noonan said.

According to Noonan, The 442's is a band that can be enjoyed by all ages. He claims those who are interested in new and innovative music will appreciate their sound and what they bring to the stage. Students who listen to the Elliot Potter Show on KRCU will also likely find The 442's music interesting and delightful.

Noonan hopes that students in the performing arts department who hear The 442's recognize that their genre of choice, whether it be jazz, classical, contemporary or something else, shouldn't limit them professionally.

"To really be a successful musician, you've got to be comfortable in different areas," Noonan said. "Part of my goal is to ... demonstrate to our students that there are people who are at the top of their game in the jazz field and ... in the classical field who find a way to come together and create something new and different."

The 442's will work with students on campus all morning and afternoon. The string musicians of the band will work with students that play string instruments and the jazz musicians will be working with the jazz band. Bode, who will be accompanying The 442's, will most likely work with students who are vocalists.

The 442's will be perform at 7:30 p.m. on April 1 in the Robert and Gertrude Shuck Recital Hall at the River Campus. General admission tickets are $10 for general public, $9 for senior citizens, faculty and staff and $3 for Southeast students. Tickets are available for purchase at the box office located in the Cultural Arts Center at the River Campus.