Jazz Combos: Mercer Combo

Overview

The video is a live jazz recital by the Georgia State University “Johnny Mercer Jazz Combo” at the Florence Cliff Recital Hall, beginning with standard venue announcements (silencing phones, no food/drink, and no flash photography).

The group performs a blend of classic jazz standards and original compositions, with band members introduced before the music begins.

Highlights / Key Performances

• “Yes or No” (Wayne Shorter) opens the set, featuring tenor sax and a cohesive ensemble groove, followed by enthusiastic applause.
• The band transitions into originals:
  • “The Sorrows” (written by the presenter, Joshua Huffman) showcases the combo’s original melodic writing.
  • “Stopin’ the Biscuit” (Roy Hargrove) follows, adding an energetic, recognizable jazz standard feel (the clip mainly highlights the sax/piano/bass/drums setup).
  • “The Overlook” is an emotional, personal dedication by drummer Ryan Walton. It’s named for a place the bandmate and friends used to hang out, turning river-and-boardwalk memories into music.
  • “My Shining Hour” (standard) serves as a tribute to Johnny Mercer. The narrator notes the group has no singer, so they “honor the spirit” of Mercer by performing one of Mercer’s lyric tunes instrumentally.
  • The finale is “Polaroids” (another original by Joshua Huffman), inspired by discovering old Polaroid photos of friends—especially those tied to playing Super Smash Bros together—linking the music to shared history.

Notable Band Direction / Closing

The recital ends with thanks to director Kevin Bales, followed by a final roster recap of the members:

• Joshua Huffman
• Ryan Walton
• Omie Crockett
• Joel Powell
• Josh Barnes

This is then followed by closing applause.

Jokes / Standout Moments

The most memorable “light” bits are the personal inspirations behind the originals—especially:

• The Super Smash Bros connection in “Polaroids”
• The anecdote-driven meaning behind “The Overlook”

Performers Mentioned

• Joshua Huffman — tenor saxophone; presenter/composer for multiple originals
• Ryan Walton — drums; composer of “The Overlook”
• Omie Crockett — tenor saxophone
• Joel Powell — bass
• Josh Barnes — piano
• Kevin Bales — director