The NUS jazz band served up a potent mix of bossa nova, blues and soul at their March 17 sold-out concert at the University Cultural Centre.

The “Irresistibly Yours” concert showcased a repertoire consisting of familiar evergreen classics arranged in traditional and contemporary styles.

The musicians injected an element of fun into the supposedly formal all-black attire event by draping a pink rose over their instruments or pinning one onto their breast pockets.

Virtuosic musicianship aside, all that jazz was accompanied with spontaneity and showmanship that up the ante for an otherwise slow-burner sit-down affair.

Conducting for the evening was Tan Chin Boo, who cajoled the audience as he guided the tempo of the concert and even displayed his immaculate drumming.

Tan was the conductor for the Singapore Wind Symphony in 2001 and he is a self-taught drummer with 33 years of experience.

Midway through the set, the horn players tapped their feet to the music and one-upmanship led the tutor of the trombone section to start dancing. The vocalists followed suit with their own impromptu jiggle.

The vocalist set-up of two males and six females provided for a youthful and energetic treatment of renditions of “Orange Coloured Sky” and “No More Blues.” The sopranos and tenors gave a nuanced performance that exhibited their crystalline tone.

Nominated member of parliament and NUS alumnus Eunice Olsen made a special guest appearance with a cover of “Fool on the Hill” by The Beatles. It was identified instantaneously by the audience even though it was arranged as a jazz piece.

The last song, “A Night in Tunisia,” was performed by Dr. Victor Wong. His exuberance and mastery of the keyboard concluded the night’s performance on a high.

The band looked unprepared when the audience shouted for an encore. But Dr. Wong happily obliged with a piece entitled “I’ve Got Rhythm” that got the crowd clapping to the beat and swaying to the music.

After the show, third-year arts student Yee Yiling, said “It was a delightful experience. The performers clearly enjoyed what they were doing.”