Irving leads band at Texas Jazz Festival

Beloved music professor retiring this year

After many years of conducting with the Del Mar College Jazz Band, music professor David Irving went out with a bang for his final performance with the band at the Texas Jazz Festival. On Oct. 21, the band played “Woody ‘N’ You,” “St. Louis Blues,” “Is There Life After Bebop?” and other hits at the annual music festival.dsc_0782

The band surprised Irving by telling the crowd it was his birthday. After the crowd sang “Happy Birthday,” Irving joined the band to play the guitar for the song “I Wish You Love,” and the band dedicated its performance to Irving.

“It was pretty exciting, but bittersweet,” said Garret Williams, a guitar player in the band, about his last jazz festival performance with Irving.

Although this was the last jazz festival for Irving, it is not his last performance. The band will perform again Oct. 26 at the Harvin Center on East Campus, the latest stop on the “Irving farewell tour.” Irving plans to retire next year after 45 years at Del Mar College.

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