Nathaniel Ankeny’s “Joy in the Making”

Reported By: Kate Mack

Photographed By: Yolanda Diaz

Nathaniel Ankeny, an associate professor of Music and Director of Jazz Ensemble at George Fox University (GFU), recently wrote and performed his own album titled “Joy in the Making.” Though it was performed in Bauman Auditorium on Sept. 15, the writing of the album began on Patreon during the Coronavirus lockdown, and it developed into a complete jazz album filled with catchy, bluesy songs guaranteed to set the perfect mood and get people dancing. 

Ankeny grew up in a home filled with music. With singing in church on Sundays and access to musical instruments as a child, Ankeny developed a love of music at a young age. Ankeny began his musical journey with the piano in sixth grade and started playing the ukulele a little later. Throughout elementary and high school, Ankeny knew he wanted to perform music. 

Ankeny attended Whitworth University with the intent of becoming a high school music director, but he soon switched to a performance major. Ankeny knew he wanted to not only perform, but also display his love of music through teaching. 

Ankeny fell in love with music, but it was jazz that had his heart. Ankeny began playing the saxophone in band class and discovered jazz through teachings in blue scales. He began to make his own music and was entranced by the improvisation that jazz both allowed and required. Once the spark was there, Ankeny began to study the history of jazz and its unique music style. Jazz quickly became a favorite of Ankeny’s and continues to be his specialty in his musical career and teaching. 

Ankeny began “Joy in the Making” at the beginning of the lockdown because he knew that he needed to keep making music. He searched for a way to continue, and his search led him to Patreon where he posted clips and videos of his short jazz pieces. As the clips grew, Ankeny began the process of putting together his album. Whether it was the melody or mood that came first, the song would start forming in Ankeny’s mind. 

Once the idea for the song was there, Ankeny would go to his saxophone and piano and begin to compose the new song. With elements of drums, bass, piano, trumpet, and saxophone each song he wrote captivated his listeners. He wrote on Patreon for his audience, and though he had always wanted to make an album, Ankeny hadn’t realized that those short clips he was posting would eventually be compiled into his first album. 

Performing his first album at GFU was an experience unlike any other for Ankeny. The beauty of the concert took over Bauman and the auditorium was reconfigured to encourage attendees to sit closer to the stage, connecting both the musicians and the audience.

Accompanied by Justin Copeland on trumpet, Randy Porter on piano, Patrick Golichnik on bass, and Corey Foster on drums, Ankeny filled Bauman with his bluesy jazz and smooth melodies. 

For those who missed the concert, “Joy in the Making” can be found on Ankeny’s Spotify.