Many new bands have to practice constantly to refine their technique before they are able to play a gig.

But according to James Bovinette, Iowa State trumpet professor and trumpet player for the Ames Jazz Quartet, it’s not hard to put a band together if the players know their instruments.

“A lot of bands have to learn how to play their instruments first,” Bovinette said. “When you put good players together, you just hit, you don’t have to rehearse.”

Bovinette said the four members of the quartet — bassist Ed Kaiser, guitarist Ron Robert, drummer Jason Laszczak and himself — sometimes play as often as six to seven times a month, but only need to practice once a week.

“Sometimes we just perform it when we’ve not even rehearsed it,” Bovinette said. “It makes it more interesting that way.”

When they do find time to practice, Bovinette said the quartet members never have a problem deciding on their repertoire list. The band members agree to play music by popular jazz artists such as Steve Kunz, Pat Methany and Herbie Hancock.

“We’re a professional group,” Bovinette said. “You don’t have trouble agreeing on repertoire when everything is professional.”

Most of the music the group has been playing lately has been light, mellow and reflective of the music of the late ’70s.

Bovinette said this is due to the fact that most of the band members have stressful lives and the stress released during band practice comes out sounding melancholy.

“The music is reflective of our lives,” Bovinette said. “We’ve been playing this groovin’, soft, melancholy stuff.”

Bovinette said the band’s audiences like this “mellow period” the group is going through because most current popular music is similar to the music of the late ’70s.

According to Bovinette, the quartet has never played for anything that is Veishea-related and is looking forward to its Friday performance.

“We don’t know what to expect,” Bovinette said.

The Ames Jazz Quartet will play Friday on the Taste of Veishea Stage on Welch Ave. at 4:30 p.m.