Catchy jazz tunes fill the air at sunset

The vibrant rhythms of “Spain” by Chick Corea fill the air as the night falls at Jazz at Sunset. The Advanced and Intermediate Jazz bands performed around 20 group pieces and small ensembles at their annual concert, now renamed Jazz at Sunset on Friday, Oct. 24.

Formerly known as Jazz BBQ, the event was rebranded as Jazz at Sunset due to a food change from the classic pulled pork sandwich to Wallace chicken sandwiches. Throughout the event, students played popular jazz tunes that they selected such as “From the Start” by Laufey and other popular tunes.

“Instead of [our small ensembles] being chosen by [band director Corey Wicks], we are forming our own. We auditioned for our small ensembles in October a few weeks before the actual performance,” assistant drum major and guitar player junior Miles Nguyen said.

Rehearsals with teachers typically occurred during the teacher’s conference period. To Wicks, having teachers sing at the annual jazz concert allows students to experience the other skills that their teachers have outside of their prospective subject.

“[This year there were] a lot more singers with us. We  had three teacher singers, as opposed to just one, which is usually [English Teacher] Jennifer Maletz,” Nguyen said.

Maletz sang the songs “At Last” by Etta James, choir teacher Andrew Perez sang “Skylark” by Johnny Mercer and Hoagy Carmichael and history teacher Justin Panlilio played keyboard for “Johnny B. Goode” by Chuck Berry and “Turn the Beat Around” by Gerald  and Peter Jackson.

“It’s also cool to have [Mr. Perez] because he’s our choir teacher and how awesome [it is] to do a department collaboration like that between different disciplines like instrumental and vocal music,” Wicks said.

Teacher preparations for their pieces consisting of going over the music, rehearsing and chord charts.

“Since I am not preparing any of my students for it, I am the performer for this piece. I really focused on getting to know this piece in a way that it [becomes] internalized and second nature,” Perez said.

Students were also provided the chance to showcase other skills outside of their musical instrument. Student soloists include baritone senior Isaiah Uman who sang “L-O-V-E” by Nat King Cole and alto saxophone sophomore Bradley Ellis who sang “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head?” by Dean Martin.

“I was really excited, but I would be lying if I said I was not a little bit nervous. I was pretty happy because ever since I was a freshman, I wanted to sing at the jazz [events]. I practiced and did a lot to get myself there,” Uman said. 

Leading up to Jazz at Sunset, the jazz bands utilized class time and after school rehearsals to practice their pieces. Occasionally, in-class rehearsals were led and run by student leaders such as Nguyen.

“We [also] had sectionals with section coaches too, a prominent one being [saxophone coach] Jason Burce who not only coaches the saxes, but also the rhythm section,” Nguyen said. “Working with him is really good because it teaches the rhythm section and the saxophones good playing and technique.”

Some annual traditions include wearing Hawaiian shirts, jeans and sneakers instead of the usual concert black and coordinating outfits with each individual ensemble. Nguyen believes that this year, there has been an overall shift from playing to performing.

“[When performing], you want to share your energy with them, rather than just playing this [notes that] and sound right that is pleasing to the ears,” Nguyen said. “You want to express yourself artistically through your instruments, instead of just pressing buttons to make noise.” Ω