By: Alana Soukkasem
For the five students who were selected to the Tulare-Kings County Honor Jazz Band, this year’s fulfilled opportunity to participate in the Jazz Band from around Tulare and Kings county has been an “extraordinary” experience.
One of the selectants, Drum Player Matthew Spalding ‘23, explains that “In the audition, we are asked to play two types of music, samba and swing, and our given written music to play for the audition.”
The auditions are a big deal. This has been the first honor jazz band since 2019 for Redwood and on top of that, this year’s new approach for students who auditioned have already adapted their auditions to online instead of in-person due to COVID-19.
Trumpet Jacob Abbott ‘24, who is used to the audition process after previously being selected to the Tulare-Kings County Honor Band earlier this year says that the auditions “takes a lot of time and effort to practice for”.
Spalding adds that “practicing for these auditions is also pretty tedious because you don’t know who(else) is going to audition.”
Bass Trombonist Jaden Bullock ‘23, who was the First Chair Trombone in the Tulare-Kings County Honor Band, as well as a member of the California Music Educators Association Conference (CASMEC) Allstate ensembles earlier this year, says that he is very “thankful to get to share the stage with other great musicians from both Redwood and across the Tulare Kings County.”
Abbott adds, “Being able to participate in this band is also really cool because I can surround myself with many talented musicians who aspire to succeed, I’m glad I made it. I’m looking forward to making great music, and challenging myself.”
Along with the selectants’ successful auditions, there is a reason why they’ve auditioned to move from honor band to honor Jazz. Clarinet turned Trumpet player Devin Calderon ‘23 who earned first chair on clarinet as well as trumpet, says that “there’s a lot more enthusiasm in Jazz, you’re allowed to really show your talents by soloing or playing with style,” which covers why numerous of the Jazz performances turn out the way they do.
And for that being the case, it’s what guides others in the Jazz Band to play on their own. To be chosen out of all the other students who auditioned is a “huge responsibility” and these students worked hard in their own ways.
The Honor Jazz Concert took place April 23, 2022 at Sierra Pacific High School. The Group was conducted by Mr. Les Nunes, a retired music teacher who spent 35 teaching and adjudicating in both Clovis as well as Fresno.
The Honor Jazz group performed pieces Such as Ornithology by Charlie Parker/Benny Harris and arranged by Greg Yasinitsky, Another Story by Mike Tomaro, Sugar by Stanley Turrentine and arranged by Tim Clarke, Reunion Blues by Milt Jackson arranged by Mark Taylor, Just Friends by John Klenner/ Sam M. Lewis and arranged by Joe Jackson, as well as The Dance of Denial by Michael Phillip Mossman.
Devin Calderon, Keoni Estevez-Morales, Matthew Spalding, and Jacob Abbott were all featured soloists at the performance.
In fact, Spalding says that being in Jazz, “Everyone is able to be closer together, and everyone is more reliant upon each other to get stuff done. Although, the group of players is much more advanced as a whole.”
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