Jazz kids head to Reno

Published 9:00 am Saturday, April 14, 2007

Jazz music is about being loose, feeling the music and playing with heart.

The Jazz Ensemble at South Whidbey High School has worked hard to master the techniques of jazz so their hearts can be heard.

The students proved that in February at the Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival in Moscow, Idaho, where they took first place in their division.

Now the 21 band members say they are ready to rock the house and the judges once again when they travel to Reno, Nev. on April 26, to compete in the 45th annual Reno Jazz Festival at the University of Nevada.

The Jazz Ensemble is led by band director Chris Harshman, and the group will compete in the “Jazz Ensemble” category, which requires a 30-minute performance for judges. The students will also compete in the “Jazz Combo” category — a 25-minute performance of a small group improvisation — with two combos, “Low Creation” and “Blue Matter.”

Blue Matter is a five-man combo which includes Keegan Harshman on bass, Jasper Hayes on guitar, Landon Moore on sax, Grant Neubauer on piano and Ian Maisanyi on drums.

Low Creation is a six-musician combo made up of Tyler Kinser on bass, Ian Maisanyi on drums, Andy Schmidt on tenor saxophone, Jeff Potter on alto saxophone, Grant Neubauer on keyboard/piano and Tim Atkinson on trumpet.

Some of these dedicated musicians were on hand for a rehearsal during spring break preparing for an upcoming concert and the festival.

They said they’ve learned a lot from listening to other artists such as Jaco Pastorius, John Coltrane and Charlie Parker, as well as such big band influences like Duke Ellington and Count Basie. Kinser said the concerts at the festivals are also inspiring as many of the judges are renowned musicians themselves and often perform at some point during the event.

“A lot of jazz is taking what you hear and making your own choices,” Kinser said. “I try to take a line and get the feel of it; not just rip it off.”

Maisanyi agreed.

“I’ll hear a riff and take it and make it different so it’s my own,” he said.

“Music is a language,” Kinser added. “You’re constantly building your vocabulary.”

Listening to these musicians play it’s apparent that they are already articulate in the language of jazz. Kinser, a senior, was recently accepted to the Berklee College of Music in Boston and Schmidt, also a senior, will be studying music next year at the University of Washington.

Although they have been restricted to a certain level at these festivals because of the size of their school, they are lobbying to be allowed to compete against larger schools.

“Every time we go to a festival the judges are astounded,” Harshman said. “They score consistently with 10s across the board, and they’re being scored by world-class musicians.”

Getting 10 is almost perfect; the best score is 9, while the worst is 45.

Indeed, the South Whidbey students themselves would love to compete against the larger bands but, in addition to being kept out for their size, festivals can be out of their financial reach, as well. Such out-of-reach competitions include the prestigious Essentially Ellington High School Band Competition and Festival in New York, N.Y.

This year, once again, the Northwest impressed the judges and three high school bands from the Seattle area were named as 2007 finalists at that New York City competition: Roosevelt High School, Garfield High School and Edmonds-Woodway High School.

Washington state high school musicians have become famous for the precision and clarity of their playing. The phenomenon of the Northwest consistently producing exceptional high school jazz musicians can be traced back to jazz educators such as John Moawad, Hal Sherman and Waldo King, a trio that’s changed the demographics of who was winning on the high school jazz competition circuit since the 1970s. These educators were able to start a movement in the Northwest that was fed by a desire to be the best while rallying communities to support education in the arts.

Traveling to the festivals is a well-rounded experience as the musicians not only compete and attend concerts but they attend master classes as well.

Before arriving in Reno, the South Whidbey students will stop in Ashland, Ore. to attend a rehearsal of the Southern Oregon University Jazz Ensemble and perhaps take in an evening of Shakespeare at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. They will attend additional jazz workshops in Reno on Friday before competing on Saturday, April 28.

Maisanyi said he enjoys the combo competition more than the big band playing because the smaller group can get more personal and more fluid with the music.

“You just let go and are often surprised at what comes out, “ Maisanyi said.

Schmidt agreed.

“It’s a feel. You can’t over think it,” he said. “You just have to make it your own.”

Islanders will have a chance to catch these consummate musicians in “Swing Into Spring,” an evening-long celebration of music, at 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 20 in the South Whidbey High School Auditorium. All proceeds will go directly to the high school’s band program. Tickets are $15 per person or $25 for a couple and are available at the door or from any band member.

Patricia Duff can be reached at 221-5300 or pduff@southwhidbeyrecord.com.