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Washington Evening Journal
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Student musicians embrace jazz
WILLIAMSBURG — Early on a Thursday morning, Jazz Outlet, one of Williamsburg High School’s two jazz bands, practiced the theme song from “Family Guy.”
“This is for our Dessert Cabaret,” said band director Leah Grant.
The Cabaret will be presented at 1 p.m. and again at 6 p.m. April 6 at the Williamsburg High School auditorium.
The competitive season is over. Jazz Outlet finished fifth of nine teams at District. Jazz Input finished second.
Earlier this month, Jazz Outlet participated in Corridor Jazz Project for the first time. The event matches high school jazz bands with professional jazz players. They make professionally produced recordings in a studio and perform with their guest artist on stage.
The Corridor concert at the Paramount in Cedar Rapids was aired on KCCK Jazz radio.
The Dessert Cabaret is the final home concert for jazz band and show choir. “This is kind of like our fun one,” said Grant. Students play songs from television and movies.
“It’s just a fun way to end it,” said Grant.
Several seniors anchor Jazz Outlet. Andrew Hawk is one of them.
Hawk, who plays the trumpet, has participated in jazz band for about seven years, he said. He likes it because he can be boisterous. “I get to be loud.”
Jazz band also allows creativity. “We have a lot of opportunity to improvise,” Hawk said.
The musicians reveal their individual personalities as they play. They can be themselves, and Grant trusts them to do that, Hawk said.
Grant is also open to the musicians’ suggestions. Students brought the theme from “Family Guy” to her, Hawk said. “She wasn’t planning on doing this song at all.”
The mindset in jazz is a different than that of concert band, said Hawk. “Jazz is a little bit more free,” he said. Concert band plays by the book.
“Jazz band’s a little bit smaller,” said Hawk. “We have to audition.”
Hawk plans to major in English and creative writing at the University of Iowa after graduating high school, but music is also in his future. He’ll audition for the University of Iowa marching band in a few months, he said.
Another senior trumpeter, Haven Nunnelley plans a career in music. “I want to be a music educator,” he said.
When Nunnelley tried out for band in fifth grade, he showed an aptitude for percussion and brass, he said. “And trumpet seemed like the most fun.”
Nunnelley played in jazz band in junior high and through all four years of high school.
“I really enjoy music,” said Nunnelley. Already a part of concert band, he joined jazz band to spend more time making music.
“I find the music more fun,” said Nunnelley. Jazz music is usually at lot peppier, he said. “[It’s a] different type of music we don’t usually get to play.”
“The Chicken,” for example, is “a really fun funk tune” the jazz band played a couple of years ago. “I got to play lead on that one, and I got to scream on the high notes,” said Nunnelley said. That’s his favorite thing to do.
Tickets for the Dessert Cabaret are $12 online at williamsburg.ludus.com or $15 at the door.
Music begins at 1 p.m. for the afternoon concert and 6 p.m. for the evening show. A dessert reception will follow each concert.
