Notes from the Director

Notes from Bringing Down the House CD, 2004

We’re tearing the place apart!

Benaroya Hall! The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival; Hot Java Cool Jazz at The Paramount; The Reno Jazz Festival; The Essentially Ellington Competition at Lincoln Center in New York; The Triple Door in Seattle; The Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland; Honfleur, France; Doncaster and Aylesbury, England.

Wherever Roosevelt’s Jazz groups performed, they seriously brought the house down.  This 3-CD set features the best performances of 2004.  I can’t think of a better send-off for the “old” Roosevelt High School.  2004 marks the end of an era and the beginning of an extensive remodel for our school, which was built in 1922.  The classic architecture and the outstanding traditions will be retained, but we’ll return in 2006 to an exciting new performing arts center and theatre within the historic structure of Theodore Roosevelt’s namesake institution.

The memories within those old walls literally came flooding out (the leaking pipes from the science labs above us helped) as we packed up all the music, photographs, posters, artwork, recordings, trophies, instruments, chairs, stands and equipment.  That old building has been home for an awful lot of wonderful musicians over the past eighty-two years!

The Jazz Band, Vocal Jazz and Jazz Lab of 2004 are outstanding examples of the Roosevelt High School Jazz Tradition, established by master Jazz educator Waldo King.  John Moawad, retired Director of Jazz Studies at Central Washington University, put it so well in his notes for Waldo’s 1980 Roosevelt Jazz Album and it’s just as true today: “these kids swing their butts off!”

In this age of SUVs, grande lattes and super-size fries, it seems fitting that we have our first “triple” CD.  I tried to cut it down, but I just couldn’t do it!  We just flat out made a ton of great music this year.  Jazz Lab, directed by my former student, Kelly Clingan, put on a fantastic show at The Triple Door.  The Lab was a unique combination of talented, enthusiastic younger students and a couple of very dedicated older students who just wanted to play great music.  Kelly’s done such a fantastic job with this group over the past two years.  I’m very proud of her and wish her the best of everything as she moves on to new horizons.  We’ll sure miss her.

The Vocal Jazz wailed all ear long.  Their Hampton Jazz Festival set was one of the tightest, most swinging and spirited that I’ve ever had a group perform.  Too bad I let them go overtime, ‘cuz they would’ve won the whole thing!  I’m so glad we were able to capture their performance from The Triple Door, as well.  A real Jazz choir doing real Jazz music.  I’m very proud of this group.

This Jazz Band was one of the finest I have ever had.  They worked so hard, put in so many extra hours, played so much music in so many places.  But they didn’t really find themselves until they left the country.  Despite standing ovations at Avery Fisher Hall, as one of fifteen finalist bands in the Essentially Ellington Competition, and at the Paramount for Starbucks’ Hot Java Cool Jazz, no one really heard this band hit its stride until the end of their two-week European tour.  The Doncaster Youth Jazz Orchestra, directed by John Ellis, and the Aylesbury Youth Jazz Orchestra, under Nick Care, welcomed us to England in July with wonderful receptions and inspiring performances.  My students responded in a way that totally thrilled everyone.  They were focused, professional, emotional and absolutely on fire!  We could hardly hold back the tears on that final “Wide Open Spaces” in Aylesbury.  Steve Deibert recorded every gig, including those last two, which comprise the majority of the cuts on the CDs.  I can’t believe what an amazing job he does of capturing our sounds…anywhere, anytime!

To say that we have fantastic support from the parents is a huge understatement.  These people are crazy!  From publicity to packing, graphics, auctions and wrapping, our Jazz Boosters are the more tireless, dedicated and positive group of people in the world.  Just when I think maybe I’m asking too much of them…they ask to do more!  You people have a profound effect on many lives…including my own.  Thank you.

Finally, a special thanks to Dana Robinson for his outstanding work in producing the graphics for all of our posters, tour apparel and, especially, our CDs; the perfect visual accompaniment to our musical art.

“Bringing Down the House” lets you travel with us to experience the joy of Jazz from Roosevelt High School.  Enjoy the ride.

Cheers,


Scott Brown
Director