Happy Valentine’s Day! Our hearts are certainly full today, with the news that Roosevelt Jazz Band I has been selected as a finalist for the 2019 Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition and Festival. They’ll be in some mighty fine company in NYC come May, including neighbors Garfield and Mount Si. Congratulations to Director Scott Brown and all the students!
For more information and a list of all the finalists, hop over to the Essentially Ellington website.
Today’s snow day allowed us some time to reflect. We’ve been busy; it’s nice to have a chance, however brief, to slow down and give thanks for what has happened so far this year. Our students have been putting in the hours at festivals, clubs, jam sessions, clinics, rehearsals, and the woodshed; they’ve been performing, listening, and learning. Most recently, Jazz Bands I and II represented Roosevelt Jazz at the 57th annual Clark College Jazz Festival and the 23rd Annual Bellevue College Jazz Festival. And back at home, a vocal jazz combo welcomed prospective RoughRiders to Roosevelt’s recent open house. In the words of John Lewis, the reward for playing jazz is playing jazz, and our students and directors are grateful to have been rewarded with these opportunities to share music with their peers and with incredible artists like trumpeter Ashlin Parker. (Coming home with some hardware is nice, too.)
Alright, look lively, reflection time is over! Next up, on February 6th at 7:30pm, Jazz Bands III and IV will represent Roosevelt Jazz at the Royal Room. A JB2 combo or two, and our directors Michael Van Bebber and Mark Taylor, will round out what looks to be a great night of jazz. Make your reservations for a table now if you haven’t already done so.
Also on the horizon is our annual program retreat at Seabeck. If you’re buying what John Lewis is selling, you will be amply rewarded at Seabeck. There will be no shortage of opportunities for playing jazz there.