Eastport Arts Center’s annual High School Jazz Night will be held on Tuesday, April 2 at 6:30 pm. The Calais Middle and High School Jazz Band will take the stage first with Dean Sorenson’s Power Trip, Lennon/McCartney’s Yesterday and Ray Charles’ What’d I Say. ““We are looking forward to coming out to the EAC again this year to celebrate jazz!” said Director, Christine Proefrock. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to hear what our peers are doing, to learn, to enjoy and to interact with our supportive community.” Calais band members are: Cassidy Carr, flute; Emily Alley, clarinet; Ivy McLellan and Bailey O’Rourke, alto saxophone; Christian Emery, tenor saxophone; Josh Cline, Megan Mitchell and Tristan Seavey, trumpet; Micheal McFarlane, trombone; Hope McLaughlin, guitar; and Kobe Saunders, drums.
Washington Academy’s Raider Jazz Band will take the stage next, with George Vincent’s Fat Burger and Green Onions arr. by Paul Murtha. The group’s third number will be announced from the stage. Director Bonnie Atkinson, who is in her first year teaching at WA notes, “The Raider Jazz Band has doubled in size this year, and is made up of a talented (and hilarious) group of musicians! They are an amazing and dedicated group that are involved in a lot of other school and community activities. Many are Tri-M Music Honor Society members, Pep Band participants, a cappella choir members, mathletes on the Math Team, Art Club artists, Drama Club actors, Sustainability and Science Club members and athletes. They give a lot of their time and energy to school events and Washington Academy is a stronger school because of them!”
Raider Jazz Band members are: Grace Maker, clarinet; David Zegers, alto saxophone; Forrest Perkins and Taylor Bridges, tenor saxophone; Nathan Carver, Shaelea Perkins and Daniel Runnels, trumpet; Olivia Perkins and Rowan Morris, trombone; Nam “Pom Pom” Nguyen, harmonica; Tina Pham, xylophone; Bach Phung, piano, Isaac Atkinson, bass guitar; Nam “John” Nguyen, drum set; and Jordan Myers, auxiliary percussion.
The Shead Jazz Combo will close the show with their set, including Take 5 by Paul Desmond, Footprints by Wayne Shorter and Bobby Hebb’s Sunny. The combo received a rating of one at the District Jazz Competition (the highest rating you can get by the judges); several band members also received one scores on their improvisational efforts. The group traveled to South Portland High School for State Jazz Competition on March 15.
“We always look forward to showcasing the students talents at the EAC because it is a home gig and a relaxed atmosphere where all our family and friends can join us,” said Robert Sanchez, Director of the Shead band. “Not everyone can make our away gigs and they are always excited about coming to the EAC gig. It is also nice for Washington County schools to see what each other are doing!”
Shead band members include: Rebecca Johnston, flute; Sarah Bartlett, alto saxophone; Maleeka Barnes, tenor saxophone; Henry Mills, guitar; George Mills, bass; Jacob Cook, drums; and Ashlee Morang, vocals.
Admission to the concert is by suggested donation of $5, or more if you can, with all proceeds being split between the three schools’ jazz programs. Students will be admitted free of charge, or may opt to contribute to the fundraiser. The Eastport Arts Center is at 36 Washington Street, Eastport, and at www.eastportartscenter.org, and is handicapped-accessible.
The work of Eastport Arts Center is funded in part by a grant from the Maine Arts Commission, an independent state agency supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.