By: Hannah Koehler

Jazz band I, II, and III had their first concert of the year on Tuesday, March 6th in the JLDH Performing Arts Center.  

The concert featured classic songs such as “Blue Monk” a jazz standard written by Thelonious Monk, as well as more contemporary Jazz arrangements like “Everything in its right place” an arrangement of Radiohead’s song.

Samuel Stanley (12), who plays in Jazz I, enjoys jazz music because of its unique, interactive nature.

“I play piano, so my favorite part is comping behind the solos,” said Stanley. Comping or accompanying is a jazz term used to describe the chords, rhythms, and countermelodies used to support a jazz musician’s improvised solo. “When you are doing piano comping you have to listen to the soloist and then react to what they’re doing. It’s a really dynamic interaction between musicians.”

The rhythm section is a vital part of any band, and the quality of the comping behind the soloist can determine how confident the solo will sound.

Stanley feels that playing in jazz band has helped him improve as a musician.

“I joined because freshman year I performed a piano solo at Night of Knights and they needed a piano player for Jazz I. Mr. Krueger (The jazz Instructor for Jazz I and Jazz II) asked me to audition and I thought that Jazz would help me branch out as a musician.”

Jessica Schafer is a clarinet in Wind Ensemble and is is also a alto Saxophone in Jazz II

“I started Jazz band my junior year. I played Clarinet my first semester and Meteer ((LSE director of bands) asked me if I wanted to learn saxophone, so I learned saxophone and I was in Jazz III as second chair, but a year later and I am first chair in Jazz II.

Schafer enjoys watching as well as participating.

“I really like listening when I’m at the concerts. I’ve been going to the jazz band concerts before I joined since I had friends that were in it,” said Schafer. “It’s cool to watch, but it’s also fun to be in it.”