Student jazz musicians from John W. Dodd Middle School and Freeport High School combined to display their developing musical talent at Freeport Public Schools fifth annual Night of Jazz in the Freeport High School cafeteria on April 29.
First to take the stage was the John W. Dodd Middle School Jazz Band directed by Adam Rubin. The students performed beautiful renditions of Ray Henderson's "Bye Bye Blackbird," Victor Lopez' "Grooved Pavement" and Quincy Jones' "Sanford and Son Theme" song.
The Freeport High School Jazz Band was up next and strayed from the program by inviting eighth-grader Marty Scott, a bass player from the John W. Dodd Jazz Band, to play the trumpet as they performed "Watermelon Man." According to Freeport High School Director Michael LaSorsa, Scott began playing trumpet only four months ago. The group went on to perform Dizzy Gillespie's "Groovin' High," George and Ira Gershwin's "Embraceable You," which featured student vocalist Shijuan Williams, Chuck Mangione's "Land of Make Believe" and Lars Halle's "I Let a Song Out of My Heart."
Freeport High School Principal Linda Carter expressed her joy in being able to take part in the special evening. "This is an amazing evening of talent that shows the students musical growth from middle school to high school," Carter said. "It is truly an evening of enchantment at the Freeport High School jazz café."
The audience, seated at tables arranged café style, listened intently and applauded each number played as well as the many featured instrument solos.
