(Author’s note: This is a review article and will contain opinions.)
Skyline’s Jazz Combo Club, Jazz Band, Concert Band, Percussion Ensemble, and Wind Ensemble joined together in their annual fall concert on October 22, featuring dozens of band students through jazz, blues, and patriotical melodies.
The Jazz Combo Club performed as an opener for the concert and featured a few students performing on their second instruments. Not everyone attending the concert heard them, as they played before the start of the show, but it was most certainly the highlight of the night. Instrumentation included piano, saxophone, drums, bass, and banjo. Those playing extended extreme talent and independent capabilities. Ollie Currit (alto saxophone) and Luca Dalcanto (tenor saxophone) led the group with hand signals, visual cues, and amazing solos beyond the average high school talent.
The Jazz Combo Club was quickly followed by the Jazz Band. They crowded the stage with dozens of instruments and blew the audience away with their awareness of musicality and timing capabilities. Again, many talented soloists were featured throughout their songs, with an honorable mention to John Sundberg who played a harmonica solo. Unlike typical orchestra conducting—which involves constant tempos and signals—Adam Larson, Skyline’s Music teacher, only gave tempos at the beginning and large cues. This really showed how much aptitude as a group the Jazz Band held for playing as one. The song choices were impressive and represented a wide range of feeling, from blues to summer harmonies to the Wild West. The highlight of this group was “Brazil” by S.K. Russell and Ary Barroso, a lively song that incorporated South American sounds and left the audience energized with an urge to dance.
Next to perform was Concert Band, a large group that included many wind, brass, and reed instruments. They were one of the few groups to perform a Halloween song called “March of the Shadows.” They played with drums, bells, and other noise makers that created a haunting atmosphere. A piece called “With Honor” by PINKZEBRA was played to celebrate service members and featured frequent patriotic themes, like snare drums and trumpet fanfares. Concert Band’s strongest music worked with their strengths, showing off their dynamic capabilities. One of the hardest feats to play in a large group—a rest before a hit for the last note—was accomplished perfectly.
A class that was almost lost last year, Percussion Ensemble, held true to its name in using all percussion instruments, including marimba, xylophone, wind chimes, and timpani. With so few students on stage and such large instruments, those playing had to be confident in their music, as everyone could hear each individual. “Roundup” by Brian Slawson used an electric guitar and brought the tone of the Wild West and mystery into one song.
Last to play was the Wind Ensemble, which was by far the largest group of the night. Larson’s conducting reflected that of an orchestra rather than the leading seen earlier that night with the Jazz Band. Their first song was about the red rocks found across America and held many dynamic and tempo changes. It provided lots of imagery and allowed those listening to visualize all the scenery that the nation has to offer. The best song was “Amazing Grace” by Frank Ticheli. Although most people are familiar with this tune, it is popular for a reason. Hearing it all on band instruments was an uplifting experience, and the solos passed around to different instruments that continued the main melody.
This concert featured a variety of musicians and instruments from flutes to banjos, pianos to trumpets. Songs ranged from jazz features, blues melodies, patriarchal salutes, and spooky themes. There is no need to go searching for accomplished musicians; Skyline band students are sure to impress and exceed all expectations.
