The all-star combo from Juanita High School's jazz band made their studio session on 88.5 with young trumpeter and educator Jared Hall featured on trumpet, and proved they're ready to take their place among the promising teen jazz ensembles around the Northwest.
Mr. Hall, himself a native of Spokane, has only recently relocated to the Seattle area after his own jazz education segued into teaching opportunities at the University of Miami. He was impressed with the young eastside swingers, noting that one of our recent snow days kept him from one rehearsal with the group, and they found a way to get together on their own.
Their practice paid off - the band clearly enjoyed themselves through three horn-friendly standards, taking full advantage of the band's powerful five-horn front line. Three cheers to Jared Hall; the two trumpets on either side of him - Jonah Kern and Jared Rackley; Gavin Haynes on trombone, the piano/bass/drums rhythm section of Crystal Canales, Omri Ofek and Lander Pridgen, and extra kudos to Shaina Ellis on alto sax. Her feathery delivery was impressively reminiscent of her hero, Johnny Hodges. Straight A's for this School of Jazz combo.
