Published: May 13, 2008 10:23 am         

School performances prove jazz has a future

As a longtime lover of America’s music, jazz, I came away from Thursday night’s performances at the Life Center (terrific acoustics!) convinced that jazz has a terrific future as long as high schools and colleges try to maintain jazz bands of the quality displayed last night.

Both the NorthWood and Goshen bands were very good, especially the strong ensemble work I heard. Whereas usually a high school band will have one or two young folks who can “swing,” last night I was overwhelmed by the near-professionalism of several soloists.

The Advanced Crimson Jazz Ensemble and the NorthWood Jazz Band were next to flawless in their performances and both did what good jazz bands should do....swing! I attribute that to two factors: Enthused young folks who have obviously done their “woodshedding” (ask the old musicians about that word) and three excellent directors: Goshen’s Tom Cox and Josh Kaufman and NorthWood’s Gordon Couch.

I understand another concert featuring several local jazz bands will take place on the 16th of this month at Concord. Check them out and give them a warm audience. That helps. I also hope these young people take advantage of the great jazz clinics being sponsored at the Elkhart Jazz Festival again this year. The festival is June 20, 21 and 22. Check it out too and enjoy!



— Van Young, Syracuse