“That’s really good because if ‘the stuff’ isn’t taken care of, it makes the art hard to do.” “The big band this year has done a great job coming into the festival with what I’d like to call ‘the stuff:’ the notes, the rhythms, having their music, having their instruments ready to go,” Parker, of Harlem, N.Y., said. The band members have had their music for weeks, so they are perfecting their style, musical concepts and the art of each piece, he said. As an instrumental music teacher at Kinnick High, he’s teaching a whole new generation about the American style of music known as jazz, he said. Parker, the conductor, has been playing bass since 1969, he said. The six-piece jazz band is performing tunes from celebrated composers, including Duke Ellington and Count Basie. “This is a chance for like-minded students to get together who are interested in music and be exposed to this truly American art,” Morrise, of Roy, Utah, said. “I think it was cool getting to meet some more male vocalists because male vocalists aren’t as common, especially in high school,” Kruse said. Kruse, originally of Monterey, Calif., sings bass in the jazz choir. Kinnick High School at Yokosuka Naval Base. “I was at a tennis trip in Sasebo and when I found out I was chosen and was pretty excited and looking forward to going,” said Noah Kruse, 16, junior at Nile C. So, the audience is getting to see a very select group of kids who are doing awesome things.”Įach auditioning student received a short music selection to perform and record for a panel of music teachers in DODEA schools across Japan. “For the 56 kids we had come here we had 180 auditions submitted. “Those (auditions) were very competitive,” Nash said. Army Japan, told Stars and Stripes on Tuesday. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)Įach student earned their place on the music festival stage through an audition process, Kayla Nash, events director and music teacher at Zama Middle School at Camp Zama, the headquarters of U.S.

The band Ultraviolet practices “Forget You,” by Cee Lo Green, at the Taiyo Community Center on Yokota Air Base, Japan, on Nov.

Scenery jazz