Acalanes Performs at Reno Jazz Festival

By Melina Galacatos, Online Editor

// Acalanes jazz musicians represented the East Bay Area in a festival at the University of Nevada in Reno the weekend of April 25-27. The Acalanes Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo played with spirit alongside countless other musicians from the Western United States. 

   “It is the largest jazz festival in the Western United States, we are super proud to showcase two of our ensembles at this festival,” Acalanes Band Director Edwin Cordoba said. 

   Acalanes jazz ensembles have attended the festival before, but this year was the first time for Cordoba and some of the musicians.

   “They are opening up with a salsa piece that is high energy that features various soloists, we are doing a ballad that is featuring our senior Lucas Chow on the piano, and we’re closing up with a little funk at the end,” Cordoba said. 

   At the event, Acalanes musicians performed for a panel of judges and they stood out amongst the numerous other groups. 

   “The Acalanes Jazz Combo and Jazz Ensemble both had really phenomenal performances at the Reno Jazz Festival; The combo left the judges speechless,” Cordoba said.

   One likely reason for the ensemble’s successful performance was the hours of hard work musicians spent practicing in the weeks beforehand. 

   “We have rehearsal every day except Wednesdays at 7:30 before school, and we go through the songs and practice the parts we’re struggling with,” Jazz Ensemble member and senior Samya Johnson said. 

   Another reason the ensemble did well was each individual’s passion for their music. 

   “We played 3 songs: Pythodd Fellows, Young & Foolish, and Salsa Azul. I think this set was pretty balanced and mostly worked well together,” Johnson said.

   By the time the musicians stepped on the stage in Reno, they were well prepared and excited to play. 

   “Performing was a bit nerve-racking at first, but once we started our set it was easy to get into the music and play,” Jazz Ensemble member and sophomore Jackson Crinnion said. 

   The experience of performing at festivals like the Reno Jazz Festival impacts the skill sets of musicians.

   “Attending these festivals brings out the best in us. It exposes us to world class clinicians and adjudicators. Their feedback is invaluable in allowing us to grow as a program,” Cordoba said. 

   In addition to performing and receiving feedback themselves, the groups spent some time enjoying the other ensembles’ performances. 

   “When we drove in on Friday, we watched a concert with some really good jazz musicians, and it was very nice being able to see these great musicians and hear what it is like to play music at the next level,” Crinnion said.

   Being in Reno was both an enriching experience and a chance for musicians to bond outside of the band room.

   “I also enjoyed other activities we did on the trip like going to a concert, bowling, and overall hanging out with everyone,” Johnson said. 

   The Reno Jazz Festival was a fulfilling trip for the Acalanes jazz program and is one that stood out amongst their many performances.

    “We have two more performances left this year! One is our “Jazz Cafe” recruitment concert at Stanley Middle School on Friday, May 10th at 5:30pm. We are also performing at Yoshi’s Restaurant in Oakland on Tuesday, May 28th at 8:00pm. Doors open at 7:30. Tickets for Yoshi’s are $25. You can go to yoshis.com to buy your tickets,” Cordoba said.