The seventh annual KCMEA Jazz Day was held on Thursday, April 11 in the Simonsen Performing Arts Center at Bakersfield College. The event went from 9:45 am – 5:10 pm with a lunch break from 1:00-1:30 p.m..
The indoor PAC quickly became home to ten different high school jazz bands and ensembles, along with everyone else who was interested in the event, filling the theater to near capacity.
The event was open to the public, thus making it possible for many parents to come and watch their child perform. One such parent was Jose Flores, the dad of one of the drummers for Ridgeview’s Jazz Ensemble.
“This is a beautiful experience… getting the chance to see him play with the high school band,” said Flores.
The high school groups took turns performing for everyone on stage. The schools in attendance, in order of their performances, were Bakersfield, Shafter, Del Oro, Foothill, West, Ridgeview, Centennial, Stockdale, Taft Union, and Highland.
After Ridgeview played, it was time for the BC Faculty Jazz Combo to play. Kris Tiner, the group’s trumpet player and Professor of Music here at BC, introduced the group and the song they would be playing. The song was a custom arrangement by the group’s new piano player, Tony Rinaldi, of the song “The Night Has a Thousand Eyes.”
Once they finished, Tiner introduced special guest Dawn Clement, “an internationally acclaimed pianist, vocalist, and composer” (BCJazz.org). The group performed three songs together, the second of which had the audience clapping along throughout the entire song, ending in an over 30-second-long applause from the crowd.
The event also offered workshops after lunch. Attendees would be able to go to different spaces where they could learn more about playing their instruments along with general advice. Each workshop was headed by a different member of the BC Faculty Jazz Combo.
CSUB Director of Jazz Studies Jim Scully was also in attendance. Scully would go on to say that the event was an opportunity for the local jazz groups “to share what they are working on with their peers along with seeing some world class talent.”