The highly anticipated Legends of Jazz concert is nearing, with the renowned jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut and vocalist Kevin Mahogany as our guest artists this season. Cyrus Chestnut, called “the best jazz pianist of his generation” by the Time magazine, was born to a family very musically-active in their Church. It was here, he said, that his musical career started. He went on to study at the Peabody Institute at the age of nine, the age when most of us would have been outside playing. From there, he went on to graduate from the prestigious Berklee College of Music.
“The standout jazz vocalist of his generation,” Kevin Mahogany from Missouri, is well known for his “scat singing,” a form of improvised jazz when the voice is used to imitate an instrument. His music career started with the piano until the clarinet and saxophone were added. As you know, he is now a vocalists, but still remains much influenced by his earlier instrumental studies. He started teaching music as a high schooler then later received a BFA in Music and English Drama from Baker University. Both Mr. Chestnut and Mr. Mahogany are exceptional, world-class jazz artists who have earned grammy awards for their music. East is honored to host such guests!
The Jazz Improvisation class will be featured on radio and television as a preview for this event on Wednesday the 14th.
In preparation for this concert, the Jazz Orchestra has had frequent early mornings and sectionals in addition to the everyday rehearsals. Those also in the Jazz Improvisation class, like senior Teagan Faran, violin, have also rehearsed in class. On top of that, the Jazz Orchestra (commonly referred to as “jorch” or “jorchestra”) will have in-school rehearsal on Tuesday. This annual performance is such a big event for the jorchestra and the teachers who work for and support this concert- everyone works very hard to make it successful. As Teagan says, “Dr. Shewan does all the string arrangements himself” and comes in at 7AM at least twice a week to conduct the jorchestra.
This event is an amazing opportunity for jorchestra musicians, not just because of meeting “famous people.” It not only evoke interest in jazz, this time of year is a chance for creativity and interpretation. “To me, jazz playing is a different sort of creativity,” Teagan says. “Classical playing is taking a phrase and making it your own whereas jazz is taking a form and making your own phrase to go with that form.” Another senior, our very own VP Peter Kazmierczak, also finds this time of year just “incredible.” “It’s one of my favorite concerts we do here at East,” he says with pride, “and I’ll come back every year to see it [even] after my time is done here.” Peter is a percussionist in the jorchestra and keeps the beat of the jazz music steady for the instrumentalists, a job absolutely necessary for the musicians that “can’t count,” as Mr. Moose says. Another thing to note is that it’s Peter who is credited for coming up with “jorchestra.”
The annual Legends concerts are a great opportunity for the audience as well, especially for other musicians at East. There is a reason (actually several reasons) why the tickets traditionally sell out. An anonymous member of Concert Band said “I’m planning on attending the concert because I think it’s a great experience to meet two of the best jazz players in the world for such an affordable price” and feels “excited about the concert even though I will have a lot of homework. But I think it’s worth it.” Listening to jazz, especially with such talented performers will develop an appreciation for the jazz style, as our anonymous interviewee states.
