February is popularly associated with Valentine’s Day, a day commencing love, camaraderie, dinner dates and all that jazz. Ayala’s recent Jazz Dinner on February 16, was a night of wonder that captured this warm aspect of the holiday. Hosted by jazz teacher Mr. Kyle Martinez, the event brought out the talents of six jazz bands from different schools varying from middle school to college, and featured the guest composer Mina Choi —known for her music fusing jazz and classical that expresses her Korean culture.
“Usually this doesn’t happen around this area,” Martinez said. “You’d have to go to LA or Orange County or somewhere far to get this type of entertainment.”
The purpose of this event was to fundraise Ayala’s jazz program, which has a body of 45 participating students who had dedicated themselves since December to practice their performances and to work on the event as a whole.
“We’re all real good friends and it’s been more of a family these last couple of years,” Richard Firman (12) said. “We have a great bond together and I feel like the chemistry between all of us is real great.”
Similar to Ayala Choir’s Madrigal Feaste, the waiting service was run by jazz members. When food came out from the kitchen or when you walk to the mocktail bar, you’d see them arrive in black and white uniform.
Appetizers served were bread with butter, and salad with an egg yolk dressing. Then, the entrees that came were pastas: meat-sauce, marinara, and Alfredo. Finally, the desserts were an assortment given to each table: brownies, squares of varying cheesecakes, and cookies. Throughout the service, attendees were able to visit the drink stand that provided lemonade, Canada Dry, and water.
The choreography began with the Mario Martinez Collective, then Canyon Hills Jr. High School, and Jurupa High school. Each played briefly, though that is as not to say their music had little impact. Audience members were watching the saxophone players steadily place their fingers from key to key, the drummer’s wrists flicking their drumsticks from cymbal to snare, and the guitarist was strumming to the hand sliding up and down the guitar’s neck. Yet, even after seeing the steady motions, it was amazing how fluid their sounds came to be.
The vibrant music which played had fitted the event’s environment: a lit room with red frills and mats at the center of each long table booked by smiling folks greeting each other with lively chatter about how one’s day has been. In between performances, Valentines day letters were read aloud on stage directed to jazz performers from their families and loved ones. The sound “aw” became the second most relevant noise the concert had.
At the latter half of the night were two Jazztecs from Azusa High school, Ayala High School’s Jazz band, and Citrus College’s Citrus Blue Note Swing Orchestra. Representing Ayala High School were surprise group performers from Ayala’s Choir program who sang “Soul With a Capital S” as a selected few jazz members played its melody. These bands, aside from the choir group, generally focused on more dramatic and emotional pieces. A notable melody from the Citrus Blue Note Swing Orchestra featured amped electric guitars that played loud and powerful chords that emphasized themes of freedom and change. Either it was the vibrations from the amp or the exhilarating piece as a whole that made the audience silent with awe.
The concert ended with a wide collection of applause and a thank you to all those who contributed to this concert: the six jazz bands, guest composer Choi, the cooks, and of course the audience for supporting the fundraiser.
