The room was buzzing with energy. Parents had video recorders, students were leaning in to pay delicate attention to each other’s performances, and in the back was a row of standing smilers. The beaming back row, it was obvious, were the coordinators of the program, showing gestures of success, nodding to one another in delight of what was going on onstage.
Five years ago, USM took on the Youth Ensembles program, which brings high school jazz musicians from around New England together to play with college professors and spend an entire weekend honing their skills in Jazz Improvisation.
On this night, the USM Youth Ensembles took the stage after their weekend of learning, enlivening Corthell Hall with a stunning feeling of refreshment and awe. The event, which took place last weekend, had been planned for months and looked forward to for more. Forty students were selected to perform, and the results were astounding.
Scott Harris, director of the School of Music said, “We count ourselves fortunate to be able to nurture in rehearsal the energy, enthusiasm, and talent of these young musicians. They inspire us all.”
The weekend began only minutes after students arrived with a morning concert by the USM Faculty Jazz Ensemble.
From there, students embarked on two days of intense rehearsal, jam sessions with USM faculty musicians, master classes per instrument, and rehearsals per ensemble. The weekend came to a powerful finale with a showcase concert of the high school students.
Seven combos presented inspired performances, showing the USM student musicians in the audience that they had some competition on the up and up. The memorably spicy Roy Eldrige Combo included the soulful vocals of South Portland High School student Albie Gingrich alongside a lively sextet of instrumentalists.
Following the student showcase, the faculty concert began, including Jim Lynden on bass, and past and present professors Chris Humphrey on piano, Les Harris Jr. on drums, Gary Wittner on the guitar, Trent Austin playing trumpet, Bill Street on saxophone, and honored guest Gary Smulyan, who the Village Voice has called “one of the best baritonists” of the time.
Though targeting youth, the critically acclaimed musician attracted the most avid of jazz enthusiasts to the show in what one student called an “incredibly impressive, almost unbelievable” showcase of talent.
Smulyan currently plays with seven bands and has played with the likes of Ray Charles, B.B. King, and Diana Ross.
Smulyan led a master class as part of the USM Youth Ensemble’s Jazz Improvisation Weekend that ended with the evening’s show. High school students were thrilled to learn under such a national talent, and USM students in attendance didn’t seem to mind paying the six dollars to sit in.
The wealth of knowledge and support of the music passed on to eager students over the weekend was made obvious by their extreme concentration during the final numbers of the Faculty show, eyes large, tapping along to the brilliant performance.