By Presley Morad
The sound of drumsticks striking drums, fingers moving across piano keys and bright, brassy trumpet notes filled Gaslamp Music + Bar + Kitchen as Jazz I, II and III, the three jazz ensembles from Los Alamitos High School, took the stage to fill the room with jazz all night long.
The evening began with Jazz I, performing a series of songs, students introducing each piece before playing it. Between songs, band directors Mr. Padilla and Mr. Buchen expressed their appreciation for the students, staff members and families. Students also addressed the audience, sharing brief introductions to their selections and giving listeners context before each performance.
After its final song, Jazz I gathered their instruments and bowed as the room filled with applause from parents, family members and friends. The musicians then left the stage for a brief intermission while Jazz II prepared to perform.
Jazz II continued the evening with its own selection of pieces. Students introduced the songs, and individual musicians stepped forward to perform their solos while their bandmates accompanied, demonstrating the collaboration central to jazz music. Each performer contributed to the ensemble’s overall sound while allowing individual musicians to shine.
“It’s not often that we get to all come together, but (at Gaslamp) we got to hang out, and we got to hear all the other jazz bands, and it’s really fun,” said Lina Viado, a member of Jazz II.
During the Jazz II set, Mr. Padilla also recognized several school and district representatives in attendance, including Mrs. Vienna, the LAHS principal; Mrs. Reyes, the LAHS assistant principal; Marlys Davidson, a member of the Los Alamitos School District Board of Education; and Dr. Pulver, the LAUSD superintendent, all of whom came to support the performers.
Jazz II concluded its set with “Peace,” a song traditionally performed toward the end of the school year. After bowing, the students left the stage for another brief intermission while audience members continued eating and socializing.
Jazz III then took the stage to close out the evening, performing its selections and introducing each piece to the audience. The final set brought the evening’s performances to a close, giving the last ensemble an opportunity to share their music with the crowd.
Unlike a traditional school concert, the restaurant allowed musicians to perform while guests ate, talked and enjoyed the live music.
“The energy (is different). A lot of the time the crowd is much more attentive during one of these performances,” said senior Kai Tokuda, a member of Jazz III.
“Everyone’s having fun and eating food, you get to hear jazz and you get to do your own stuff, too. You hear jazz in the backgrounwhile just minding your own business,” said Lina Viado.
Through the three performances, students showcased their musical abilities while gaining experience performing for an audience beyond their school community. The event also allowed students to apply the skills they developed during rehearsals in a live performance setting.
“It was really cool having the opportunity to play in front of so many people in real life at a location where people actually pay to come,” said Ella Harris, a member of Jazz II. “It was cool to have a new experience, especially anyone who wants to do jazz later in life. This is the kind of setting (students would) probably play in professionally,” Harris said.