Friends, family of Los Alamitos High School’s award-winning jazz bands packed to the Los Al Performing Arts Center recently to hear the them jazz up the holidays.
Under the leadership of orchestra director Justin Padilla, the Los Al High School jazz program has won outstanding recognitions and awards at top jazz festivals around the country.
Accordingly, the jazz program strives to “provide superior experiences that help student musicians to grow in skill, knowledge and character.”
From participation in local and regional jazz festivals to clinics with master artists such as Kenny Rampton and Willie Murillo, the three bands took the stage for its “Jazzing up the Holidays” concert.
Throughout the evening, the Los Al Jazz Bands played an assortment of well known, and some unique holiday selections.
The Jazz1 orchestra played, among other selections, Mystique, Cherokee, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and Let It Snow, while Jazz 2 entertained with Amoroso, Jingle Bells, We Three Kings of Orient and Let it Snow and Jazz 3 played Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, Autumn Leaves and Big Band Holiday.
Currently, Jazz 1 is currently auditioning for the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival, Jazz 1 and 2 will attend the Reno Jazz Festival and Jazz 2 and 3 will attend the Essentially Ellington Jazz Festival at the University of Nevada Las Vegas.
The next opportunity for local fans to see the Los Al Jazz ensembles will be at their Spring Concert.