Tuesday, April 1 brought the All New England Jazz Festival to Plymouth State’s Silver Center. The event began at five o’clock and ran for just over an hour, featuring jazz ensembles from Laconia, Newfound Regional, Alvirne and Dover high schools as well as Plymouth’s own jazz band playing alongside jazz saxophonist Greg Abate. Abate is an international Jazz/Recording artist and professor of Jazz Studies at Rhode Island College.
Dressed in black with matching t-shirts of a cityscape with “Jazz” written emphatically across the back, Laconia high school students began the event with an energetic and climactic piece. The audience appeared to be caught off guard as the students followed close under the conduction of director Debbi Gibson. The piece had a sound similar to that of rock group Survivors “Eye of the Tiger” though it was not to be taken lightly with its heavily jazz inspired elements harmonizing smoothly with the guitar and saxophones. The consistent and quick rhythm of the ensemble was a crowd pleaser as the audience gave a well received applause for the opening act.
Suited in a mix of black, white and fedora all over, Newfound Regional high school took stage with an all male ensemble directed by Edward Judd and performed an improved version of an original. The quaint six-piece ensemble played a relaxing and groove filled piece keeping the audience entertained with several solos by the groups lead saxophone player. The pianist kept his pace accordingly with the band as he switched effortlessly between the pedals and keys, holding a strong balance between the members improvised approach to the piece.
With the short shuffling of feet, minor instrument tuning and no forml introduction Alvirne high school provided an enthusiastic piece of fast fusion giving the audience a rather large surprise considering the quiet set-up. The pianist of the group stood out amongst other players in the band, hitting bubbly yet punchy tones approved by the audience with subtle handclapping.
Duke Ellington was the inspiration for Dover high school as director Michele Boulanger conducted her students through the piece with a funky, rhythmic bass encouraged by fast guitar riffs fused together by enjoyable and upbeat rhythms provided by the saxophonists of the ensemble. The audience gave generous applause for the bands interesting use of rhythm that bounced notes up and down in a progressive dropping manor. Taking the stage just after 5:30 p.m., Plymouth State’s own Jazz Band gave an excellent performance alongside Greg Abate but not before performing and entertaining the audience with “Junebug” by Jeff Holmes. Consisting of one guitarist, upright bassist, pianist, percussionist and several brass instrumentalists, the Jazz band enlightened its listeners with their energetic and comfortable presence. After catching the audiences attention with their first track, director Tom Robinson invited Abate aboard stage to play with the band for three tracks. Playing a mix of fast fusion and classy funk, Abate took hold of several solos that harmonized nicely between his saxophone, the talents of the trumpet players and Justin Cohen on percussion. Cohen, a percussionist for the last fourteen years, played the fast fusion with an aggressive look on his face and a content feeling in his toes as he played with his shoes off. Cohen explained later that he can “feel the groove” better without the restriction of soled shoes. Aside from the eccentric and intriguing preference of shoeless playing, Cohen and the ensemble played their instrumentals well next to Abate as he moved into a Beatles cover that student Phil Barber enthusiastically stated, “teased Norwegian Wood.” Playing two songs as a group, Abate tried to give his thanks and make his way off stage though Robinson easily coaxed him back on for a closing track “Better Get It In Your Soul” by Charles Mingus. The song had the crowd clapping along as one saxophonist played an engaging solo into a duet with the upright bassist, leaving the crowd hooting and cheering. The event was a success with over forty members in attendance ranging from local high school students, band instructors, family members and university student music enthusiasts.