Fantasy Riffs

Levittown, Pa.’s Carl Sandburg Middle School will host ‘Jazz Celebration,’ featuring the Paul Morris Big Band.

By: Megan Sullivan
   Jazz is alive and well. To further stimulate the current jazz scene and encourage people of all ages to experience it, the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History deemed April "Jazz Appreciation Month" in 2002. The idea behind the month-long public spotlight on jazz is to encourage musicians, concert halls, schools, colleges, museums, libraries and public broadcasters to offer special programs to draw attention to the heritage and history of this treasure.
   Carl Sandburg Middle School in Levittown, Pa., will host its third "Jazz Celebration" April 7, with six middle school bands performing and a set from the Paul Morris Big Band, featuring Grammy-nominated trumpeter and Blue Note recording artist Tim Hagans, Philadelphia saxophonist Larry McKenna and trombonist Rick Stepton.
   Newtown, Pa., resident Paul Morris, director of instrumental music at Neshaminy School District’s Carl Sandburg Middle School for 19 years, started the event. Mr. Morris modeled the non-competitive event after a jazz festival that has been held for more than 20 years at New Trier High School, outside of Chicago. He wanted to hold a similar event at the middle school level that would give students an opportunity to perform without the stresses of competition.
   "I had wanted to do it for a long time, and I kind of ran out of excuses for not doing it," Mr. Morris says.
   In addition to the Sandburg Middle School jazz band, Grice Middle School in Trenton, Pennwood Middle School, Charles Boehm Middle School, Springfield Township Jazz Spartans and William Penn Middle School will play at the event. "I wanted to invite directors who feel similarly as I do that competition is fine to a certain extent, but it’s not the be-all or end-all," Mr. Morris says.
   Incorporating the big band performance allows the students to see professional musicians play, learn from them and hopefully be inspired. Mr. Morris formed the Paul Morris Big Band specifically for the first event. "I started making some phone calls and got together this phenomenal band," he says. "It all fell together in a pretty neat way." A trombonist with the Brian Pastor Big Band, Mr. Morris initially wanted to hire the group to perform at the first Jazz Celebration, but Mr. Pastor, also first trombonist with the Philly Pops, couldn’t perform that night. This year Mr. Morris’ wife, Claudia Perry, will be featured as a guest vocalist. "Over breakfast one morning she said, ‘If you don’t hire me as your vocalist next year, I’m never speaking to you again,’" Mr. Morris says, laughing.
   Paul Baroli, program director of WBCB 1490-AM and host of Coffee with Kahuna, will be the master of ceremonies this year. "As it turns out, Paul was my student years ago — he played in my jazz band," Mr. Morris says. "I thought, Paul Baroli — it can’t be the same guy. I called him up and son of a gun! It’s so neat to be able to tie in somebody who was a former student."
   Mr. Morris conducts two concert bands and a jazz band at the middle school (grades six through nine), assists with the orchestra when needed and teaches a general music class for sixth graders. "We’re very fortunate that we have a great program and supportive principal, Dawn Kelly," he says.
   Ninth grader Jacqui King, an alto-saxophonist in the jazz band, says she’s excited about the concert. "I think it takes a lot of the pressure off to not have to worry about being judged by how you play," she says. The band will play pieces including "Fantasy" by Earth Wind and Fire and "Harlem Nocturne," and will join the Paul Morris Big Band to play a song together. "I’m actually going to play lead alto for one song with them, so that’s a pretty awesome experience," Jacqui says.
   Going along with the non-competitive spirit, the student musicians will all get a trophy at the end of the night to recognize their excellence in performance. One outstanding soloist will be chosen from each band for an additional award.
   This year, Mr. Morris added an educational component to the event. After each band performs, the students will meet in another room with a professional musician who will rehearse them for 20 minutes and offer constructive criticism. It’s not just about the students learning, however — family and friends are expected to learn something too. The lobby of the school will be sprinkled with student research projects on jazz artists, information for the community on where to hear live jazz in the area, a list of the top 100 jazz CDs of all time and more.
   "I think of it as a way to educate the community and expose them to this music so maybe they’ll be intrigued enough to go to a live performance or to purchase a CD," Mr. Morris says. "I just want to hook the community on this kind of music."
Jazz Celebration will be held at Carl Sandburg Middle School, 30 Harmony Road, Levittown, Pa., April 7, 7 p.m. Free admission. The Paul Morris Big Band with vocalist Claudia Perry will perform at 9:15 p.m. For information, call (215) 946-8921.