Jazz Band receives superior rating
The Asheboro High School “Comet Blues” Big Band (jazz ensemble) participated in the NCMEA Music Performance Adjudication event on May 6th, 2011 and received Superior ratings from all three judges. The event was hosted at North Asheboro Middle school and featured schools from around the Central Region of North Carolina. Judges were Dr. Chad Eby from UNCG, Benjy Springs from Greensboro College and Randy Ingold, director of bands at Alexander Central High School.
This is the fourth time that the AHS jazz band has participated in the state contest and the fourth time that they have received straight ‘Superior’ ratings. One of the judges commented that “for what I believe is important in a jazz ensemble: musicality, energy and really ‘swinging,’ the AHS band was the best band I heard today.” The ensemble performed three prepared selections, each representing a different style. They opened with a Thad Jones original entitled “Back Bone,” featuring trombone soloists Dave Beitzel and Chris Trogdon and bassist Sean Howard. The second selection was “While I’m Away,” a bossa nova by David Springfield that featured Adam White on the flugelhorn. The band closed with an up-tempo jazz waltz based on Beethoven’s “Für Elise.” This selection featured pianist Josiah Williams and trombone soloist Dave Beitzel, who recently performed with the NC All-State Jazz Band. Phil Homiller directs the ‘Comet Blues’ Big Band.
The AHS “Comet Blues” will present their spring concert in the AHS Performing Arts Center on May 24th at 7:30 pm. The concert will feature the contest selections and several other highlights, including a classic Duke Ellington chart, “Tippin’ on the Q.T.,” the Gershwin brothers’ standard “Someone to Watch Over Me” (featuring vocalist Payton Burnette) and many others. The jazz ensembles from North and South Asheboro Middle Schools will join the AHS jazz band for this free concert.