EVERETT — Everett High band director Megan Vinther introduced a new exercise on a recent Friday in December.
There they were at 6:30 a.m. (yes, that’s when the jazz band rehearses), all 25 of them clapping and taking turns rapping to various rhythmic combinations.
“We love jazz band.”
“Oop bop sh’ bam.”
At some point, Vinther snuck in the chant, “We’re goin’ to Georgia.”
The clapping died off.
“Wait,” said tenor sax player Marah Gillihan. “What?”
“Yes,” Vinther said. “We’ve been invited to the Swing Central competition in Savannah.”
Her students jumped up and cheered.
Marah, 17, cried.
“It’s such an honor,” Marah said.
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The Everett High School Jazz Band is one of 12 of the nation’s top high school jazz bands invited to attend the ninth annual Swing Central High School Jazz Band Competition and Workshops at the Savannah Music Festival in March.
Like the bigger-budget, better-known and older Essentially Ellington competition in New York City, Swing Central invites the cream of the high school crop to its jazz festival to compete, earn prizes and learn from top jazz masters.
This is the first time Everett’s jazz musicians have auditioned for the festival.
“We were thrilled with the quality of all this year’s applicants,” said Swing Central’s associate artistic director Marcus Roberts. “This was our most competitive year, and it was difficult to narrow the field.”
Vinther started a traditional jazz curriculum at Everett High four years ago when she narrowed the jazz orchestra of 50 or so down to a jazz ensemble of 25 or fewer, a move that allowed the jazz band to audition for festivals.
“The hard work the students have put into this makes this honor even more exciting for me,” Vinther said. “It’s awesome.”
* * *
The jazz band sent in its audition tape in November, not knowing if they would hear back before Christmas break.
“So it was crazy when we found out,” said sophomore trumpeter Jackson Cruz, 16.
“It blew my mind,” said trombonist Garry Larson, also 16 and a sophomore.
But after the invitation had been thoroughly celebrated, reality set in, said sophomore drummer Paul Jaton, 15.
“We didn’t expect to go,” Paul said. “So now we have a lot of practicing to do and a lot of money to earn.”
This past Saturday, the band put on a mattress sale fundraiser.
The jazz band still has a third of its ticket to raise, about $10,000, and is set to play two benefit concerts. The teens hope the community will show up.
The big concert is 7:30 p.m. Feb. 5 at Everett Civic Auditorium on campus. The other is 7 p.m. Feb. 12 at Austin’s Bar &Grill, a much smaller venue in downtown Everett.
Everett parent Jake Bergevin, whose children study music at Everett High, is optimistic that the jazz band will get the monetary support it needs.
Bergevin is the band director at Edmonds-Woodway High School. His top jazz band performed at the Essentially Ellington jazz festival in 2003, 2007, 2010 and 2013. In 2009 they went to the Swing Central jazz festival in Savannah.
“It’s an honor for Everett High, for sure,” Bergevin said. “I’ve helped coach some of Megan’s students and I am super proud of those kids. They deserve this.”
* * *
Most of the 11 other bands are from the South, but the list includes a school from California, one from Denver as well as Bellevue’s Newport High School.
On March 26, all 12 bands perform in a public showcase at Rousakis Plaza in the heart of historic Savannah. Competition rounds are March 28, web-casted for family and friends who can’t make the trip.
Each band plays the same three selections: “Invitation” by Bronislau Kaper, “Don’t Git Sassy” by Thad Jones and “Whirlybird” composed by Neal Hefti for the Count Basie Orchestra.
“ ‘Invitation’ is my favorite,” Garry said. “It takes us to a new level and helps us express our love for jazz.”
The three top-scoring bands each receive an honorarium, vie for the coveted Faircloth Award and perform the opening set at “The Louis Armstrong Continuum” concert that night.
“More than anything, though, we’ll be there to learn from some of the top jazz artists in the country,” said Paul.
* * *
Megan Vinther, now 34, grew up in the Tri-Cities and earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Oregon. She’s been with Everett Public Schools for nine years and taught at North Middle School before moving to Everett High following the retirement of longtime beloved band director Gary Evans.
Vinther’s seniors this year include the last of her sixth graders from North Middle.
“We have a committed group,” Vinther said. “They have to be to show up at 6:30 in the morning for rehearsal.”
Some band members drink coffee, said Jackson with a smile.
For Garry, jazz band is what wakes him up.
“Without jazz, I wouldn’t get through the day,” he said.
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @galefiege.
Support the band
Everett High School Jazz Band benefit concerts: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 5 at the Everett Civic Auditorium, 2415 Colby Ave., and 7 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Austin Bar and Grill, 2820 Oakes Ave. Admission is by donation. Students hope people contribute at least $5 each.
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