Come for the jazz, stay for the combos

Niwot High School bands have no shortage of different ensembles and talent. On Wednesday Jan 31, Wade Hendricks, Director of Bands at Niwot High School, took students from both the Jazz and Advanced Jazz band classes to perform at Longs Peak Pub and Tap House in Longmont.

Each student participated in at least one jazz combo (or smaller group of live jazz musicians) starting at 6:30 p.m. They referred to this performance as their "Combo-Rama."

The preparation for this event was described as a little scattered and hectic according to Hendricks, since each combination of musicians was comprised of members from two different class periods. "Every class since our Winter Concert was formatted the same..." said Hendricks, "a full group warm-up and check in, [then] students breaking up and using various rehearsal spaces within the band room while I coached students on song form, creating intros and outros, how to take solos over their various tunes, what to play...."

Each Jazz Combo had to prepare two songs of different jazz styles and some musicians, primarily rhythm section players such as drummers, could be a part of two, three, or even all four combos that were formed within the class periods. Songs performed include "Take the 'A' Train", "Putting on the Ritz", "Tio Macaco" (made famous by Snarky Puppy), the song "Loonboin" from the video game "Plants vs. Zombies," and an original twelve-minute medley of songs written by, Alex Fick (guitarist), one of the students. "It was the highlight of the night for sure!" adds Hendricks.

Hendricks also added a special thanks to Dave Hager and the Longs Peak Pub and Tap House for offering the NHS Jazz Band Combos a place to perform, and for having a properly prepared waitstaff and kitchen. Hendricks also expressed gratitude to Lydia Moy for helping advertise this event as well as acquiring a great amount of media coverage posted on social media for anyone unable to attend the event.