‘Jivin’ With Jazz’ is another cool jam

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

The FFA Youth Enrichment Center at the Floyd County Fairgrounds was packed Tuesday night. The annual “Jivin’ with Jazz” concert and dinner had the venue bursting with people and bursting with music.

The concert included two Charles City High School vocal jazz groups and two instrumental jazz groups. About 225 people attended, with 56 kids performing.

“It’s grown quite a bit, it used to be at the Elks, and we had just one jazz band that performed,” said Jacob Gassman, Charles City Instrumental Music teacher. “Then we added the second jazz band, and we grew a little more. This is actually the fourth venue we’ve been at in my nine years here.”

Gassman wasn’t certain, but he guessed that “Jivin’ with Jazz” has been an annual event for at least 15 years. Tuesday, he directed the Jazz Band and Jazz Ensemble instrumental groups while Charles City High School Vocal Music Director Derek Sturtevant directed the vocal groups, “2JazzedUp” and “Rhymes With Orange.”

“Last year we added the vocal jazz group, and this year we added the second vocal jazz group. It just keeps growing. We get more performers and we get more people to come and watch.”

The concert also serves as a fundraiser.

“This performance serves two purposes,” said Gassman. “It’s the culmination of the main part of our season, but it’s also a fundraiser. This event will fully fund our jazz program for the year. We don’t have to worry about any other funds coming in or out because of this event.”

Dave Holschlag catered the meal and the students themselves actually provided table service before they performed all of the music they have learned to date.

“I love serving the people and getting some laughs, it’s so much fun,” said vocal performer Tyreque Baker, as he cleared some plates off a table for some guests.

There was also a silent auction and desserts for sale, and the new venue was a hit with the performers.

“Honestly, it’s really cool, the acoustics are going to be really nice,” said performer Stephen Bachman, just prior to the music starting. “It’s going to be a good show.”

2JazzedUp set the tone for the night with a stirring rendition of the Eagles’ “Seven Bridges Road,” arranged by Kirby Shaw.

“I’m not sure that song qualifies as jazz, but you’ve got to love the Eagles,” Sturtevant told the audience.

The group also performed Shaw’s arrangement of “Java Jive.”

The Jazz Band then performed Sorenson and Pearson’s “My Dinner With Ronald” and “Martian Square Dance.”

Rhymes With Orange performed Jeremy Fox’s “Mr. Hooper’s Find It In A Minute Book” and “I Will,” then closed with Derek Fawcett’s “Summertime.”

The Jazz Ensemble performed “How High the Moon” by Morgan Lewis; “Tomorrow is Always a Good Day” by Paul Clark; “Tongue and Groove” by Jay Chattaway; “Over the Rainbow” by Harold Arlen and closed the show with “Ran Kan Kan” by Tito Puente.

“I’m proud of these kids. The level of performance has grown exponentially over the last few years,” said Gassman. “There is some great music happening here tonight.”