Jazz Ensemble earns an excellent rating

By Thomas Nelson, tnelson@charlescitypress.com

The Charles City High School Jazz Ensemble earned an excellent or “1” rating at The Iowa High School Music Association State Jazz Festival at the North Grand Building Wednesday night.

“This is our state assessment. We have one for marching band, we have one for jazz band and we have one concert band,” band director Jake Gassman said.

Charles City has hosted the jazz event for the last four years, he said.

‘We participate every year,” Gassman said. “It’s something you do every year.”

Wednesday’s contest was postponed from its earlier date Monday because of the weather.

There are other state festivals going on around the state. The one Wednesday evening was part of several northern Iowa state festivals.

“This Saturday will be all the southern schools,” Gassman said. “There’ll be several sites for that, too.”

The Charles City High School Jazz Ensemble played three songs that featured solos from several of student players.

Deciding on what songs to play for the jazz ensemble is more individualized than the concert or marching band, Gassman said.

“A lot of times I’ll look at who my seniors are, I’ll look at who my principle players are, who are my lead players, then we try to pick music to complement those students,” Gassman said.

Derek LaBarge and Carter Johanningmeier had solos and did a duet during the ensemble’s rendition of “Over the Rainbow.” Both students had gone to the All-State Music Festival last fall.

One of the festival judges Wednesday was Tom Haugen, a former Charles City teacher, who gave the ensemble rave reviews and went on stage to give students advice.

Haugen complimented the band on their look and their playing, saying he liked that the band was arranged so the faces of the students were all visible.

“If you can’t see the bell (of the instrument) you can’t hear them,” Haugen said.

The contest featured Jazz ensembles from seven high schools — Turkey Valley, Central Springs, New Hampton, Sumner-Fredericksburg, North Fayette Valley, Decorah and Charles City. The bands don’t compete against each other but play for individual ratings.

The band will be going on to a district festival next.