Art, Entertainment, and Reviews
Jazz Connoisseurs Come to Reagan:
We Six Jazz Sextet
Corinne Kronschnabel
The Ronald Reagan Music Department prides itself on having a wide range of musical endeavors available to students. With three bands, five choirs, an orchestra, an IB music program, a comprehensive musicianship program, a drumline, a pep band, two jazz bands, multiple barbershop groups, and a yearly musical, the RRHS Music Department is still striving to provide their students with the best.
In the realm of the band department, jazz band is an extracurricular provided to sophomores and upperclassmen. Students practice the pieces they will perform during the winter and spring concerts on Thursdays during sophomore and senior ACP, respectively. They are not getting a grade, or even extra credit. They do it because it’s enjoyable. Jazz band is for students who want to express their love for music through a unique and ever-changing style.
Band director Adam Murphy - who conducts upperclassman jazz band - recognizes this, and he invited some special guests to Reagan to perform for students from all the band classes. These guests took the form of the We Six jazz sextet, a group a six professional jazz musicians that reside at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. They have had a few members changes throughout the years, but the current group consists of Jeff Hamman (upright bass), Eric Jacobson (trumpet), Eric Schoor (saxophone), Dave Bayles (drumset), Mark Davis (piano), and Paul Silbergleit (electric guitar). Besides performing they also travel to different schools in the Milwaukee area to teach jazz. During the 2016-2017 school year they will be working with the Reagan jazz bands to improve their style and expression of the music. Mark Davis, pianist for the sextet, has already come in to work with the upperclassman jazz band on their piece “It’s Only a Paper Moon.” Suffice to say, the upperclassmen are very excited to continue working with the group.
Here is one of the pieces they performed for band students on November 14.
“Julie’s Time” Written by Jeff Hamann, arranged by Eric Schoor.
In the realm of the band department, jazz band is an extracurricular provided to sophomores and upperclassmen. Students practice the pieces they will perform during the winter and spring concerts on Thursdays during sophomore and senior ACP, respectively. They are not getting a grade, or even extra credit. They do it because it’s enjoyable. Jazz band is for students who want to express their love for music through a unique and ever-changing style.
Band director Adam Murphy - who conducts upperclassman jazz band - recognizes this, and he invited some special guests to Reagan to perform for students from all the band classes. These guests took the form of the We Six jazz sextet, a group a six professional jazz musicians that reside at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. They have had a few members changes throughout the years, but the current group consists of Jeff Hamman (upright bass), Eric Jacobson (trumpet), Eric Schoor (saxophone), Dave Bayles (drumset), Mark Davis (piano), and Paul Silbergleit (electric guitar). Besides performing they also travel to different schools in the Milwaukee area to teach jazz. During the 2016-2017 school year they will be working with the Reagan jazz bands to improve their style and expression of the music. Mark Davis, pianist for the sextet, has already come in to work with the upperclassman jazz band on their piece “It’s Only a Paper Moon.” Suffice to say, the upperclassmen are very excited to continue working with the group.
Here is one of the pieces they performed for band students on November 14.
“Julie’s Time” Written by Jeff Hamann, arranged by Eric Schoor.
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CHOIR CONCERT RECAP
CORINNE KRONSCHNABEL
Blue Skies - combined choirs w/ Amanda Draheim (piano), Jacob Dubey (drumset), Nick Johnson (bass), and Chris Hawkins (saxophone)
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The Road Home - chamber choir w/ soprano soloist Natalija Walker
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Shut de Do' - concert choir w/ Jacob Dubey on percussion
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