By Keegan Donoghue ’22
Clang! Rat-a-tat! Tiss! Do you hear that? That’s the BHS Jazz Band tuning up for their live-in-person concert! This gifted group of musicians is excited to bring the joy of live music back to Beverly on June 13th at 5 P.M., at Lynch Park. This will be the 17th year of the annual “Jazz in the Park” concert. Their repertoire for the night includes songs by John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, and Sonny Rollins.
The Ledger had a brief interview with the Band Director, Mr.Costa where he described the backstory behind each piece.
“Certainly each tune has its own backstory in terms of the path taken from genesis to completion, but the one we’re playing that is perhaps the most idiosyncratic and unorthodox would be ‘Pithecanthropus Erectus’ by Charles Mingus.” He continued, “Mingus was a fairly avant-garde composer for his time, but this chart – which hints at free jazz and is a musical narrative about the rise and fall of mankind – is particularly experimental.”
Mr.Costa also explained how he chose each tune.
“I wanted to make sure that our more traditional fare from years past placed an emphasis on accessibility and was not exceedingly complex”. He adds “I gave the students several tunes to consider, in addition to voting for their favorites, they also worked collaboratively to create the musical ‘road maps’ for the tunes that won the vote.”
The Jazz Band members are more than excited to bring the music back, just as we are to hear it.
“I’m so excited that people are going to experience our music for the first time in over a year,” said Jazz Band guitar player Olivia Arenburg. Jazz Band trumpet player Olivia Thompson also expressed her eagerness “to finally perform in front of live audiences again.”
And of course, what would a concert be without a beautiful venue? “I’m grateful that Bruce Doig, the director of BevRec, reached out to me and suggested that we put on this show…it feels somehow poetic that this gig is also the way we have annually closed out the school year, with the backdrop of the ocean, lush green lawn, and setting sun at Lynch Park,” said Mr.Costa.
Throughout this trying year, one thing stayed the same: the positive outlook and perseverance of the band.
“Most of all though, I’d like to thank the students – they demonstrated resilience, creativity, and a collaborative spirit that went well beyond anything I could’ve hoped for amidst a global pandemic. This year could’ve been a bust, but I think they took the lemons being thrown at us and made some incredible lemonade.” said Mr. Costa.
So, if you enjoy fresh air, symphonic jazz music, and happened to have been stuck in the house since March of 2020, come down to Lynch Park on June 13th at 5 P.M. to support the talented members of the BHS Jazz Band.
