Dimmed lights, scattered candles and eager parents created a warm ambiance the evening of Apr. 16 as the Juan Miguel Quartet transformed into a Quintet with the addition of junior Josh Melchert on the electric guitar, along with juniors Ryan Kari on the bass, Juan Miguel Adams on the baritone saxophone, Howard Huelster on the drums and Roman Farley on the keyboard.
While the group was already solid, the addition of Melchert’s guitar blended wonderfully with the saxophone and piano. With popular jazz hits such as “Nardis” by Miles Davis, and “Red Clay” by Freddie Hubbard, their performance was riveting. However, they could have brought even more energy by positioning themselves closer on the stage. It might seem minor, but the distance between the musicians slightly diminished their strong performance.
Individual solos shined in the Quintet’s performance. From Adams’ smooth saxophone riff in “Just Friends” to Melchert’s effortless electric guitar in “Red Clay” displayed the technical mastery of his instrument. Kari’s subtle bass solo in “Just Friends” was also a nice touch.
The group’s performance offered a good segway into intermission, where the middle school parents switched out with the high school parents at the tables on the stage. However, the switch paused the show, which somewhat impacted the flow of the performance.
The Upper School Jazz band started off strong with “The Jazz Police” by Gordon Goodwin, a fast-paced, energetic piece with a spy-movie vibe. Sophomore Zach Berchenko’s and freshman Hank Harp’s upbeat piano riff was infectious.
The mood shifted dramatically with “Cinema Paradiso,” a romantic, slow ballad compared to the intensity of “The Jazz Police”. Sophomore Solomon Beardsley and ninth grader Ronan Keel conveyed a lot of emotion with their trumpet solos. It served as a much-needed breather before the next song of the night, “Hop Skip ‘Nda Jump,” which had the audience tapping their feet. Director of Upper School Jazz Band Randy Reid described it as his favorite song, and rightfully so, as its energetic solos from freshman Tarq Johnson, Adams, Berchenko and junior Louis Fratzke on the trombone brought a new level of excitement to the evening.
I was intrigued by the “easter egg” Reid mentioned in ¨Star Eyes¨. Even after straining my ears, I could not catch it amongst solos by junior Tommy McGill and ninth grader Ronan Keel. After a parent confidently pointed out the Star Trek theme, Mr. Reid replayed measure 132 for the others who did not hear it. Next, trombones were the highlight in ¨I Like It Like That¨ by Pete Rodriguez. Having them stand up and sway their instruments back and forth added a fun element of surprise. The night’s most recognizable track, “Faith” by Stevie Wonder and Ariana Grande, was a crowd-pleaser. A catchy bass solo by senior Saurin Patel stood out from this song.
The first vocal performance of the night starred senior Serene Kalugdan singing ¨That’s All” by Nat King Cole. Kalugdan´s stage presence was captivating, effortlessly commanding attention with her confidence and charm. It was refreshing to hear a ballad sung so beautifully in a jazz setting.
Frances Matthews’ rendition of “Haven’t Met You Yet” was another pleasant surprise. While it was a bit more mainstream, Matthews made it her own with a jazz-infused twist that made it feel fresh.
Junior Elzie Bieganek’s voice was a perfect fit for jazz, and her performance of “But Not For Me” was beautifully executed. It was subtle and controlled, yet there was a depth to her voice that enthralled the listener.
Senior Georgia Ross concluded with “Everything,” a true testament to her years of experience.
Mr. Reid gave a well-deserved shout out to Ross for her involvement in three out of the four jazz cabarets over the years. Ross’ voice soared in her performance, making it clear that she had earned her place as the final vocalist of the night.
Then came the finale “Walking on Sunshine” which brought together all four of the vocalists for one last celebratory burst of joy. The finale was a victory lap for everyone involved, the musicians, parents and especially Reid.
This year’s cabaret held a deeper significance, as it was Reid’s last. After years of teaching, inspiring, and conducting performances such as this one, he is retiring. As the applause faded, one of his students handed him a bouquet of flowers, a simple gesture yet deeply deserved. A quiet thank you to someone who had poured so much into the program.
The night ended with music and gratitude; a show full of talented students and a teacher who made those talents shine.
