More than two hundred people packed the Craft theatre on Monday for a night of cool Jazz.  The lights illuminated the stage and bathed it in a colorful glow.  Below the theatre, on the first floor, five Jazz classes quietly tuned their respective instruments.  The mood is tense in this room.  Some chatter in small groups by the side.  Others fidget nervously by themselves.  The seasoned Jazz 3 and 4 groups are a little more relaxed, but anticipation still hangs in the air.  When Jack announces that it’s showtime, a nervous sigh issues around the room.  In the auditorium, The first band, Dark Matter, takes the stage.

Artem Socovv, a said that he was “a little” nervous coming up to stage.  “I’m always nervous in concerts,” He said.  Socovv plays in electric guitar in Jazz 1, and this was his first time playing in a Community Jazz concert.  Other first time students though, were very positive.  “I wasn’t [nervous] because I knew we’d be amazing,” said James Dempsey, a split enrolled student with Skyline.  Dempsey said that he felt really good about the concert as a whole.

A unique aspect about the concert was the fact that the younger bands got the opportunity to listen to the more experienced groups. “I think I learned a lot from them, especially on their solos,” said Stephen Brandell, a trumpet player in Jazz 1.  He said that he aspires to be like them someday.

Jack Wagner, the director of the CHS Jazz program, said that he was impressed with the performances.  “I thought the kids did a great job.  It was very rewarding to see all the parents,” he said.  Wagner organized the whole concert and had this to say about the planning, “After a few years of doing this I’ve kind of got the pacing down pretty well for getting all the bands prepared as far as the curriculum material we need to get out to everybody.  I have a nice art to the way the semester goes so that we’re ready with everything we need to perform.”