CONCERT SERIES MAKES FOR A JAZZY HIGH SCHOOL FUND-RAISER GOLDEN VALLEY BAND NEEDS UNIFORMS.

Byline: Carol Rock Staff Writer

CANYON COUNTRY - Without flashy uniforms, but with miles of talent, the marching band at Golden Valley High School was looking for a way to finance its growing musical dynasty - and decided to jazz things up a bit.

The Winter Blues, a brainchild of Golden Valley's music teacher Amy Smith, is a fund-raiser and homage to the area's jazz heritage and legendary instructors R.K. Downs and Dirk Fischer. Starting Thursday night, the fledgling school will host three nights of jazz, along with Saturday afternoon workshops, to raise enough to buy uniforms and music for the students.

``We need to raise $30,000 for band uniforms,'' Smith said. ``We have 45 students now, but we're expecting 80 next year from La Mesa (Junior High).

``The kids have come up with a couple of uniform designs that we're still fine-tuning, but they have to be ordered by April 1 to get them for next year. We also need money for choral music, which is very expensive.''

Thursday night, renowned jazz trumpeter Rob Walker, whose son Dustin also plays trumpet in the school band, will take the stage along with the school's jazz ensemble and women's chamber singers in the auxiliary gym.

Friday night, saxophonist Brent Jensen, most recognized for his recording ``The Sound of a Dry Martini: Remembering Paul Desmond,'' will join the student musicians.

Saturday night, award-winning bassist and scat vocalist Kristin Korb will perform with the ensembles.

``The Walkers moved to the valley this summer and he called to ask how he could help,'' Smith said. ``I asked him if he knew any musicians who would perform in concert and he gave me a list of names. He's also written an original chart that will be performed every night, called 'Jazz Train.'''

``I've done a lot of jazz festivals and jazz education and know what it takes to get a new jazz program off the ground. I saw this as my chance to volunteer,'' said Walker.

``What I see strategically for Golden Valley is that some of the other schools have fortes, such as a strong marching band or concert band. Amy has the opportunity to create a dominant jazz program in the valley.''

Jensen and Walker will also teach an instrumental jazz workshop that is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Korb will teach a vocal jazz workshop from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday. Cost of each workshop is $5 per person.

Walker said his Saturday workshop will demystify jazz somewhat, likening the music genre to a foreign language.

``Conceptually, there are a lot of misgivings in jazz education. If you are told, 'Here are the right notes to play,' it's like learning a language without ever hearing it. To play jazz, you have to listen to it, speak it and mimic it. You have to experience it.''

The school's jazz band meets at 6:30 each morning and Smith says she has few absences.

``Most of the kids are involved in other activities and can't afford to give up another period,'' she said. ``Several of the band members have switched instruments to fill our needs. Most of the saxophone players started out on trumpets but learned sax this summer.''

Sophomore Susana Garcia, 14, has been singing since she can remember and is excited about the upcoming show.

``I love music; it's so much fun learning the melodies - folk, classic and jazz,'' she said.

``This is a family tradition,'' said Jenneth Berriel, 16, a third-generation singer. Francesca Riso, 15, is also the child of vocalists, vamping for a photographer while she rattled off the names of different people with whom her mother and father had performed.

Newly minted trombone player Jon Nestico, 15, said his three years of playing clarinet gave him a good base.

``It was pretty easy to switch from woodwind to brass,'' he said. ``I think I'm going to stay with trombone now. My dad played clarinet in high school and my sister sings. I guess you could say we're a musical family.''

``Music takes my mind off everything,'' said sophomore Mike Barnett, 15. ``My grandma gave me piano lessons when I was 5, but I didn't like piano so I switched to clarinet, then saxophone, then drums. But I'm playing trumpet in the jazz band for this.''

Tickets for the event are $25 per person and include a Stonefire Grill- catered dinner, which will be served at 6:30 p.m. Concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. each night. For tickets and information, call [phone], Ext. 1615, or visit www.gvhswinterblues.net.

Carol Rock, [phone]

carol.rock(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

(color) Golden Valley High School music teacher Amy Smith came up with Winter Blues to raise money for band uniforms.

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer