Average age in the ensemble is about 15. When I saw them, the boys and girls were resplendent in school uniform. Standing in line on a makeshift stage, each player concentrated intently on individual scores ranged on music stands in front of them, always keeping wary eyes on the leader/conductor, the class’s music teacher, a petite blonde.
She bounced around with glee, keeping time as much with her hips as her hands. That young woman had more intuitive rhythm and enthusiasm than any of this year’s contestants on the X-Factor. And her obvious enjoyment of the music was infectious. She was upbeat, so her musicians responded and proved that jazz can swing at all levels and in all genres.
The band played for about 20 minutes during a pre-Christmas bazaar in the main hall of Dorset’s Woodroffe School. It was the best 20 minutes of jazz I’ve enjoyed since Chris Barber in Grantham. I’m not sure what sort of jazz you call it. I didn’t recognise any of the numbers and I think some were home-brewed. But it was varied and funky, groovy and swinging. (Why do I cringe when I type those adjectives?)
The point is that here’s a bunch of school children taking jazz to their hearts. The tenor soloist would have received empathetic appreciation at Ronnie Scott’s and the baritone player maintained the bass line like an old professional, although the instrument almost smothered her. I hope all the band’s members keep up their interest in jazz. We need youngsters and teachers like this so the most noble music of all is kept kicking and jumping and in a position to compete with the dross churned out by Cowell, Walsh et al.
Jazz is alive and well and living in Lyme Regis.
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