Anyone walking through Don Ross Secondary School on a Monday afternoon could easily feel transported into an old time jazz club as sounds from the band room echo through the hallways.
The sounds of trombones, trumpets, saxophones and more are actually coming from the 25 students practicing for an upcoming public performance of jazz standards.
The Dessert and Big Band Sounds concert will be held at the school Thursday May 27 at 7 p.m., when students perform classic jazz tunes like In The Mood, Chattanooga Choo Choo and Minnie the Moocher to name a few.
The Don Ross jazz band forms every year with students from Grade 9 through 12 who are interested in performing the musical genre. The group normally has about six shows per year with the Dessert and Big Band Sounds a common favourite.
"The jazz night is my favourite because we're the only band playing so it completely showcases us," said Naiomi Lu, a Grade 10 student who has been in the band for two years.
The concert is free and desserts made by the students will be provided for everyone.
"This year we're definitely hoping to have some swing dancing going on as well," said band director, music teacher and school counsellor Stan Thomson.
"It's about the 20th year I've hosted the concert and it's always a good time," he said.
Thomson said he knows the students are ready to perform when they start to feel comfortable enough to try improvising solos.
"Now they stand up and play with confidence and that's how I know the group has really come together. Now we're ready to invite the public to hear what we've been working on all year."
The jazz band will also be performing at Balding for Dollars at 11 a.m. on May 15 and at the Relay for Life on June 4.
Thomson also brought the concert band down to the University of Washington this year to rehearse with one of their music directors.
To continue building its music program, the Don Ross music department is asking for donations of used instruments from anyone who might have an old flute, saxophone, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, bass guitar or base amp sitting in their house unused.
Thomson guarantees that every donated instrument will be played.
