Jazz Camp Windup 06/23/2006
by Don Henke

     Last Friday night was the final concert of the annual Miami Valley Jazz Camp. Some of the guest faculty were still there; others had departed for other scheduled gigs – Phil DeGreg back to the Blue Wisp club in Cincinnati, Sammy Kestenholz to Indianapolis, and Bobby Watson to somewhere.  But some stayed to see their students through to their last concert. Centerville High School’s auditorium was packed, as usual, with parents, grandparents, friends and others.  If you’ve ever been to one of these, you’ll understand what draws people back; if you haven’t, maybe this will give you an idea.

     The concert opened with guest faculty member Rick Simerly leading the Top Combo. The group was made up of members of the top big band, which was to appear later.  Jared Soergel played trumpet, Cameron Couch and Chris Ott were the trombonists. The reeds were alto saxophonist Steve Sipniewski, tenor saxophonist Craig Hill and baritone saxophonist Ali Harmon.  The rhythm section was guitarist Emily Harris, pianist Max Greenberg, bassist Maurice Ellis and drummer David Guyton.  They played They played Jimmy Heath’s “Gingerbread Boy”, Freddie Hubbard’s “Little Sunflower” and Horace Silver’s “Nuttville”. There were several soloists on each tune and nary a clam in the bunch.

     Every year there seems to be a surfeit of drummers.  Even with some of the big bands using a different drummer on each tune, there still isn’t room for all. So they have devised a way to use all the kids whom they don’t have a spot for.  This year Jim Leslie directed the drum choir.  There were seven drum kits on the floor in front of the stage … and nine drummers.  This was solved by constant rotation. In a switch on the old game of musical chairs, after the beat began two youngsters moved into two occupied chairs.  Those who were dispossessed moved to other kits and so on.  They all got to play, albeit on different kits, and the beat went on.

     Then it was time for the big bands.  Tradition holds that the band members pick the name for the band.  Sometimes they’re clever, sometimes not so.  There were only four bands this year because enrollment was down.  They always start with the youngest and this year’s 23-member group (mostly middle schoolers) was led by Bill Burns and Dan Nicora.  The name?  “Two Baldies and the Blowfish”.  If you’re familiar with these two saxophonists and teachers you can understand the name; if not, you can guess.  Anyway, this band played Bobby Timmons’ “Moanin’” and Eddie Harris’ “Cold Duck Time”.

     “The Fab 17 Plus One Big Band”, led by Claude Thomas, had 16 players listed in the program.  The “Plus One” was Hal Melia, sitting in the trombone section.  They played Joe Zawinul’s “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” and Victor Young’s “Stella By Starlight”.

     The third band, co-led by Rick Simerly and Hal Melia, obviously worked very hard on their music; so hard, in fact, that they didn’t spend a lot of time working on a name for the band.  They were called “The Big Band Room Big Band”.  Their performance included Bobby Troup’s “Route 66”, John Coltrane’s “Impressions” and a Latin tune called “Senorita”.

     The fourth band, consisting of the most accomplished student musicians (some of whom have been studying for several years and have attended more than one camp), was led by Chicagoan Rob Parton.  Their name was “The Way South of Chicago Big Band”.  They played “Cajun Cookin’”, “Just Friends”, “Rhyme” and “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”.

     Then it was time for the Big Finish. For the grand finale, every camper who was involved takes the floor and they play together under the direction of Dave Kaiser.  Each band also picks a soloist to play during the tune.  This year’s soloists were alto saxophonist Maria Alvarez, pianist Ken Danielson, trumpeter Kyle Kremer and tenor saxophonist Craig Hill. The piece selected was Herbie Hancock’s “Watermelon Man.”  There’s something exciting about seeing all those kids playing together.  Anybody who thinks jazz is dead should come to see this camp show.  True, few of them will carry on into the music profession; some of them may not even listen to jazz in later years.  Still, they will have memories of this week.

     There was a poignancy about this performance. It marked the end of Scott Belck’s tenure as Artistic Director. He and his family will be moving to Duluth, Minn. Soon. He has a teaching position at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. In fact, there was a going-away party for him at Jazz Central the night before, where many of the faculty, including Bobby Watson and Rick Simerly, came and played. He has left the camp in good hands, though. The camp is coming full circle as the original AD, Hal Melia, will be taking over. There will be a Miami Valley Jazz Camp next year.