Blair's Jazz Bands gain superior ratings once again

Blair's Jazz Bands A and B performed at Sherwood High School in an MCPS Jazz Festival on Saturday, December 6.

Jazz Band A, directed by music director Kurt Lucas, improved its scores from last year. The lowest score that they received was a 92 on sightreading. Three judges gave scores of 93, 96, and 98. Last year's results were 87 on sightreading and 89, 92, and 95 from judge scores.

Jazz Band A performed three songs. There was a swing song called "Tall Cotton," featuring Victor Moreno, "Sultry Sunset," a ballad featuring Deborah Moody and "Peanut Vendor," a Latin piece.

Blair is the only school in the county with two jazz bands. Only one may perform and receive a score, so Jazz Band B only performed in a clinic. A clinic is where groups go to receive comments and criticism from a few instructors. Lucas said that they played well, despite their ineligibility to earn a score. "Even though it is our second jazz band, I think they performed better than the other two high school bands," Lucas said.

Jazz Band B members senior Brandon Hayes and junior Griffith Rees both received Outstanding Soloist awards for their performance.