Until very recently, Decatur High School in Federal Way didn’t have a jazz combo. What they had was a full jazz big band. When knkx put out the call to regional school jazz programs to send us demo tapes so we could select groups for live studio sessions, Decatur’s band director, Jeff Chang, recorded the big band and sent it in.
We liked it, but had to tell Mr. Chang that our performance space is too small to accommodate a group of that size. So Mr. Chang and his students decided to put together a combo with mentor and bassist, Wayne Bliss, and try again. And, man, did they ever pass that audition.
The three-song set you’re about to hear ranks high among our favorite School of Jazz studio sessions. Thanks, Decatur, for hangin’ in there.
The Band:
Tony Choi (Trumpet), Danny Klein (Alto Saxophone), David Frye (Trombone), Lyla Klein (Keyboard), Gavin Wilson (Bass), Daniel Hackett (Drums)
Other:
Mary McCann (Host), John Kessler (Engineer)
