High School Kids and All That Jazz
An article by Marc Shulgold
Oh, how the hand-wringing of jazz lovers was everywhere to be found a few years back. With good reason: A survey in 2008 showed that young folks had become increasingly indifferent to this American-born music. The median age of those who went to a jazz show then was 46, compared to 29 back in 1982. The graying of jazz was in full force and seemed unstoppable. Jazz, it appeared, was dying.
To quote the title of that Mercer Ellington classic, things ain’t what they used to be. “Jazz is more important these days,” observed Scott Handler. “It’s definitely on an uptick.” And he should know.
Handler is executive director and trumpeter with the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, a 19-piece band formed in 2002, and in the thick of the revived passion for jazz among young people. And we’re not just talking about 20-somethings.
“We offer a series we call MJO Presents, from October to May, when we invite high school groups to join us for concerts at Dazzle,” Handler said. “Over the past ten years, we’ve engaged jazz programs from 50 different schools in Denver and along the Front Range.”
On the second and third Monday, starting each October, Handler and company welcome young, polished, enthusiastic teen jazzers to the Lincoln St. club – voted one of the world’s 100 best jazz venues — for an evening-long jam session before sold-out audiences of family, friends and fans.
Participation is focused on the schools, which are responsible for selling tickets. The MJO pockets $400 to cover their expenses, with the rest going to the schools. “It’s a built-in audience of supporters,” Handler said. “Plus, we’ll have some walk-ins. There’s always this elderly couple, and they just love the energy and the music.”
Each Dazzle show features an opening set by the visiting school’s jazz ensemble, followed by an MJO set. For a finale, the two groups pack the stage, with brief solo spots being tossed around among the seasoned pros and teen players.
It’s a lot of fun, and quite a thrill for the student musicians – but it can be much more, Handler pointed out. “One parent told me afterward that the performance had been a life-changing event for her kid.”
In addition to the MJO Presents evenings at Dazzle, the group plays in-school concerts, as well as performances at various summer events, such as the Mile High and Greeley Jazz Festivals. Occasionally, invited guest artists will participate in the group’s shows and educational activities.
The life of a Denver-based jazz professional is a busy one, though no one’s getting rich. Handler plays with 10 or so different bands during the course of the year. That is, when he’s not engaged in his day job – he’s been a United Airlines pilot for 18 years. “Most of the (MJO) members have regular jobs,” he noted.
A quick glance at the group’s calendar is hardly packed with concerts. In mid-September, MJO will perform on succeeding nights at the Highlands Ranch Mansion and Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum (the latter with Pink Champagne). Next spring they’ll appear with the Longmont Symphony. Rehearsals are held on three Sundays each month.
But it’s those Monday nights that bring the most smiles to the players. Clearly, Handler and company get a particular kick out of collaborating with future jazz musicians at Dazzle. We’re not talking about a tiny handful of participants – on some occasions, a veritable army of young players crowd onto the stage. “One group had nine saxophones,” he recalled with amazement. The ensembles are prepared by their band directors, offering a tightly rehearsed set. And yes, Handler said, a few of those kids are already showing some serious chops.
The long-held peer pressure against ambitious teen musicians seems to be fading away, he suggested. “The phrase ‘band geeks’ has been around forever. But they don’t seem to mind. And, it’s true, there are not as many bands in DPS as in the suburbs, but we do invite inner-city school groups to Dazzle. Often, though, there are problems with transportation and with folks unable to afford tickets. But we work around that.”
What counts is that these young people have discovered jazz, and discovered that they like it. Performing is the icing on the musical cake: There’s nothing like playing for an audience in a famous jazz club. “Sometimes, if they’re simply just exposed to it, these kids can really get into the music,” Handler said. “We’ve had some younger siblings suddenly want to get involved, too!”
The Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra performs at the Brunner House in Broomfield at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 10. More information.
At 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 12, MJO plays at Highlands Ranch Mansion, 9950 E. Gateway Dr.
At 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13, the group appears at the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, 7711 E. Academy Blvd.
The “MJO Presents” series offers programs of twice-monthly Mondays at Dazzle, 930 Lincoln St., beginning Oct. 13.
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