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Torrance Corps hosts Crescendo Jazz All Stars concert.
By Karen Gleason –
Unlike a traditional Salvation Army brass band, the jazz bands incorporate more instruments including saxophone, clarinet, flute, stringed bass, guitar and piano. The musical arrangements allowed individual performers to showcase their skills during solo sections.
“It was wonderful to see so many young people playing to such a high standard, with most of them only joining the ensemble this past September, said Kevin Larsson, Southern California Divisional Music Ministries Director. “It was a large audience, mainly consisting of parents and friends of the performers. Once the corps is fully engaged and committed to this program, I am convinced that we will see significant growth.”
The Junior Jazz All Stars played a set of tunes by Bruce Pearson and Dean Sorenson: “Uncle Milo’s Side Show,” “River Rat Shuffle,” “Boss’s Madeira,” “Buffalo Head” and “Blues at Frog Bottom.” The senior band performed works by Duke Ellington–”C-Jam Blues,” Harlem Airshaft,” “Bojangles,” Carnegie Blues,” “Such Sweet Thunder” and “Magnolias Dripping with Molasses”–and “So Easy” by Ted Dameron.
The Senior Jazz All Stars will be recording three of the Duke Ellington numbers to audition for the Essentially Ellington Competition and a chance to perform at Lincoln Center in New York City this spring.
A program of the Southern California Division, Crescendo opened in September 2015, and offers lessons in brass, woodwind, strings, percussion, guitar and vocal, as well as dance including beginning ballet for all age groups, hula and Indian classical dance. “Mommy and Me” musical exploration classes for children aged 1-3 will begin in late January. Garry and Julie Lawrence are director and assistant director, respectively. Majors Brian and Millie Bearchell are Torrance Corps Officers.
Crescendo also partners with “Music Does It!,” which specializes in music therapy for children and adults with autism and related needs.
“This program offers private therapeutic music instruction and soon will be starting music skill development groups and socializing fun groups through music for all ages,” Julie Lawrence said.
Ultimately, through the ministry of music, the goal of the school is to “bring people into fellowship of The Salvation Army, and for them to build a relationship with Jesus Christ,” Larsson said.
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Dear Karen:
I would like to contact Tim Nail, the director of the Crescendo Jazz All-Stars. I am the chair of the Jazz Intensive for the Idyllwild Arts Summer Jazz Camp, and would like to offer a 50% scholarship to one of his students, Aarin Martinez, who plays bass and sings. If you are not comfortable passing that information on to me, please pass my info on to him.
Thank you very much,
Dear Tom: Thank you so much for reaching out to us. I have passed your message along to Crescendo Director Garry Lawrence, who will then contact Tim Nail. Thanks again! – Karen
Dear Karen:
I would like to contact Tim Nail, the director of the Crescendo Jazz All-Stars. I am the chair of the Jazz Intensive for the Idyllwild Arts Summer Jazz Camp, and would like to offer a 50% scholarship to one of his students, Aarin Martinez, who plays bass and sings. If you are not comfortable passing that information on to me, please pass my info on to him.
Thank you very much,
Dear Tom: Thank you so much for reaching out to us. I have passed your message along to Crescendo Director Garry Lawrence, who will then contact Tim Nail. Thanks again! – Karen