Photo of the Pink Pumas performing for the audience (Lily Peltz / The Puma Prensa)
By Caeden Chee, Staff Writer, and Lily Peltz, Staff Writer
Maria Carrillo High School’s esteemed music program had their very first concert week of the new school year. Thursday, October 29, the last concert of the week, was the night for the various Jazz groups. Six groups performed, some directed by our music teachers, Matthew Bringedahl and Lance Ohnmeiss, and others that were entirely student-led.
The concert began with a two song set from our all girls jazz combo, The Pink Pumas. The seven musicians came onto stage decked out in pink bows to perform their set in style. They started with “Girl from Ipanema" then “Besamé Mucho” which was accompanied by the vocals of Patty Torres, chambers choir singer. There were several solos from the girls on trumpet, bass trombone, and saxophone, while the pianist, drummer, and bassist all carried the songs throughout.
The next group, Eli’s Rock Band, switched up the tone with their performance of “Exit Music (For a Film)” by Radiohead. Their intense instrumentals and the vocals from their two singers made for a great, slightly sickening experience you expect from hearing a radiohead song.
Then, the Freshman Combo (made up exclusively of Sophomore students) performed their song “Beautiful Love” by Victor Young. This group started performing together last year, when they were all freshmen, hence the name. The musicians in this group, and the final combo of the night, Combo One, also known as Top Combo, get to have more freedom than others with their solos. They get to add their own ideas and flair into the music, and make it a little bit more their own.
Jazz II soon followed the performance, led by Ohnmeiss and consisting of around 40 people. They played a series of songs that serenaded the audience across the entire theatre. Songs like “Scat Cat,” “Good News!” and “All the Things You Are,” captivated the ears of many who attended the evening of music.
A short intermission then pursued, where members of the audience were able to encourage the performers for the second portion of the night of Jazz I. It also gave the audience an opportunity to indulge in a small snack provided by the parents of the young musicians.
The highly anticipated Jazz I proceeded to close off the night with a long performance around an hour of high energy songs. Many performers got the chance to perform a small solo with their chosen instrument, receiving widespread applause with their excellent performance.
However, the day of the concert also fell on the same day as the birthday of one member of the Jazz band, Devon Lavely. Bringedahl used that coincidence to surprise Lavely with a heartfelt “Happy Birthday Devon!” from the audience themselves.