By Audrey Anderson
Hometown Weekly Reporter
The Medfield Music Association presented a memorable Medfield Jazz Night with guest educator and performer Christine Fawson. The event was generously sponsored by Needham Bank, as it has been for twelve years.
Christine Fawson, an enthusiastic, powerhouse professional jazz vocalist and jazz trumpet player, worked with the students all day and then performed with the groups in the evening concert. It was clear that Fawson had a great rapport with the students, as she sat in with some and exchanged encouraging glances with others throughout the concert. The whole day was an amazing opportunity for students to be mentored by a real professional and imagine themselves in her shoes one day.
The concert began with the Medfield High School Jazz Combo, a group of five talented musicians who played “Yes and No” by Wayne Shorter. Next, the Jazz Lab Band performed. Director Amanda Tumbleson encouraged her group of 5th grade students in performing music well beyond their stage at a high level. Among their selections were “Smoke on the Water” and the “Sesame Street Theme.”
The promising Blake Middle School Jazz Ensemble followed, directed by Matt Kelly. This group of 7th, 8th, and 9th graders performed complicated pieces and bravely added great improvisational solos. Their pieces included “The Blues Walk” by Clifford Brown and “Midnight Creeper” by Lou Donaldson. Fawson played alongside the group, sitting in with them.
The innovative Medfield Jazz Ensemble II, directed by Joe Esposito, included violins and strings in their mix, creating an interesting sound. They played “Spain” by Chick Corea and the difficult “Chromazone” by Mike Stern. Fawson sat in with this group and soloed as well, even trading solos with students.
After intermission, the focus turned to vocal jazz. Each group was accompanied by piano and drums and sang with microphones. The jazz groups had their own style, different from the beloved a cappella groups in dress and manner, and of course, they focused on jazz, which included complex harmonies with the power to excite the audience.
The Blake Jazz Choir, directed by Ann Marie Tremblay, sang “Tuxedo Junction” by Hawkins, Johnson, & Dash, and the fun and energetic “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” by Raye & Prince. Fawson soloed on her trumpet with contagious energy, and she also added scat-singing to the performance. As she encouraged the students, they also took successful turns at it.
The amazing Medfield High School Jazz Choir, directed by Ann Marie Tremblay, created beautiful, exciting sounds and rhythms with their excellent voices and training. They were dressed in elegant black gowns and suits, leaving a remarkable impression on the stage. This group treated the audience to three outstanding pieces of music, the jumpy and fun “A-Train” by Billy Strayhorn, the gorgeous harmonies of “Hymn of Acxiom” by Vienna Teng, the entertaining “The Song Is You” by Kern and Hammerstein.
The Medfield High School Jazz Ensemble closed out the evening, playing intricate pieces requiring great skill and tight ensemble playing. They displayed their powerful sound on songs such as “Big Swing Face” by Bill Potts, “Sugar Hill Penthouse” by Duke Ellington, and “Furioso” by Michele Fernandez. Fawson displayed her soulful voice and wide range in a group of American Songbook standards, such as “On the Sunny Side of the Street” by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields, “The Nearness of You” by Hoagy Carmichael, and “Blue Skies” by Irving Berlin. She also added adventuresome trumpet solos. At the conclusion of the program, the large audience jumped to their feet with joy and clapped for a long interval. It was a joy of a concert that left everyone in a dancing mood and a melody in their hearts.
