BHS Jazz Ensemble performs at CMU Jazz Weekend

On Friday, Feb. 5, the Belleville High School Jazz Band traveled to Central Michigan University to perform at the 43rd-annual Jazz Weekend.
CMU has a rich tradition of jazz and every year invites the biggest names in jazz as guest artists. In past years, CMU has had Duke Ellington, Maynard Ferguson, Bobby Shew, Phil Woods and Peter Erskine, among many other jazz greats.
The BHS Jazz Ensemble performed three selections: “One O’Clock Jump” by Count Basie, “I Just Called to Say I Love You” by Stevie Wonder/arranged by Michael Philip Mossman, and “On the Sunny Side of the Street” by the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra.
In addition to listening and performing, the students heard professional jazz trumpeter Walter White.
White was in attendance with his own jazz quartet that included Gary Schunk (piano), Jeff Trudell (drum set) and Jack Dryden (bass).
White presented a masterclass to all BHS students and other attendees. In the masterclass, White talked about the history of jazz, his own background as a musician, and answered questions from the audience.
That evening, students attended a concert featuring CMU’s top jazz ensemble with Walter White as the guest artist.