The Family of Band: West Orange High School Musicians Talk Music & More

“Jazz Band is like a family," said West Orange High School 11th-grader Joe Forzinni. Forzinni plays trumpet in jazz band under the experienced baton of Director of Bands Lew Kelly.

Forzinni and his 17 fellow musicians have just come off a long, after school rehearsal in the school band room. They practice under a dozen championship banners and — well, this is a music room — scores of trophies displayed atop instrument lockers. These young musicians know  West Orange music department students have been bringing home many competition triumphs. For example, the gold rated wind ensemble is representing this region in the state concert tomorrow.

Jazz band has been racking up its own statewide recognition. in the recent regional New Jersey Association of Jazz Educators competition hosted at Liberty Middle School, they received a rating of silver, an outstanding soloist honorable mention to 10^th-grade guitarist Ethan Blake, and are among the select group that have been invited to play at the state finals at JP Stevens High School in Edison this afternoon. The day that I came by to listen in, they were rehearsing for this past Monday's performance at Trumpets Jazz Club in Montclair. The sheet music for Latin jazz, standards, jazz standards, funk tunes  and more were on their music stands.

Don't worry if you missed the trumpet show. There are two other great opportunities to hear this big band in action. Tuesday, May 3 at 7 :30 p.m. they play with The University of Michigan Jazz Ensemble in a “Side by Side" concert at the high school auditorium. Coming up on Monday, May 9, they open for the famed Cecil’s Big Band at Cecil’s Jazz Club in West Orange.

“You've got more gigs than some professional freelancers," I remark.

Jazz band knows how hard they have to work and if they forget, Mr. Kelly is there to remind them: "If you want to play this tune on Monday, go home and practice it." He also offers encouragement, "You're doing a good job." And great advice, “You’re rushing it— If you can dance to it, it's a good tempo, I'd be happy if it never got faster than that." 

Around 5:30 p.m., after rehearsal, I sat down with Joe Forzinni and Jean Bernard, 12th-grade, tenor saxophone; guitarist Ethan Blake; Robertini Dessourees, 12th-grade,  trumpet; Harry Kaplan, 10th-grade, trombone; Dylan Lawrence, 11th^-grade trumpet and 10th-grade alto saxophonist Ventura Sims. I had taken the photograph shown here of Forzinni, Blake and Kaplan when they were working on some music during a break.

I asked how they all got interested in jazz.

 Saxophonist Bernard responded first: “I started in classical music on clarinet and piano. Then I heard Charlie Parker on sax, and I tried it out. Dessourees: “I played French horn; I was playing classical music but in sixth-grade I also picked up the trumpet. My Dad got me into jazz, we listened to Miles Davis."

Harry Kaplan’s father played a role, too. “My Dad took me to hear Wynton Marsalis at NJPAC. That was so cool. Then Ethan said, ‘You got to join jazz band,’ so I joined in eigth-grade at Roosevelt." Kaplan said.

This group of students went to Roosevelt Middle School; they credit Roosevelt music faculty member Roger Bryson for their being in jazz band: “Mr. Bryson was the best," they agreed. “If not for him, none of us would be in jazz."

“Middle School was fun; Mr. Bryson made us want to play jazz. Then in high school, with Mr. Kelly, you grow, you get serious, you get so much better," Kaplan said.

They all gave high praise to Mr. Kelly: “Mr. Kelly instills a deep sense of appreciation for jazz in us. He encourages us to really listen. We know how much work he puts into jazz band and into us," the group agreed.

The students also had high praise for the entire West Orange High School music program: “Marching band, pit orchestra, concert band, symphonic band, wind ensemble—everything’s here for you," said Jean. Many of them perform in multiple settings; some of them in all these groups.

Many of these students can't afford private lessons.  I wish they could, there is real devotion and real ability here. All their high school music teachers devote long days to their students, as did their teachers in elementary and middle school. A high school program only can happen when there is excellence in teaching at every grade level.

I asked how they feel when Mr. Kelly criticizes them. “We know he has to sometimes criticize to make us grow," Dessourees said. “I go home and practice more; I don’t want to make mistakes."

I asked how they feel if one of their band mates isn’t performing up to par. Here were some responses:  “We get angry at each other all the time." “It’s part of a learning process." “We also notice when someone is really putting in time and effort and appreciate it," the group said.

“Our closest friends are all in band," they said. 

Support these dedicated, talented musicians. Come hear them at the "Side by Side" concert Tuesday. Proceeds from the $5 ticket benefit the high school music boosters, a group of hardworking parents who supply transportation and support. As for me, I’m planning to catch them at Cecil’s on Monday and maybe introduce them to the great, professional players in the Cecil’s Big Band.

The West Orange High School Auditorium is at 455 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange.  Cecil's Jazz Club is at 364 Valley Road, West Orange. See www.cecilsjazzclub.com or call (973) 736 – 4800. Parking is behind the club and in municipal lot off Valley Road, near Northfield Avenue.