Boradman High School Jazz Fest to be swinging good time

The 16th annual Boardman High School Jazz Fest will take place March 21 at 7 p.m. in the Boardman Performing Arts Center. The event will feature BHS Jazz Ensembles 1, 2 and 3, along with special guest artist Mike Tomaro.

The Jazz Fest has consistently grown in popularity and attendance due to its tradition of high quality performances and talented guest artists. Tickets are available at the door at the price of $3 for adults and $2 for students. Senior citizens will be admitted free of charge. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

The evening begins with a performance by Jazz Ensemble 3 – a group formed due to the overwhelming interest in the Jazz Program at Boardman. Jazz 3 will perform “Moondance” and “Sick and Tired.”

Jazz Ensemble 2 will take the stage with its unique blend of jazz and blues. Jazz 2 is the group that entertains crowds at many of Boardman’s basketball games. The band’s selections for the Jazz Fest will include “Sugar” by Stanley Turrentine and Sonny Rollins’ “Doxy.” Jazz 2 will also premier “Be Cool,” which is a new, original tune by guest artist Tomaro.

The headliner of the concert is the Jazz Ensemble 1. The Jazz Fest is two days after the top group’s show with the Buddy Rich Big Band at Powers Auditorium, so the program will include the music of Buddy’s band, like “Dancing Men,” “Groovin’ Hard” and “Big Mama Cass.” Vocal selections featuring James Harker and Nico Ruggieri are “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head” and “It Had Better Be Tonight.” Mike Tomaro will join the band on his arrangements of “Armando’s Rhumba” and “Superstition.”

Jazz 1 will also premier a Tomaro composition called “Touch the Sun.” Several young soloists will be featured, including Anthony Bruno, Mike Mitchum and Harker who were members of this year’s OMEA All-State Jazz Ensemble.

Guest artist Mike Tomaro is being sponsored by Motter’s Music Canfield and the Yamaha Corporation of America. Tomaro is a saxophonist, composer, arranger and educator from the Pittsburgh area. He is the Director of the Jazz Studies Program at the Mary Pappert School of Music at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and is the Co-Artistic Director of the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra, the PJO Youth Band and Artistic Director of the National Jazz Workshop at Duquesne University.

The Boardman Jazz Program continues to collect honors and unique opportunities. Groups have played several engagements at New York City’s famous jazz club Swing 46, B.B. King’s Blues Club and The Blue Wisp in Cincinnati.

Jazz goes year-round at Boardman. Check the Boardman Band website at www.boardmanband.org for complete information and the summer schedule.