Boardman High School Jazz Fest continues honored tradition

Boardman HS Jazz Fest

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Joe Graziosi, 2006 Boardman alumnus, was special guest at the 17th annual Boardman HS Jazz Fest.

Boardman HS Jazz Fest

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The 17th annual Boardman HS Jazz Fest was held tonight. Special guest was 2006 Boardman alumnus Joe Graziosi.

By BRUCE WALTON

bwalton@vindy.com

BOARDMAN

Hundreds of parents, friends, family and community members gathered in the Boardman High School Performing Arts Center to hear some jazz from talented students.

After the lights dimmed Tuesday night, the Eighth Grade Jazz Ensemble from Glenwood Junior High School began the tune of Chicago’s “25 or 6 to 4.” It was a lively start for the 17th annual Boardman High School Jazz Fest, featuring all four of Boardman’s jazz ensembles.

The jazz fest is an annual tradition for the school since band director Tom Ruggieri started the event in 2000. As with tradition, the event usually has a guest artist join the students. Ruggieri said a professional guest helps motivate and inspire the students.

Boardman alumnus Joe Graziosi performed on saxophone with the bands as the special guest.

Graziosi, a graduate from the Class of 2006, is still in the early parts of his musical career, having spent his time as a freelance musician the past few years. But Graziosi, 28, soon will relocate to Brooklyn, N.Y., where he will work as a jazz artist and multi-instrumentalist on Broadway.

He said he’s happy to be back home performing as a guest for an event in which he also participated when he was a student. If he could help anyone in their journey, Graziosi said it’d be rewarding to see.

“I love doing stuff like this because I love just being able to share my knowledge with students,” he said.

The eighth-grade ensemble continued the night’s performance after the Chicago classic with “Comin’ Home Baby.” BHS Ensemble 3 started next with a program including “Topsy” and a vocal rendition of “On Broadway.”

Ensemble 2’s set included “Route 66” with vocals, as well as “Now What” and “Birdland.” Ensemble 1, the top group in the school’s jazz program, showed a more Latin jazz side with selections such as Chick Corea’s “Spain” and Louis Prima’s “I Wanna Be Like You.”

The music also included the stylings of Maynard Ferguson, Bob Mintzer, Charles Mingus and Harry “Sweets” Edison.

Jazz Ensemble 1 will perform at Packard JAM Fest in Warren on April 6 and at the Jewish Community Center in Youngstown on May 25. The high-school ensembles will present another concert June 2 in the high school cafeteria.