The community is invited to a night of swing dance when the CVHS Jazz Band plays at Jazz Night at the Café.

By Mary O’KEEFE

The swing era swept the nation, and the world, between 1935 and 1946. With its roots in New Orleans jazz, the music that ushered in the big-band era got everyone up on their feet dancing to the new sound.

That sound continues to have universal appeal, reaching across generations and cultures, and can be found at Jazz Night at the Café at Crescenta Valley High School on Feb. 9.

For about seven years, the CVHS Jazz Band has hosted a night of swing dancing at the school’s cafeteria that is transformed for the night into a jazz club.

“It started with a group of [jazz band] parents as a night to give back to the community,” said Dena Blood, CVHS parent.

In the early years of Jazz Night at the Café, the evening included dinner and was mostly attended by jazz band parents. As the event’s popularity grew, so did the cost of being in the band. The members are responsible for the costs of equipment, travel and coaches. Parents wanted – and needed – another fundraiser to deter costs, and thought their jazz night event would be a good way to continue to highlight their talented kids, reach out to the community and get support for the music department.

“The jazz band performs from 30 to 35 [events] a year, some for free and some for a donation,” Blood said.

But Jazz Night at the Cafe is really their event and has created a growing fan base. Blood’s son Johnny is a former member of the jazz band who was recently married and had the jazz band perform at his reception.

“They agreed to play at Johnny’s reception. There were about 300 people there and some of them had not heard the [jazz band] before,” Blood said.

Those who were hearing the band for the first time were shocked and impressed how professional these young musicians sounded.

Although Blood does not have children in jazz band now, her two daughters are in marching band, and she and her family are still very much involved in Jazz Night at the Café.

“I [am involved] because I love it. I love the entire program,” she said.

Being an award winning jazz band does not happen overnight. Before the students can become part of the jazz band, they must go through an audition process. The musicians then attend first period class every day to rehearse.

Greg Balalian is the president of the jazz band and it’s his responsibility to warm up the band.

“I usually give them a weekly assignment,” Balalian said.

Balalian, a senior, plays the guitar in the jazz band and though he was exposed to jazz music before joining the CVHS band, he now has a great love for the genre.

“I love it,” he said. “I am going to be studying jazz next year in [college].”

His first choice for college is the school of music at USC. He said he likes jazz because it doesn’t have to be scripted and it allows the musicians to “just play.” He has learned a lot about swing era music while at CVHS.

“I love the history behind [swing] and the fact that people would listen to it regularly and dance to it,” he said.

While not playing and learning swing and jazz, Balalian likes to listen to classic rock.

“The Beatles are my all-time favorite,” he said. He added that in listening to the Beatles, he can hear influences that range from classical music to swing and jazz. The bottom line to him is playing music that people like to hear and dance to.

He has invited friends to come to the jazz band performances.

“I am surprised they come and enjoy it, but on the other hand I am not surprised because this music is timeless and fun to dance to,” Balalian said. “Making music … it is my own voice coming out [through] my guitar. When I think of music, I think of poetry. It’s another way of speaking and I appreciate knowing another language through music.”

Jazz Night at the Cafe is on Feb. 9 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Crescenta Valley High School cafeteria. Tickets are $8 for students with ASB card, $10 for adults and students without ASB. To reserve a table with four tickets is $60. Attire is casual and swing era period dress is encouraged. Complimentary swing dance lessons are at 7:30 p.m.

For information, contact dena.blood@yahoo.com.

  Mary Okeefe