By Scarlett SALTZMAN, intern

On Feb. 9, Crescenta Valley High School (CVHS) hosted its annual Jazz Night, a cherished tradition within the CVHS community. This event serves as a platform for the students of the jazz band to showcase their musical talent to the Crescenta Valley community. Jazz Night is an invitation to Crescenta Valley High School students and community members who want to immerse themselves in an evening of jazz music.

The venue for Jazz Night was meticulously prepared within CVHS’ cafeteria, featuring elegant lighting and ample space for dancing and socializing. Each table was decorated with tastefully crafted centerpieces that were available for purchase by attendees as keepsakes of the evening’s festivities. Adjacent to the dance floor, a designated area allowed guests to accessorize with props and pose for photographs against a backdrop, providing an interactive and memorable experience. A CVHS student photographer ensured that the event was captured in its entirety, preserving the night.

“We’ve done this event for so many years that we’re confident about the set up,” said Leila Bell, secretary of the Crescenta Valley Instrumental (CVIM) board. “We also have good volunteers and a supportive administration.”

A highlight of the evening was the dessert table, a compelling display featuring an assortment of homemade and store-bought delicacies. The dessert table added an extra layer of indulgence to an already delightful evening, becoming a popular topic of conversation among guests. Overall, Jazz Night at CVHS proved to be a harmonious blend of music, community engagement and culinary delight, exemplifying the school’s commitment to fostering musical enrichment for students and community members.

However, the highlight of Jazz Night was the inclusion of swing dancing lessons, offering guests a 30-minute instructional session on mastering the art of swing dancing.

Bell shared insights on the origins of this popular event. “The idea for the swing dancing lessons came from a CV alumni family who were avid swing dancers. They thought it would be cool if we decided to offer some dance lessons and it was a hit.”

Since its integration, CVHS has continued to provide swing dancing lessons, enriching the overall experience for attendees. In recent years, oversight of this tradition transitioned to another family that has strong ties to CVHS.

While the success of Jazz Night relies on the volunteers it also depends on the dedicated musicians of the CVHS jazz band. Their unwavering commitment and tireless efforts resulted in a captivating performance. Participation in the jazz band entails a significant dedication from CVHS students, necessitating auditions and daily practice sessions. Darcy Ireland, a second alto saxophone player for jazz band, attests to the enriching program.

“It is an amazing experience especially during festival season because you get to be rated by judges and hang out with classmates,” Ireland said. She has been playing the saxophone for eight years and is currently in her second year of jazz band. She added, “I joined jazz band because jazz isn’t appreciated enough and at the time there weren’t enough girls represented in jazz.”

The evening’s festivities concluded with a rendition of the fan favorite, “Sing, Sing, Sing,” eliciting fervent acclaim from the audience.

Junior Nicole Stephan echoed the sentiments of many: “Jazz Night was super entertaining this year. The jazz band played songs that were lively and easy to dance to including my favorite – ‘Sing, Sing, Sing.’ It was one of the best Jazz Nights I’ve ever been to.”

From the music to the lively swing dancing and tasty desserts, the collective efforts of the Jazz Night volunteers and performers ensured a successful event.