DHS band students to join Air Force Band in TRCC Concert

Noreen Hyslop photo Members of the DHS Jazz Band who will be playing in concert at TRCC with the Shades of Blue Air Force Jazz Band include: (Back row): Owen Flowers, Samantha Long, Hannah Huls, Casey Pugh, Andrew Webb, and Linda Love. (Middle row): Blake Kimbrough, Joseph Greer, Luke Dachs, Ethan Morgan, Alex Rybolt, and Chuy Lara. (Front row): Daniel Webb, Shelby Lentz, Brandon Moore, Steven Harrellson and Larry Durham.

and Noreen Hyslop

Managing Editor

When Three Rivers Community College's 19th Annual Jazz Fest takes place next week, several familiar faces from Dexter High School's Jazz Band will be front and center, playing with the acclaimed Shades of Blue Air Force Jazz Band.

According to DHS Band Director Scott Rybolt, about 65 musicians auditioned recently for the opportunity to play in concert at the TRCC Jazz Festival. Nineteen from DHS made the cut, with 13 of those as playing members of the band and six serving as alternates.

The festival kicks off on Thursday with a day of workshops for area middle school, high school, and college jazz band students, to be followed by a public concert at 7 p.m. in the Tinnin Fine Arts Center.

"Students receive first-rate clinic sessions with jazz professionals from all over the Midwest," said Buddy White, instructor of music at Three Rivers and organizer of the festival. "On top of that, they get to experience the only true American music, first-hand and at its best. Jazz is the only music that was developed entirely in this country, and it's a true art form."

White encourages members of the community to come all three nights of the jazz festival and hear something different each evening. At 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, TRCC will welcome the Shades of Blue Air Ensemble, part of the Air Force Band of Mid-America. Consisting of 18 professional enlisted musicians, Shades of Blue boasts a repertoire that ranges from Count Basie to modern jazz. The group has accompanied jazz greats such as Tex Benecke, Denis DiBlasio, Bobby Shew, and many more. Shades of Blue has also played the national anthem for the White Sox, the Bulls, and the Milwaukee Bucks and performed for the 2004 Macy's Independence Day celebration in New York City.

The Jazz Fest will close on Saturday night Feb. 13 with a dual concert featuring a new program by Shades of Blue and the southeast Missouri All-District Jazz Band, which includes students from Poplar Bluff, Dexter, Kelly, Fredericktown and Charleston high schools.

"It'll be an experience to remember," said White. "It's always rewarding to have the best jazz students in southeast Missouri come to our campus, perform in our facilities, play alongside professionals, and hopefully learn more about our music scholarships."

All three concerts featured in this year's jazz fest are free of charge at the Tinnin Center. Attendees to the Friday and Saturday night concerts must pick up free tickets at either the Rutland Library at TRCC, the Poplar Bluff Chamber-Commerce, or at the door in order to be seated. For the Shades of Blue concert on Friday, non-ticket holders may be seated 10 minutes prior to the show, if seats are still available.