Juneau Jazz Festival Takes Over From Sitka

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Category: News

Created on Monday, 10 February 2025 15:45

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By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    Eighteen Sitka High music students and their director took their considerable jazz skills and enthusiasm to Juneau for a weekend of workshops and performances at the Juneau Jazz Fest.  
    “Usually when I see this band it’s every morning for 45 minutes in the morning,” said SHS music director Andrew Hames. “For them to get to spend time together in a casual and educational setting was really fun, and brought them closer together. I’m excited to go into rehearsal this week and bring some of that good energy.”

Members of the Sitka High jazz band join up for a photo at the Juneau Jazz Fest, held Friday and Saturday at Juneau Douglas High School. From left are, back row, music director Andrew Hames, Jude Gluth, James Nellis, Roland Lowe, Josh Gluth, Justin Hames, Ian Bagley, Dane Evans; second row, Ajay Karsunky, Everett Overturf, Kat Rhoads, Sapphire Esmay, Morgan Hames, Kieran Wentzel; front row, Alina Lebahn, Julia Nabua, Danielle Nilo, Jaiger Abellera. Not in the photo was Reagean Wingard. (Photo provided)

    The Juneau Jazz Fest, which was formerly held in Sitka, drew bands also from Juneau Douglas High School and Ketchikan High School, who performed at concerts Friday and Saturday. Some of the topnotch instructors and performers are ones familiar to fans of the Sitka Jazz Fest and Sitka Fine Arts Camp.
    “My favorite part of the whole festival was a clinic with Bob Athayde – a lot of people here know Bob – he rehearsed our band for 45 minutes and gave us some really great feedback,” Hames said. “There were also members of Kyle Athayde’s Dance Party, who filled in some holes we had in our sections.”
    Sophomore Ian Bagley, who has played trombone for six years, said hearing a performance by the Kyle Athayde Dance Party was a highlight for him. He said while it was a big band, all the players sounded distinct with many taking solos.
    “One of the biggest things I learned was that music ... is not about playing what’s on the page, music is listening to other people, and learning from what you hear,” he said. “That idea is going to affect how I approach jazz from now on.”
    Senior percussionist Josh Gluth was one of three SHS percussionists who performed the concert Saturday night. Although he describes himself as a drummer, he also played vibes and conga drums. Pieces included “Cantaloupe Island,” by Herbie Hancock, “Cubano Chant” and “Pick up the Pieces.”
    “Getting to play next to and learn from such amazing world class musicians is something that I feel so lucky to have done,” Gluth said, in a text message interview with the Sentinel. “All the pros were so nice and they just wanted to (encourage) the next generation of musicians, and you could see that through how they interacted. And it’s always so amazing to get to (listen to) music like that. I could listen to them play forever.”
    Another highlight was that after the concert, the kids went bowling, which Hames and the kids agreed, was “a great bonding experience.”
    Reagean Wingard, a trumpet player and a junior at SHS, said she enjoyed the opportunity to “learn more about my band mates and build a stronger bond within the band.”
    Hames said the Juneau Jazz Fest offered master class settings for each instrument, and clinics on improvising, how to listen to jazz, ideas about different styles of blues, how to communicate in a rhythm setting, and “how to build that camaraderie across the band.”
    “Just working with really great performers who had some insights to share – it was really great,” Hames said.
    After Sitka stopped hosting the Sitka Jazz Festival, organizers in Juneau asked if it would be OK to host a similar event in Juneau.
    “Just us going over there and attending the festival, we felt so welcomed and at home,” Hames said. “And they were very glad we could be a part of the festival. I felt a lot of accolades and respect shown toward Sitka, as far as building the festival into what it was. And now, they’re running with it in Juneau, which I think is great.”