The Jazz Band of Cain Middle School recently received high praise at the 2021 virtual Texas Christian University Jazz Festival, where they performed live over Zoom for a panel of professors from the university, including Joe Eckert, Kyp Green and Joey Carter.
The band played three pieces for the panel including “A Minor Case of the Blues” by Rick Stitzel, “Bésame Mucho” by Consuelo Velazquez and Sunny Skylar, and the theme from “Sesame Street” by Bruce Hart, Joe Stone, and Joe Raposo. After each piece, the professors offered feedback and suggestions, and insight into the Jazz genre.
The Cain Jazz band was one of only two middle schools to perform at the TCU Jazz Festival and one of only 15 bands in total. The rest of the bands were high school groups, including the Rockwall-Heath High School jazz band.
“I am so glad we were able to start a jazz program at Cain,” said head director Trevor Ousey. “Our program is stronger because of it.”
The Cain Jazz band will perform again at the band Spring concert and is also looking into additional virtual festivals in April and May.
