Jazz is a genre that captivates its listeners and players alike. Many high school students across the country study the work of Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, and many more with equally interesting names.

One of the more intense musical experiences comes from the jazz combo. It is made up of one player on each instrument: one bassist, one pianist, one drummer, one guitarist, and one of every horn. Every player takes a famous jazz chart: blues, Latin, waltz, or other, and recognizes the chords. It could be major or Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, minor or Aoelian, Locrian. And the progression could be any combination of these seven.

The combo is a strenuous and meticulous experience because of the amount of practice that it warrants. Any particular member must actively practice for weeks at a time to be able to freely solo and perform through as many keys as possible. One performer must also be able to effectively play background parts while another member solos, and pay attention to where other members are in terms of the chart you are playing through.

The experience is obviously a very invigorating one. Currently meeting on Wednesday mornings is junior Quincy Loreen, senior Zach Weibel, senior Griffin Dittmar, freshman Luke Ransom, among others. They work together and with band teacher Jared Tanner to figure out jazz charts and, as they very gracious put it, jam.

If anyone would care to jam with them, they meet almost every Wednesday morning at 8:30 in the band room. Why not stop by and jam?