Cafe jazzes things up

The+annual+Jazz+Cafe+allows+for+high+school+and+junior+high+jazz+students+to+share+music+with+guests+that+they+have+been+working+on+all+year.

Photo used with permission of Fishers High School.

The annual Jazz Cafe allows for high school and junior high jazz students to share music with guests that they have been working on all year.

Sounds from the Fishers High School, Riverside Junior High and Fishers Junior High jazz bands will fill the school during Jazz Cafe.

Junior Isabell Weideman enjoys sharing this experience with guests because of the more relaxed, non-competitive environment.

“I prefer these types of concerts compared to regular band concerts because I think jazz music is more fun to play,” Weideman said. “Every jazz band gets to show off what they’ve been working on all year and there are no scores involved.”

Jazz Cafe is not just a fun experience for the musicians. Guests will get to enjoy snacks, desserts, drinks and a variety of jazz tunes.

“My favorite song would probably be ‘Love for Sale’ because it’s just a lot of fun to play,” Weideman said.

Junior Michael Mazerolle, however, prefers other songs in the repertoire.

“Right now, my favorite song is ‘Moanin’’ by Charles Mingus,” Mazerolle said. “A close second is ‘Royal Garden Blues’.”

The four high school jazz bands are not the only ones who get the chance to shine. Bands from the local junior highs get to perform as well.

“I love listening to the junior high bands,” Mazerolle said. “I know it was fun for me when I was in it and knowing that some of them will grow up and want to go into jazz as career is amazing.”

Both Weideman and Mazerolle agree that this experience holds a special place in their heart, one that they hope to share with many guests.

“Jazz Cafe is a place where people can listen to a genre that really is underappreciated,” Mazerolle said. “It really just makes you happy and I feel like Jazz Cafe brings out the best in us.”

The event starts at 7 p.m. on May 3 in cafeterias A and B. Adults are five dollars, students are three dollars and children under the age of 12 are free.