JRHS’ Thursday Groove
by Dan Mullins
In late April, staff working at Head Office were treated to a performance by John Rennie High School’s Senior Jazz Band. Performing during lunch, the band made the food taste better and set toes tapping.
The band includes a horn section with five saxes, five trombones, and four trumpets, plus an electric bass, a piano and a drum kit. The set, which made members of the audience wish lunch hour was longer, featured solos by numerous student musicians. They got underway with “Oye Como Va,” written by Tito Puente and popularized by Carlos Santana, followed by “Chameleon,” by Herbie Hancock. Next, they played “What’d I Say,” by Ray Charles, a catchy up-tempo tune that upon its release in 1959 sparked a new sub-genre of R&B called “Soul.” For a finale, the musicians performed “Ready Freddie,” by Mike Kamuf, which is a tribute to an American Jazz trumpeter named Freddie Hubbard.
The band was conducted by John Rennie’s esteemed music teacher Craig Hodgson, who explained that they had been invited to participate in Music Fest Canada 51st “The Nationals” event but that scheduling conflicts with the French provincial exams prevented them from attending. so, they took the show on the road instead.
In addition to performing at Head Office in Dorval, the JRHS group known as the “Thursday Jazz Band” performed at several elementary schools over the course of the school year, not always playing the same set list. They visited Sunshine Academy and Terry Fox Elementary in March, and St. John Fisher Senior in December, where they garnered rave reviews from the under 12-year-old crowd, along with their teachers. Of course, they (along with the school’s other bands) also perform at the May concert, which Mr. Hodgson describes as “the highlight of the year.” Unfortunately for people who are not parents of John Rennie students, there is not enough space in the auditorium to allow for selling tickets to the public.
The quality of the performance at Head Office proves that there are many musically talented students at John Rennie who are willing to put in the work and practice. It is also a testament to Mr. Hodgson’s dedication and teaching ability, though he is quick to deflect attention towards the clinicians he brought in to give intensive workshops to his students. One such guest was Chris Smith of Vanier College, who provided an hour and a half of focused expertise to the young musicians. Another was Moeen Hosain, who was a Brass Instructor for the Canadian Armed Forces. Both gentlemen are, like Mr. Hodgson, graduates of McGill’s music program and highly accomplished performers.
The quality of the performance at Head Office proves that there are many musically talented students at John Rennie who are willing to put in the work and practice. It is also a testament to Mr. Hodgson’s dedication and teaching ability, though he is quick to deflect attention towards the clinicians he brought in to give intensive workshops to his students. One such guest was Chris Smith of Vanier College, who provided an hour and a half of focused expertise to the young musicians. Another was Moeen Hosain, who was a Brass Instructor for the Canadian Armed Forces. Both gentlemen are, like Mr. Hodgson, graduates of McGill’s music program and highly accomplished performers.
Thank you to Mr. Hodgson and the Thursday Jazz Band, who are:
Saxophones: Maiya Séguin (gr. 11); Claire Cousineau (gr. 11); Eric Klempan (gr. 11); Alexandra O’Brien (gr. 11); Aaron Woo (gr. 11)
Trombones: Clara Gesualdi (gr. 9); Hannah Rudge (gr. 11); Evelyn Boys (gr. 9); Bretlyn Gauthier (gr. 11); Demonstenes Vagenas (gr. 11)
Trumpets: Brad Vezon (gr. 10); Mariam Lodhi (gr. 9); Emily Rudge (gr. 9); Ethan Onorati (gr. 11)
Bass: Jack St-Onge (gr. 11)
Drums: Kevin Patel (gr. 9)
Piano: Dalia Mellozzi (gr. 9)
