Jazz Band performs at Arend Arts Center
The Pea Ridge High School Jazz Band had the privilege of performing at the Arend Arts Center on the campus of Bentonville High School Sunday, April 6. The Jazz Band received an invitation to perform from an organization called “Live On Stage in NWA.” This is the second invite the Jazz Band has received. This organization raises funds and donations from local patrons and businesses to invite professional musicians and performing groups to perform for the community of NWA at the Arend Arts Center on a regular basis throughout the year. This is their 38th season of existence.
Live On Stage also invites local student music groups to perform as opening acts for the professional performers that come to NWA. The Jazz Band gladly accepted this opportunity to perform for a packed house in the Bentonville PAC for more than 1,000audience members in a professional atmosphere. They opened for the ’50s and ’60s Doo Wop vocal quartet from Canada called The Diamonds. The Diamonds are best known for hits such as “Little Darlin’” and “Why Do Fools Fall in Love.”
The PRHS Jazz Band performed three tunes as the opening act — “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes,” which is the theme to the ’70s B movie of the same name. They followed that tune with an original composition entitled “If I Could Fly” that featured senior tenor saxophone player Kymber Burwell. Their third tune, is a classic of the ’30s swing era and made famous by Benny Goodman in 1937 called “Sing, Sing, Sing.”
As a gesture of appreciation to the Pea Ridge Band program, the Live On Stage organization presented director Matt McCool with a $250 gift to be used for the band program. As an extra treat, the jazz band students received free tickets to stay and watch The Diamonds perform. The students greatly enjoyed the opportunity to perform for such a large audience as well as getting to see and hear The Diamonds perform. The Jazz Band was one of four groups that performed at the school’s Spring Band Concert at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 13, in the High School Gym.