IN honor of International Jazz Day last weekend, the Mount Carmel Jazz Knights and the Su-San Band joined forces to serenade their audience with jazz music.
MCS president Galvin Deleon Guerrero, Ed.D., gave the opening remarks at Mount Carmel Cathedral where the concert was held, applauding the young instrumentalists for performing difficult pieces.
“International Jazz Day is an event that is celebrated across the world, to celebrate everyone’s love for jazz music. It’s celebrated in many different ways…but this music wouldn’t be possible without your support,” Deleon Guerrero addressed the audience.
Winners of the MCS 2021 International Jazz Day poster, poetry, essay, and TikTok contests were announced, followed by a special awarding to MCS music and band teacher Julian “Jun Yagi” Greening and Saipan Pacific Winds Concert Band director Atsuko Eck for their contributions to jazz music in the CNMI.
The five-member Su-San band then took the stage, performing three pieces: “Rhapsody in Blue” by George Gershwin, “Fly Me to the Moon” by Bart Howard, and “In the Mood” by Glenn Miller. All were arranged by MCS music and band teacher, Julian “Jun Yagi” Greening.
The Jazz Knights followed with four other pieces: “American Patrol” composed by F.W. Meecham and arranged by Mike Lewis; “What A Wonderful World” arranged by Rick Stitzel; “All Blues” composed by Miles Davis and arranged by Michael Sweeney; and “Dreamsville” composed by Henry Mancini and arranged by Vince Gassi.
Soloists were alto saxophonists Kaito Rechucher and Jennifer Mallari; tenor saxophonist Enzo Sasamoto; trumpeter Therese Ogo; and trombonist Natalie Ano.
MCS president Deleon Guerrero commended the students for their performance.
“It is very difficult to perform music that has been produced and arranged by Gil Evans, and these students just did that,” he said, noting the relationship between famous American trumpeter, bandleader, and composer Miles Davis and Canadian-American jazz pianist, arranger, composer, and bandleader Ian Ernest Gilmore “Gil” Evans.
The concert finale was a joint performance by the Jazz Knights and the Su-San band of “Birdland,” composed by Josef Zawinul and arranged by John Berry.
The Jazz Knights feature several young student musicians: clarinetist Henry Yeom; alto saxophonists Kaito Rechucher, Jennifer Mallari, and Wayne Ano; tenor saxophonists Dogeon Kim and Enzo Sasamoto; baritone saxophonists Joseph Pangelinan; trumpeters Therese Ogo, Maya Jung, and Stephen Yeom; trombonists Natalie Ano and Oscar Buenaflor; guitarist Penelope Sablan; bass guitarist Jedric Villar; percussionists William Cano and Quince Tizon; and pianist Chae Eun Kim.
Established in November of last year, the Jazz Knights has performed on multiple occasions, including in the MCS Christmas program at Mount Carmel Cathedral, as pre-show entertainment for “We Drank Our Tears” at American Memorial Park, and at the 4th Annual Saipan Wind Band Festival at Fiesta Resort last month.
The MCS Jazz Knights perform at Mount Carmel Cathedral.
Photo by K-Andrea Evarose S. Limol
