Rites of swing: Jazz performances abound this spring

It's been a big year for jazz at Settlement, with jazz ensemble programs thriving at the Wynnefield, Kardon-Northeast and Germantown branches. Plus, the Advanced Study jazz ensemble at the Mary Louise Curtis Branch recently won a Student Music Award from DownBeat magazine; read more about that here!

Guitar faculty Mark Forchic coaching several saxophone students

Spring brought a staggering number of performances throughout the community by ensembles from all of these branches. The list includes:

• regular performances at the City Line Landmark Americana
   
• a Jazz Festival on April 7 at the Mary Louise Curtis Band, in collaboration with professor Chris Farr from the University of the Arts and members of the UArts Jazz Band and with ensembles from all branches taking part

• a jazz-centered performance hour at the Wynnefield Branch

• a patio performance at the Free Library of Philadelphia's Wynnefield Branch, with piano faculty Scott Coulter joining several members of the Wynnefield Jazz Ensemble

• the South Street Spring Festival, sponsored by the South Street Headhouse District, with a crowd of thousands passing by

• the City Avenue Spring Fling. Saxophonist Jack Savone, a member of the Kardon-Northeast Jazz Ensemble, was even asked to sit in with Chico's Vibe, a professional group that performs widely throughout the Philadelphia area

 

Outdoor performance at the Free Library of Philadelphia's Wynnefield Branch

These numerous performances are partly a reflection of the dedication of guitar faculty Mark Forchic, who coaches the ensembles at Wynnefield, Kardon-Northeast and Germantown. Along with the directors at those branches, he sought out new students at many local schools, and he's instilled a serious, performance-oriented mindset in all of his groups this year. "I treat it like we're a working, performing jazz group." Weekly practice sessions are "not like in school; we play like we are going out to play a gig -- which we do."

All these gigs wouldn't have come about with a talented bunch of students. One of Forchic's ensembles at Wynnefield started this year ahead of the rest -- the members are all students at Lower Merion High School and have been playing together for years -- and played the majority of the concerts. Forchic says those students -- Tom Hagen, Dean Hughart, Ellis Kelsey, Jeremy Katz, and John Della Franco -- are a special group. "It's unique from the other groups I have," he says. "I've had them for two or three years now, and they spend so much time playing and just hanging out together."

The ensembles at Kardon-Northeast and Germantown, plus the other two ensembles at Wynnefield, have all worked on catching up with the older, more experienced ensemble, and all have been featured during this busy season of shows. All of Forchic's groups dig deep into classic tunes, drawing from the professional jazz player's standby The Real Book, and work on making up arrangements on the spot -- no writing anything down.

The busy season is coming to a close with a performance at the Seger Park Playground Spring Festival on June 2 and numerous performances school-wide during the Open House on June 8. After a little downtime for students and faculty, jazz at Settlement will pick back up once again with the Summer Jazz Camp from July 29 to August 2. For more information on the jazz ensemble program at Settlement, contact the Branch nearest you or stop by the Open House at any of our branches on June 8 from 10 AM to 1 PM.

An afternoon of jazz with the West Philadelphia Branch

For a recap of one of Settlement's recent summer camps, we turn the blog over to Brad Davis, Communications department summer intern.

On August 3, I attended the West Philadelphia Branch’s summer jazz camp performance at the Green Line Café.  My first experience watching and, better yet, filming a jazz ensemble performance was truly awesome.  The environment was relaxed, with well-dressed, talkative parents chatting.  The ensemble, which was divided into two smaller groups, each played three or four tunes. The two faculty members in charge of the camp, Mark Forchic and Dan Peterson, employed several interesting techniques within each standard, including many memorable solos and trade-offs between instruments.  Each soloist’s playing was focused and rhythmically clean. During solos, my eyes searched the audience until I came across one parent’s face, which beamed with pride and excitement as she watched her child let loose on stage. 

In “Song for My Father”, one musician introduced the song in uniquely humorous fashion: “We’d like to dedicate this piece to all fathers; you people are wonderful human beings.” Echoes of laughter filled the room, but soon after, the kids immediately focused on the charts in front of them and began to play a smooth, relaxing Horace Silver piece. Later, in “Beginning to See the Light,” the soothing melody of the saxophone was played in parallel by the trombones and bass, characteristic of the 1920’s Jazz style. 

I was amazed at each ensemble’s balance and consistency. There were times when I expected the saxophone to overpower the guitar or xylophone, but each person played to their strengths and those of others. When you consider the ensemble had only a week to prepare, you can’t help but be impressed.

After the final full group set, I had been eagerly awaiting to speak with Dave Allen, Publications and Social Media Manager, who was there with me taking pictures of the young musicians in action.  From the look on his face, I knew he’d been thrilled with the performance. I congratulated several of the players and asked them how they’d enjoyed the cam and performance.  Each kid sported an energetic smile and gushed about his or her positive summer experience at Settlement.  If I had taken part in such a performance, I think I’d be gushing too.