On October 7, 2025, ETHS hosted its first “Jazz Big Band” concert of the year. The eventwas held in the auditorium, and was opened beautifully with the Jazz Lab Band, Jazz Band 2 and the Jazz Ensemble. They each played 4 to 5 songs, arranged by Mr. Bufis, Mr. Columbo and Mr. Acevedo. All 3 jazz bands welcomed the new school year and musical season with a fantastic first concert.

ETHS has a large band program, including both concert and jazz bands. “Concert Band is a very different setup, particularly with its instruments. You’ve got the clarinet and flute and there’s also saxophones and tubas, but likewise, in jazz, there’s also very specific instruments. There are no clarinets or instruments like that in jazz,” said Kennedy Liddell, a freshman drummer for both Concert Band and Jazz Lab. Concert band has trumpets, saxophones, percussion and trombones, but also has flutes, clarinets, and other wind/reed instruments. Jazz has saxophones, percussion, trumpet and trombone as well as keys and guitar. Jazz contains 3 big bands; Jazz Lab, Jazz 2, Jazz Ensemble and 9 combos, which are smaller groups of 3-6 people. In addition to other performances throughout the year, they perform songs before school in H-Hall every Friday morning. 

The show was full of improvisation, a key part of jazz music that differentiates jazz from regular classical music. “With jazz music, if you’re improvising, you get to create,” says Mr. Bufis, the conductor of Jazz Ensemble. Lots of different instruments had the chance to improvise in all three bands, and it was amazing to see all the different riffs and melodies they came up with. Jazz music also differs from classical music in the fact that there isn’t any use of a director. Instead, the band trains to be synchronized so that they can play excellently together, even without a director. 

“I don’t really conduct a jazz band. I really just keep track of time for them and help them with entrances and solos and handle the logistics,” Mr. Bufis explains. 

Jazz bands, while giving musicians opportunities to be solo and play on their own, also include a lot of teamwork and cohesion. For some, this can be appealing to the idea of a community aspect, just like with a sport or a club.  “I like being able to groove with my bandmates. I really like being able to play music with people that I like,” says Kennedy Liddell. 

I loved the concert, especially the improvisation elements. It is amazing to know that a good chunk of the concert had been invented on the spot. All of the different instruments showcased their unique sounds and the beautiful music they can play. Jazz music has such a unique sound and is so fun to hear live in a concert.

ETHS is hosting its next Jazz concert on December 9th in the auditorium and is sure to contain lots more impressive music-making and improv to stun the audience. The concerts are always open to the public and free, which makes a great opportunity for anyone interested in music to go see the incredible show for themselves.