Jackson strikes up the jazz band

~ The annual Big Band Gala is modeled after community dances from the era.

This Friday the Jackson High School Jazz Band will sponsor its annual Big Band Gala -- an event that tries to emulate the community dances of the past.

The gala will celebrate its 11th anniversary this year, and will feature two performances by the Jackson High School Jazz Band of songs from the USO/Big Band era.

Between the high school performances will be a short set by Pat Schwent and the Saxy Jazz Transitions. The group is a new Schwent creation to add to the myriad ensembles she already fronts or plays in.

The Transitions, a 10-piece band playing what Schwent calls "party rock" from the 1970s and 1980s, will be fronted by Jackson native Chrissie Icaza, a 2005 semi-finalist on "American Idol."

"The older people are going to be playing the newer music, and the younger people are playing the old music," Schwent said.

But that's appropriate, since the idea of the gala is to bring generations together and share music, no matter when it was created.

"There's good music in all the ages, in all the decades of music," she said.

Families dance together

Schwent said the dance models itself after the old community dances of the Big Band era, where families would go out to a dance together. Instead of just having a high school dance, dances would bring together parents, grandparents and youngsters, she said.

Even though her band is playing, Schwent doesn't want to overshadow the real focus of the gala, the student players. More than anything the purpose of the event is to give those student jazz players an opportunity to perform in a real, professional performance atmosphere, Schwent said.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182