On May 1, Aliso Niguel High School’s jazz band program hosted its jazz dinner in the school’s small gym, combining live music and full meals for attendees from 7 to 9:10 p.m.
Guests had a Mexican-themed dinner, starting with chips and salsa as appetizers and ending with chicken tacos. Horchata was served as a beverage and cake was served for dessert as performances continued. The event featured multiple sets by the school’s jazz band and student combos, showcasing ensemble pieces and solos.
The opening set included “Another Excuse to Play the Blues” by Ken Harris, with soloists Kingston Paulo (10), Gabe Ruiz (10) and Koa Densley (11). The band played “A Night in Tunisia,” arranged by Jerome Monpays, with solos by Koa Densley and Ayame Huber (12). Additional selections in the first set include “Polka Dots and Moonbeams,” arranged by Bill Holman, with a solo by Landon Benner (11) and “Route 66,” arranged by Bob Lowden, featuring solos from Darren Brusky (10), Koa Densley, Matthew Carbonara (10) and Kingston Paulo. The first set ended with “The Heat’s On” by Sammy Nestico and “Bat Outta Beel” by Alex Lopez, with multiple student solos.
Afterwards, smaller student combos performed a series of jazz songs like “Have You Met Miss Jones?,” “Nostalgia in Times Square,” “Watermelon Man” and “Lucky Southern,” including the student performer, Darren Brusky, Matthew Carbonara, Koa Densley, Tristian Espinosa (12), Seth Martin (12), Lusora Nakada (10), Carlo Ocampo (10), Sophia Padilla (10) and Kingston Paulo.
Mikhael Soto (12) says, “I really enjoyed the food and music. In particular, I was impressed by the horchata as it tasted similar to a churro but in a liquid form.”
The second set opened with “Power Trip” by Larry Barton, followed by the Super Mario 64 classic “Bob-omb Battlefield,” arranged by Charlie Rosen, with solos from Tristian Espinosa and Matthew Carbonara. The evening finished with the songs, “Carimastica” by Michele Fernandez, with solos from Kingston Paulo, Darren Brusky, Emily Sherman (9), Nisan Tetik (11) and Lusora Nakada along with “Fireshaker” arranged by Bob Lowden, with solos from Koa Densley, Ayame Huber and Kingston Paulo.
