In the first jazz performance of the year, Buena’s jazz band played at Ventura High School, Friday, Jan. 31, along with performances by Ventura’s two jazz bands in the winter concert series. As the audience filled the grand auditorium, Ventura’s Studio Jazz Gold warmed up for their 7 p.m. performance, setting the stage for a night of jazz.  

With red curtains flanking the performers on stage against a red and purple backdrop, Ventura High School’s Studio Jazz Gold opened the night with “Dat Dere”, “El Abrazo” and “Absoludicrous,” setting the lively mood for the night to come.

Buena’s jazz band, donned in classic concert black took the stage next, opening their performance with the energetic jazz piece “Puttin’ On the Ritz.” Upbeat from the first measure, “Puttin’ On the Ritz” established a robust sound, featuring a saxophone solo by Olivia DeCierdo. Although smaller than both of Ventura’s jazz bands, Buena’s played out.

“When we were doing the run through for sound check, they were a little shaky, but once they saw the audience out there, they performed a lot better because they filled up the auditorium with their sound,” Buena’s band director Taylor Duchai said.

The second piece, “Time Management,” featured more solos, this time from first trumpet Tyler Scalfaro and Alejandro Portillo on tenor saxophone. Throughout this piece, the bass guitar and keyboard were prominent throughout, giving a solid rhythm section undertone to the song. Towards the end, the saxophone soloist stood up, glancing between the music and the crowd while remaining focused on playing his solo.

“When Sunny Gets Blues” was a classic jazz ballad, offering a softer, more mellow piece in contrast to the earlier,  bright and lively tunes. The piece prominently featured alto saxophone player Olivia DeCierdo, who delivered three solos during the concert. For much of the song, DeCierdo played a near-continuous solo. With light snare taps from the drum set keeping time and the warm sound from the saxophone ringing through the air, “When Sunny Gets Blues” slowed down the evening before the highly anticipated closer.

“I just felt like I was having fun,” DeCierdo said. “I wasn’t too focused about having a good solo, I was just having fun.”

Buena finished off their performance with a bang which was met with excited murmurs when announced as the closer, “Whiplash”. The song was a fan favorite with the audience, musicians and the director due to the familiarity of the piece being from the staple music movie “Whiplash.” 

“I really think that [this piece] was the most fun because there were a lot more complicated parts for the saxophones, trombones [and] trumpets,” Duchai said. 

Before the count off, the atmosphere buzzed with anticipation and did not disappoint as the familiar swing band melody played accompanied by DeCierdo’s last solo of the night, distorted guitar sound effects following the bass and a fast paced tempo from the drums made for a perfect ending for the jazz band’s night. It should be noted that Buena had only three weeks to prepare for this concert, making the performance even more impressive.

After a standing applause from the audience at the end of “Whiplash”, Ventura High’s Studio Jazz Black wrapped up the night with “Cotton Tail,” “Cubauza,” “Eternal Story” and “Act Your Age.” 

Sophomore Jesse Espinoza came out to support his friends on stage and enjoyed the joint performance, but wanted to see more collaboration in the future with Buena and Ventura’s jazz bands.

Buena’s jazz band looks forward to the Westlake Jazz Festival in May. Thanks to this winter concert, the band now feels more familiar with the performance atmosphere.

“It wasn’t the cleanest performance because it was the first performance of their year. It was only about three weeks of rehearsal, but they did a really, really good job and I hope they know that,” Duchai said.