In between watching Christmas movies and studying for exams, the Jazz Brigade navigated through gig season.
“It is the busiest time of year by far,” senior Owen Call said. “We have around three or four events coming up within the next five days.”
The 16-member choral group was usually booked for multiple appearances during the holiday season from the community tree lighting to organization celebrations by groups like the Lions Club.
“Everybody has a Christmas party and there’s so much to sing about,” choir Director Eric Hindman said. “There are a lot of holiday songs that we’ve all grown nostalgic over.”
Hindman, who will retire at the end of the school year, named the group the Jazz Brigade.
“When I took over in the fall of ’93 is when I started the show choir Jazz Brigade,” Hindman said. “We’ve had show choirs before me. I know we’ve had some sort of a show choir since the late ’70s or ’80s.”
At the events, the Jazz Brigade performs songs, often with choreography to match.
“I’m better at singing because I’ve done that for most of my life,” senior Margarita Maese Carbajal said. “I only started dancing last year.”
With extra practice time, sometimes before school and during Tribe Time, the members are able to sing and dance simultaneously.
“It’s not hard to sing and dance at the same time because the steps are really easy,” Maese Carbajal said. “Sometimes I help organize the dance moves.”
The Jazz Brigade members give suggestions about the choreography as Hindman and daughter, Assistant Director Arin Hindman come up with routines.
“Everyone gives a little bit of input,” Call said. “We can give critiques, but he comes up with the dances.”
Jazz Brigade held auditions at the beginning of the school year.
“It is audition-based so everyone who gets in is a good singer,” Call said. “Whenever we get together, the songs sound pretty good.”
Aside from outside gigs, the Jazz Brigade performs at several concerts along with the full choirs throughout the year.
“My freshman year, I was nervous and my brother kept trying to convince me,” Call said. “When I saw them perform, I thought it looked pretty cool, and I was convinced.”
Older Jazz Brigade members help recruit new members each year.
“My friends last year encouraged me to audition,” Maese Carbajal said. “I did, and now I’m still doing it.”
The show choir is more than just a student performance group. It is also a resource for the community.
“It offers an entertainment vocal group for luncheons and banquets and that type of thing,” Hindman said. “It is good because the community can see talented young people.”
