Battle Ground High School jazz musicians reflect on big win in Kansas City

May 5, 2023

Battle Ground High School advance jazz band at the Kansas City Jazz SummitJust getting to Kansas City for the Basically Basie Jazz Summit, April 25-28, was a heavy lift for Battle Ground High School’s advanced jazz band and their supporters. They had to raise nearly $24,000 in just over a month, book flights and hotel rooms and then actually get there for the event.

“It’s a lot of work, a lot of time,” said Cherie Cloke, vice president of the Battle Ground High School Band Boosters, a dedicated group of parents who work to support the school’s bands all year long. But once the band, under the direction of longtime music director Greg McKelvey, started their set on Wednesday afternoon, “I actually made myself stop and just enjoy the moment,” Cloke said. “It made everything worthwhile.”

Students and chaperones also took time to visit a factory where brass instruments are made, as well as the American Jazz Museum, a jazz club and the grave of legendary saxophonist Charlie Parker.

“It was really amazing,” added Kaia Wood, a senior who plays baritone sax, of the band’s experience in Kansas City. “I’ve been playing jazz since I was in seventh grade and it was so amazing to see where all of these iconic musicians walked and played.”

Student playing upright bass

Dalon Goodwin was named an outstanding musician at the festival

Dalon Goodwin was named an outstanding solo musician at the jazz summit“Once you get to the festival, you’re surrounded by all of this jazz culture, especially in Kansas City, which is such a big jazz city,” added guitarist Ares Turner, also a senior. “You’re surrounded by all of this musical culture and suddenly you’re like, ‘I’m actually doing this.’”

After all the nerves and travel issues, the band took the stage and let the hundreds of hours of work they’ve put in over the course of the year take over. Band practice starts at 7 a.m. most mornings, and many students come in even earlier to work solo or with their section.

Turner said he felt relatively confident they could finish somewhere in the top three. He never expected to be named the top high school band at the summit, out of a field of more than a dozen bands from around the country.

“It still hasn’t fully set in yet,” he said. “It’s one of those things where you’re like, ‘We won!’ but the actual realization that you won takes a couple of days to sink in.”

Wood agreed. “It was so surreal. I was over the moon. It didn’t really feel real at first and then after we were holding the banner and stuff I was like, we worked so hard for this. It was amazing to see that outcome.”

Upright bass player Dalon Goodwin was also honored as an outstanding rhythm section musician for the event.

Bands at the Basically Basie Jazz Summit are judged not only on the technical aspects of their musical performance, but on how closely they match the style of the legendary Count Basie and his orchestra. The adjudicator also noted the band’s appearance, with each student dressed in formalwear. 

Band director and musicians

Battle Ground High School band director Greg McKelvey is the driving force behind the group’s ongoing success

Turner and Wood  credited McKelvey for the band’s success. This is just the latest in a string of top finishes at jazz festivals around the region this year.

“He’s just incredible,” Wood said. “The passion that he has reflects onto us and then we reflect it back. It’s this mutual agreement that radiates throughout the entire band.”

Turner credited McKelvey for inspiring a love of music that has him looking to his own career in music education. “I get to spread the love of music to other people if I become a teacher,” he said.

The group still has the Mount Hood Jazz Festival to look forward to, though they’ll be performing as the featured band after winning the top award last year. They also have the district band festival on May 31 and will appear in the annual Parade of Bands in Hazel Dell on May 20, along with Prairie High School and the middle school bands.

“It’s going to be hard to say goodbye to these people,” Wood said of her bandmates.

“It doesn’t get much better than this, especially for high school,” Turner agreed.

A full video of the band’s set at the summit can be viewed on the Battle Ground High School Band Booster’s Facebook page.

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