Student band is 'best of the best'

Music lovers in the Valley can thank a scheduling conflict in a local school for the sweet sounds of Just Playin' Jazz, a student-driven local band that is turning heads around Alaska.

Just Playin' Jazz -- a group of 15-18 middle and high school students from the Valley, has been playing for three years now, with various members. It has grown into one of the most popular bands around, playing at festivals and events around the state. Hank Hartman, who owns Matanuska Music, started the band three years ago to give students a chance to play -- without sacrificing academics.

"Because of some cuts and scheduling in the schools, for some reason, the schools seem to book academic classes like A.P. courses opposite band programs," Hartman said. "A lot of the students in those accelerated classes are also in band, and they have to choose between the two. So many good students can't play in the band because of scheduling. My kids were in the same boat, so we started a community band."

Band members say the devotion of their fellow students is what keeps Just Playin' Jazz successful.

"In school bands, there are always people who don't enjoy it as much as you do, but here, you are playing with the best of the best," said Sawyer Collins, who plays trumpet in Just Playin' Jazz and is one of the band's original members. "You always want to do your best because it's friendly competition. You want to step it up."

Band members are selected based on auditions, and much of the band has been together since its inception. Now, those original members are starting to plan for the future by bringing in new musicians.

"We realized that we all started together and that we need to recruit some middle schoolers so this thing doesn't just end when we graduate," said Ashley Martin, a Colony High School student who plays trombone. "We're trying to help bring up the middle schoolers, and in a way, they help bring us up. It's cool to work with so many different people.."

Diversity is what band members talk about as being one of the biggest positives of Just Playin' Jazz. Whether it be the diversity of the set list -- they have a songbook of more than 70 songs representing just about every music genre -- or the diversity of the band itself -- there are six schools represented -- members are happy to be together, making music.

"Every kid who plays is willing to set aside the time, and everyone is obviously really serious about it," said David Burtch, who plays guitar. "The diversity is great because you meet kids from every school. I'm a homeschooler, so I probably wouldn't get to meet and hang out with everyone I know now. It really unites us."

Another reason band members enjoy picking up their instruments for Just Playin' Jazz is the wide variety of music the band plays.

"In school bands, you have three or four songs you work on every day until the concert, and then you start over," Martin said. "Here we have a book of 70 songs we're always working on. What's really fun is when we take requests. Someone will ask us to play some Glenn Miller, and we can do it."

The band plays local events and is available for hire, although it is a nonprofit. Money raised helps buy the band uniforms and other necessities. Donations are always accepted to help keep the band growing.

"We got some uniforms, and for a lot of these kids, its the first time they've put a band uniform on," Hartman said. "Now we look good and we play good.

"I had the biggest compliment Saturday when an elderly lady came up to me after we were all packed up," Hartman said. "She told me that she had heard us playing and had to leave a store in the mall to come and watch because she thought it was the Air Force Band. Comparing us to them, that's a huge compliment."