Seriously cool

By Nadine Armstrong

The Hants Journal/NovaNewsNow.com

The members who make up the local jazz ensemble Easily Distracted are anything but. Their dedication and focus has given these six young Avon View High musicians the ticket to compete at the national level.

The ensemble recently received first place at the Annapolis Valley Music Festival at Acadia University April 30, and again at the Atlantic Band Festival at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax May 2. That three-day festival attracted over 100 bands from all across Canada, and this band’s performance earned them a post at the National Band Competition in Ottawa, May 14. “I really promote the music festival presence; it makes a huge difference for any band,” said Easily Distracted conductor Brian Johnston. “It’s the best way to get that level of recognition and experience.”

Johnston said the opportunity came so fast the band had no time to fundraise for the Ottawa trip. “There was no way we could have planned ahead of time for this level of success; but the band has certainly earned the honour.”

For the past two years, Easily Distracted has made a name for itself by performing at every possible venue -- including the Sam Slick weekend and Water Front Concert Series to political rallies, benefit concerts and wedding receptions. “They’ve paid their dues by playing everywhere they could to stay in the public eye,” Johnston said. “That’s how they got to be where they are now.”

The band was originally formed as a summer break project for the students but has since morphed into an all-out modern jazz combo, earning accolades far beyond the school band program.

Busy summer

While most young band students would be enjoying their summer holidays the members of Easily Distracted were busy practicing and booking gigs. “The parents of these kids asked me to help get a band together for summer gigs, and it just took off,” Johnston said.

Easily Distracted performs from a selection of legendary jazz composers such as Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk.

In addition, the band has adopted two original works from Contemporary Composition for Beginning Jazz Ensembles, which was recently published by Johnston’s son Peter, who is completing his doctorate in music composition at York University.

Pretty heavy stuff for a group of high school students and although Johnston said it’s a little different from what most kids their age are up to .

Trumpeter Kevin Barnes said it has made that genre of music more accessible to his peers. “If you've never heard it you won’t know how great it is,” he said. Members of the band say their popularity with all age groups goes to show that rock or top 40 is not the only music teens are into. “Jazz is just really fun to play,” said drummer Patrick Lynch who with was also awarded Outstanding Soloist at the ABF and also received a 25 per cent off tuition scholarship to the Summer Performance Program at the Berkley College of Music.

Although he prefers jazz, Lynch said performing with the band has helped him grow as a musician and expand his future horizons. “Basically, it’s about getting the rhythm and once you do that a drummer can play any king of music.”

Johnston said it is surprising the level of maturity band members display between a heavy practice schedule and public performances.

Spontaneity and confidence “Jazz is all about spontaneity and that takes a lot of confidence, and that’s what these kids have,” Johnston said. The youngest member of the ensemble is Grade 8 student Kelsey Van Blarcom, who plays keyboard. “The fact that she can take a composition from someone like Thelonious Monk and make it work is just incredible,” Johnston noted. “I didn’t even know who he was when I was that age.”

It is not only the dedication of the students, but also that of their parents that has helped move the band forward. “The whole reason behind this is the parent involvement,” Johnston said.

Parents of band members have supported them individually through private lessons, summer camps and hosting in-house jam sessions. The Band Parent Association at Avon View High School has also been an integral part of the band’s success by sponsoring their participation at music festivals.

Johnston added that musical education never comes cheap or easy but is well worth the price.

Most members of Easily Distracted are coming to the end of their high school experience and are on the cusp of adult life, but they say they haven’t yet discussed what will happen after graduation. “We are all planning to go to different universities,” said bassist Cailun Campbell, “it’s inevitable we will have to discuss it at some point but we’re not thinking about that right now.”

All that was is on this band’s mind last week was their upcoming national performance. “Halifax was just a taste of what will go on in Ottawa,” Johnston said. “It’s going to be so amazing.” He said the band could return home with a recording contract or national and international gigs, but in the end it’s all about what they learn from the experience. “This is their chance to be exposed to everything good in the Canadian music industry,” he said. And wherever life leads these talented young men and women what they bring back from Ottawa they will be able take that with them anywhere.