Residents of Morgan Hill are in for a special treat on Friday,
June 6, when the award-winning Britton Jazz Band hosts another
middle school band in a free concert at the new Community Center’s
Amphitheater. The first annual Jazz on the Green program starts at
6:30 p.m. and is sponsored by the band, the Band Boosters and the
Morgan Hill Sister City Committee.
Residents of Morgan Hill are in for a special treat on Friday, June 6, when the award-winning Britton Jazz Band hosts another middle school band in a free concert at the new Community Center’s Amphitheater. The first annual Jazz on the Green program starts at 6:30 p.m. and is sponsored by the band, the Band Boosters and the Morgan Hill Sister City Committee.
The audience is invited to bring a picnic and blankets and lounge on the lawn of the open-air amphitheater – beginning at 6 p.m. – and enjoy an evening of jazz by some very talented young musicians. Buchser Jazz Band from Santa Clara, led by director David Anderson, is the outstanding visiting band. Refreshments and some desserts will be for sale.
The Britton Jazz Band is scheduled to travel to Europe in the summer of 2004 and will play in San Casciano, near Florence in Italy. San Casciano is the first Morgan Hill Sister City and is a picturesque mountain town between Florence and Siena in the Chianti region.
Jazz on the Green is both an event to feature our own musicians and the Amphitheater, and to help the band finance its European tour. Contributions will be accepted at the performance.
Diane Tewes, mother of a band member, said the band and the Sister City Committee joined forces almost by accident.
“The committee was looking for a way to meet young people,” she said, “and we were looking for a connection to San Casciano.” Tewes said the band wanted a way to “hook up” with the local people in the Tuscan city.
“I think it will be a very positive relationship,” she said, hoping the two groups can work together in the future.
The Britton Jazz Band has just returned from a successful tour of Western Canada during spring break. Tewes accompanied the band and reports that, while the Iraqi situation caused a strain between some Canadians and the Americans, the students were a hit.
“The world was looking a bit tightly at Americans,” she said. “’It’s too bad we can’t let the children of the world work out our issues,’” one Canadian told her.
The Britton Jazz Band is made up of 22 musicians, ages 13-15, directed by John P. Bremis and assistant directors Louis DeMarino and Kirk Berkland. It is hoped that with a successful introduction this year, Jazz on the Green will become an annual event on the Morgan Hill musical scene.
Details: Diane, 782-7150. For Sister City details: Chuck Dillmann, 779-4658.
