Support Aiken High School's band through 'A Night of Jazz'

Fruit and cheesecake are popular fundraisers for area bands, including the Aiken High program.

Now the band's jazz ensemble is trying something new with "A Night of Jazz" - featuring dinner, music, dancing and a silent auction at Aiken Municipal Building on Thursday, Oct. 21.

"This came out of a brainstorm with the booster club last fall," said band director Ryan Westberry. "It's an attempt to raise money by doing what bands do and that's play. Our students can go out and actually perform on work we do in class and make money for the program through their art."

The booster club is still accepting silent auction donations, said secretary Ann Grooms and treasurer Laurie Rosling. Companies that have contributed items thus far include The Curiosity Shop, Nandina, Lionel Smith, Birds & Butterflies, Studio South (Sabrina Murray), Aiken Antique Mall and Sheri's Hair Affair.

Grooms' granddaughter, Michaela Grooms, plays French horn, and Rosling's daughter Erin is a flutist with the jazz ensemble. Both instruments are non-traditional for jazz groups, and Grooms is pleased that Westberry is so willing to bring in students who want to participate.

"Mr. Westberry is so enthusiastic about all the bands," Rosling said. "We appreciate all the time and effort he puts into everything."

The jazz ensemble will perform an eclectic mix of swing, rock, funk and Latin music, Westberry said. Selections include "The A Train," "Come Fly with Me," "The Chicken," "Mambo Hot" and "Miss Fine."

The ensemble is now in its third year at Aiken High. Senior Chris Edel, an All-State performer as a freshman and junior, has studied privately on the tenor saxophone with Westberry for several years.

"I've always liked jazz," he said. "That's one of the reasons I chose the saxophone. I like to listen to big bands and enjoy the soloing and freedom of expression."

The dinner and dance sounds like fun, said Edel, and classmate Bryson Wightman agreed. He's the marching band drum major and also plays in the wind ensemble.

"I like concert music the most, but jazz is a good way to break away from the structuredness of classical music," said Wightman.

The jazz ensemble members continue to raise the bar for themselves and future Aiken High musicians, Westberry said.

"We earned our first superior rating at a jazz festival at Newberry College last March," he said. "That was a big deal for us."

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.