Dr. David Betancourt, director of bands and orchestra, presented his annual jazz exchange concert on Oct. 22 in the Cerritos College Student Center.
The instrumental ensembles draw from a vast array of musicians ranging in age from 10 to 80.
Programs from across Southern California, such as Special Admit and College Bridge, allows high school students and younger students to be a part of the ensemble.
In the past few years, Cerritos has played with students from Artesia High, Cerritos High, Downey High, La Mirada High, Los Alamitos High, Norwalk High and Santa Fe Springs High.
“I’ve been playing since I was in fourth grade, and I’m in ninth now,” said Dewey Clark, Los Alamitos High School student.
This year’s exchange featured the Valley Christian Middle School Jazz Band and the Cerritos College Jazz Ensemble.
The Valley Christian band played three songs, and one along with the Cerritos.
“The middle school have only been playing for a month and a half, it’s impressive,” Betancourt said about the middle school band.
Both bands played covers of songs from a wide variety of jazz artists such as:
- Spencer Williams,
- Doug Beach,
- Stevie Wonder,
- Charales Calhous and
- Dizzy Gillispie
“It was very diverse, there were several types of jazz, it was upbeat and kept my attention,” said Ben Klaffke, education history major.
The Cerritos band not only performed instrumental songs, but also songs with vocals sung by Cynthia Hernandez.
“It was very interesting, and the singer was amazing,” exclaimed Orlando Martinez, music major.
