The IJJA performed three times over the weekend, once at Pacific Grove Middle School, then twice at the festival, once at the Museum of Monterey (the old Maritime Museum in Customs House Plaza), and finally on the main stage at the Monterey Conference Center.
Wow, and what performances they were! They played a set of tunes, including Sidewinder, Take the A Train, Skylark, Alisa, and Walking down the Nakamise Street (an original by the group leader, Junko Moriya). Madoka and Chinatsu were part of the horn section, Madoka on trumpet and Chinatsu on trombone. Madoka played several short solos.
While most of the groups performing at the festival were competing for festival awards and so had their "game faces' on, the IJJA group was there by special invitation. They were visibly enjoying their performance and played with such happy, carefree energy that they brought the audience to their feet for a standing ovation that lasted several minutes!
Two other Junior Wingers also performed at the festival as members of the MJF Monterey County Middle School Honor Band: Marina Panzetta (alto sax) and Kane Russell (trombone). As festival announcer Al Adolph put it, this middle school band is "where the Monterey Jazz Festival begins." The band of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders showed that they definitely belonged up on stage with the older students!
While jazz was what brought everyone together, it was fun to see the Junior Wings alums again, this time with their mothers (!) and to make new friends. It was a wonderful 5 days.
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