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RYE, N.Y. - The Rye High School Jazz Band was featured at a pair of events last week and weekend as the band held their Winter Jazz Night inside the middle's school's multi-purpose room on Thursday and played at the Rye Youth Council's Gala at the Westchester Country Club on Saturday.
The Jazz Band, which consists of 50 students, performs as a single unit during the fall during halftime of the Rye Garnets' football games, but splits into two groups of about 20-24 students during the rest of the school year.
Thursday's Winter Jazz Night featured performances from both high school groups as well as the Middle School Jazz Band. According to Jazz Band Director Daniel Brown, the event is more of a casual affair.
"We set up an informal atmosphere, refreshments served and it's more of a club like atmosphere," Brown said. "The kids enjoy it they really get a kick out of it."
Brown, who has been involved with the band for 23 years, said that the event was well attended as over 100 showed up.
"It's nice to see there's such a strong support for the band within the community," Brown said.
While the students enjoy school-sponsored events like the Jazz Night, Brown acknowledged there was something special about being featured at an event separate from the school.
"We played for about an hour during their cocktail hour and auction," Brown said about the Rye Youth Council's Gala. "The kids love doing that because it's their version of an outside gig."
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