Lions groove to cool Christmas bebop

Dec. 10—Cool jazz takes on Christmas classics filled the Cleburne Conference Center Wednesday courtesy of the Cleburne High School Jazz Band exemplifying team effort punctuated by spirited solos.

"We're thrilled to come and share our Christmas music with you," band Director Jason Jones said.

All festively Yuletide garbed, Jones and the band members occupied the spotlight of the Cleburne Lions Club's weekly luncheon.

"It was a great show today," Cleburne Lions President Dean Woodruff said after the concert. "We really appreciate them coming out today to give their time to play for us. All the Lions, we really like this stuff, the performance, the music, just everything."

"Aseste Fideles," "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and "Feliz Navidad," complete with Lions' singalong accompaniment, and more, the classics just kept coming.

Music merry no doubt, but also a performance guaranteed to stir Christmas past memories, Woodruff said.

"Just when I was young and my parents were still alive and my mom would make all the food," Woodruff said of his favorite Christmas memories. "The smells and sights of her cooking and all the family, we'd all get together to celebrate Christmas."

Not done yet, Woodruff took it upon himself to promote the band.

"They're just so cool and great," Woodruff said. "I wish I had some of the musical talent these kids have. But I think it's important that we promote them and let everyone know about this great band we have in our community."

The band, Cleburne ISD Community Relations Director Lisa Magers said, is the first high school jazz band in Texas.

"Alan Reed brought it in when he was still an assistant band director," Magers said. "The band was originally called Transition but later renamed the CHS Jazz Band. They're just very good and talented and we're so proud of them. Our students can actually start with Jazz Band while they're still in middle school."

All the Jazz Band students also perform with the CHS Golden Pride Band, Magers added.

"So, [CHS senior] George Alvarez, for example, has learned to play sax," Magers said. "But he also plays bassoon. He was in All State Band last year as a bassoonist, but he's also in our jazz band. So here's this classical music player rocking it in a jazz band."

"O Holy Night," Magers answered when asked her favorite Christmas carol or song, though she also holds much love for "Silver Bells."

Jones knows jazz having played in the CHS Jazz Band himself as a student.

"Oh, there's so many I like that I don't know if I can narrow it to one," Jones said when asked his favorite Christmas tune.

But the Christmas concerts — the band has also performed for the East Cleburne Community Center, Cleburne Rotary Club and others — definitely feel special, Jones said.

"Well, they're a little more fun and less serious maybe," Jones said. "In spring we work on festival contest pieces so things get a bit more serious."

Usually this time of year, the band makes the circuit of CISD elementary schools, Jones said, adding that "Feliz Navidad" always seems to be the audience favorite during those performances. This year, however, the band's hands are full serving as the live orchestra for CHS's production of "Little Shop of Horrors."

Lion Bobby de la Garza joked that he successfully resisted the urge to join the band.

"But I have a huge appreciation for them," de la Garza said. "More than 50 years ago, I played trumpet in my high school's jazz band so I know how much work goes into preparing and getting ready for a performance like this. But it paid off for them. I tell you, the excellence and quality of sound they had today was outstanding."

de la Garza pegs "Feliz Navidad" his favorite Christmas song.

"Well, I do have Hispanic heritage after all," de la Garza joked.

His parents, de la Garza replied when asked about his favorite Christmas memory.

"They played Santa Claus and just getting up on Christmas morning and seeing all those presents there," de la Garza said. "It was a surprise to me and just such an exciting thing to open those presents. Then to gather with family and there was always a special meal on Christmas."

Lion Jeremy Longoria — "Jingle Bells" has alway been his Christmas jam — voiced high praise for the Jazz Band as well.

"Just awesome to see these kids who are part of our community and so talented come out and present for us," Longoria said. "The care and fun they have in playing their music and just that impact and their willingness to share their music with the community."

The gift of a Power Wheels is what Longoria thought of when asked about Christmas memories.

"I remember I wanted one when I was 3, and I got it," Longoria said. "But it snowed that Christmas Day so I couldn't even ride it."

That's okay, Longoria said. He got to ride it eventually.