When the United States Army’s Jazz Ambassadors come to town on April 10, three local teenagers will have the honor of joining them in concert. Payton White, Cato Cannizzo, and Trenton Oiland are all active members of the River Ridge High School jazz and marching bands. They are thrilled to be playing at this free community event.
Payton White is a senior at River Ridge and also involved in the school’s theater program. He was working on sets for Noises Off when the band director, John Theine, approached him about the concert. “He said, ‘Hey, so this captain out of the U.S. Army Field Band said that they needed a tenor saxophone player to play with them.’ That’s how I found out about it, and then I realized it was the Jazz Ambassadors and I got even more excited.”
White’s admiration is well-placed. Musically speaking, the Jazz Ambassadors recruit and foster some of the nation’s brightest musical talent. They perform at prestigious festivals and often share the stage with top civilian symphonies, pop orchestras, and jazz artists. Known as “America’s Big Band,” they have a longstanding reputation for excellence. Led by Chief Warrant Officer Two Daniel Wood, the band also features remarkable vocalist Master Sergeant Marva J. Lewis.
The Jazz Ambassadors are one of four performing components within the U.S. Army Field Band. As stated in their mission, this musical ambassador program “fosters the support of the American people for members of the armed forces and supports diplomatic efforts around the world.” They tour both nationally and internationally, wowing audiences worldwide. In keeping with their mission, their events are always free for the public.
As sophomore trumpet player Trenton Oiland enthuses, “It’s going to be cool to get the experience to play with an extremely high level band. We just don’t get that in high school because we’re not professional.”
Professional? Maybe not. But it’s worth noting that these three young men are far from amateurs. They’ve all been playing for at least six years. Even more importantly, their conductor provides all of his young musicians with plenty of occasions during which they can meet his high expectations.
Speaking of the upcoming concert, Theine says, “I only wish that I could give more students this opportunity. The group at River Ridge is not limited to three great kids.” That said, he’s absolutely thrilled for White, Cannizzo, and Oiland. “All three boys are committed to making our group as good as it can be. They are leaders who really help their sections pull together.”
The respect Theine holds for his students is certainly reciprocated. Says White: “Mr. Theine is just an incredible human being.”
Junior trombonist Cato Cannizzo concurs. “He does a lot of work for his students. Like if we ever damage our instruments, he tries to fix them up. He puts in a lot of effort to find us places around the community to play.”
Local festival fans have probably heard the River Ridge bands at multiple venues, ranging from the Deschutes Duck Dash to Procession of the Species. Additionally, the band does a lot traveling. Case in point: this year, the group will spend their spring break attending college clinics and playing concerts in California.
White, Cannizzo, and Oiland are on the tour. They get home on April 9, then turn around and play with the Jazz Ambassadors on April 10. The boys expect they’ll only have a brief rehearsal before the actual performance, so they’re preparing in the mean time with tons of private practice.
Of course, playing jazz isn’t just about technical excellence. It’s about joy. It’s about enthusiasm. As Oiland explains, “It’s got a groove, you know, and you can get into it. Jazz music is the most exciting so it’s really fun to play.”
“Exciting” certainly describes the Jazz Ambassadors’ repertoire. In addition to patriotic selections, each performance aims to cover the rich history of jazz. From big band to bebop and classic to contemporary, their program will certainly delight a wide variety of musical tastes.
Don’t miss this incredible free concert on Sunday, April 10. The Jazz Ambassadors—and their student guest musicians—will perform in the River Ridge High School Gym. Doors open at 2:30 p.m., and the concert begins at 3:00 p.m.
Though the concert is free, tickets are required. To register for your free tickets online, follow this link.
