The performance — part of the Marine Band’s educational program that travels to middle and high schools in the Washington, D.C., area — included pieces from legendary musicians such as Duke Ellington and Herbie Hancock but also provided the students with lesser-known compositions that were indicative to certain evolutionary phases of ‘‘America’s music,” as band pianist Master Gunnery Sgt. Robert Boguslaw described it.
The band members began the performance with the traditional ‘‘Just a Closer Walk to Thee,” which showed early jazz’s blues and gospel influence. Later, the band played Marcus Miller’s ‘‘Tutu,” which had elements of funk that grew prevalent in the early- to mid-1980s.
‘‘I’ve never heard any of this before, that’s why it’s such a blast,” Edmond Ngati, a sophomore guitarist from Silver Spring, said of the various selections, many of which he expressed interest in pursuing further. ‘‘Even though they were older songs, they are new to me; it’s not something I’m used to, but I want to get used to it.”
Wyman Jones, director of the instrumental music program at Springbrook, said the high school band members will use what they have learned to help prepare for next month’s competition at the National Music Festival in Chicago, in which the jazz, string and symphonic bands will perform.
‘‘We want to encourage kids — especially with jazz — that the best way to learn is to experience,” he said. ‘‘You should hear it, listen to the sounds and then take something from that to your own style.”
The 130 musicians that comprise the full U.S. Marine Band represent a high level of technical skill and the auditions are rigorous, said trumpet player Staff Sgt. Brian Turnmire. Every member of the jazz combo is a professional who studied music in college.
The musicians looked like traditional Marines with their crew cuts and red and blue uniforms, but their on-stage performances were far from conservative, mimicking the familiar antics of the famous musicians whose songs they were playing.
Boguslaw bounced like Billy Joel to the rhythm of his bandmates during an improvisational piano solo, while Turnmire wowed the students with an amplifier that made his trumpet sound like an electric guitar.
The Marine Band members are full-time musicians who are members of the Corps, although they do not take part in boot camp because they have no combat role. However, they attend a training session on Marine customs and courtesies and have typical military rankings based on experience and musical skill.
Despite having played for the president and other Washington dignitaries at galas and formal events, Turnmire said he gets greater enjoyment from coming to auditoriums, playing for students and teaching them about the craft.
‘‘Nothing against playing for the president, but with this, we get to instruct the kids and feel like we help out,” he said. ‘‘Playing at the White House, we are basically ignored and just meant to be in the background.”
