Trier West High School Jazz Ensemble: Merci! Merci!
File under: High School Band Monsters. Totally random pull out of a grip of school band records at a thrift shop a while back. Never turn your back on kids playing Don Ellis.
Waxidermy
18 Comments
them kiddies know how to jam.
I have this…there are two volumes released at the same time with the same cover. I’m gonna have to figure out where I put them…
Yeah, this is 2. How is the other volume?
I have been following this blog for quite some time. great surprises every time I visit. This here track is especially great. Thank You for sharing!
and by the way, my itunes features “Waxidermy Jazz” now as an own musical category.
this is great
Nice jazz groover!
Interesting. Please could you provide a bit more info on this recording: year and lieu of release & Record Co., so I could try seeking out that one Thanks!
This album was made in 1971 by the New Trier West High School Jazz Ensemble from Northfield, IL (outside Chicago), directed by Roger Mills. This band traveled to the Montreaux Jazz Festival that year and won multiple awards. The album was published locally, so no other info about availability.
Oh my god…Little Doc Dave Frolechstein, Jan Terry, Jeff Trisch…New Trier’s West Side Story..Where is Roger Mills?
Roger Mills? Last I hear he was parking cars in Jersey – how the mighty have fallen.
Stix?
I was the pianist in the NT Jazz Ensemble under Roger Mills’ direction from 1980-82, and it was one of the most rewarding musical experiences I’ve had. We always played very complex arrangements, and it gave us an amazing opportunity to hone our chops. That experience gave me the foundation to attend the Berklee College of Music, and decades later, I’m still playing (professionally this time).
With thanks to Roger, I’m really glad people outside Northbrook are getting a chance to appreciate the significant music made by a bunch of high schoolers!
WOW, a definite blast from the past. What wonderful memories.
That is a blast from the past, and an unbelievable experience…
This album might have been done in ’71…but our europe trip was summer of ’72.
I was on that trip with P. Ballin, J. Davis, B. Purse, B. Boehm….what a gas!
(I’m going to look in my vinyl archives for this and other disks that we “pressed” :)
Thanks for sharing this track.
Hey there everyone! To all my New Trier grads and Jazz Ensemble Alumni, Happy New Year!! Graduated in ’74 and had a fantastic time in the NTWJE!!! Just missed the Montreux trip by a year…Rick, a fellow trumpet play has stories to tell, so I hear…Hi Rick, hope all is well – Cheers – Al Proudfoot
Trumpet player that is….too much eggnog…..
What memories this brings back! I came a few years after these great players but remember them quite well. Great stuff.
Those were the days. I can still hear Roger Mills yelling me that I had no beat. True. So I didn’t make it out of Lab Band (JV) ’til Fall ’72. Remember “Mumbles” and who can forget “Pussywiggle Stomp”? Oh, I forgot to practice again. Sorry Mr. Mills.