In a jazz mood

Every spring (this year, Friday, April 12), hundreds of high school and middle school students come to campus for BU's Jazz Festival.

BU has become a jazz destination in several senses of the word.

The festival offers the high school students the opportunity to hone their skills with guest artists and clinicians.

BU's own ensemble, directed by music professor and department chair Stephen Clickard, has been earning a higher profile in the jazz world. The ensemble was invited to New Orleans this March to participate in the Crescent City Jazz Festival.

Clickard — a player, composer and arranger — has been playing professionally since high school when he was invited to join a college band.

These shots were taken during a rehearsal before the New Orleans trip.

The first shot on the right shows Christian Smith on percussion. A multi-instrumentalist, Smith was first in the rehearsal room that day and promptly sat down at the piano and played very beautifully. The center photo shows saxophonists Brittany Baselice and Beth Meyers and the last shot is guitarist Matt Leese warming up before rehearsal.

Below is a short video interview with Clickard about what makes jazz special. (Editing for this one was done by me, so the edges are a little rougher than normal. —EGF.)