Elective Highlight: The VHHS Jazz Band

Credits: Jennifer Dalton, Pictured (left to right): Annika Dalton, Anna-Sophia Le, Davidson Smith, Colin Strevy, Autumn Berry, Andy Sheng, Herbert Bryant, Ella Palmer, AJ Rembert

Today, the Vestavia Hills High School Jazz Band is playing at the city’s Salute to Veterans Day Celebration. Gigs like these are common for the Jazz Band, which often gets invited to play at community events. Immediately following, the Jazz Band will prepare for their Fall Concert, which is next Monday, November 17th. The band is directed by Mrs. Heather Palmer and is open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors.

The Jazz Band has grown significantly, adding nearly fifteen new members compared to last year. The 2025-2026 edition of the band features nearly 40 members. The rhythm section alone contributes 11 people to that number, including seven drummers, two pianists, a guitarist, and a vibraphonist. When the drummers are not behind a drumset, they will often play accessory items such as shakers, claves, and bongos. The band’s large size contributes to the texture of the ensemble and enables them to play even more difficult music. One of the band’s most difficult tunes for the fall semester is a funk chart called The Chicken, which features many improvised solos and is among the band’s favorite tunes to play. 

Members of the Jazz Band join the ensemble in addition to their concert band class; however, the music played in Jazz Band is completely different from the classical music played in other bands. Unlike traditional wind band orchestration, jazz bands only feature saxophones—alto, tenor, and baritone—trombones, trumpets, and a rhythm section consisting of piano, guitar, bass, drums, and auxiliary percussion, only occasionally including clarinet and flute. Students in Jazz Band have to learn how to play in entirely different styles, and are taught many new techniques on their instruments. They also learn how to improvise, and every student is encouraged to try an improvised solo. 

Because Jazz Band only allows saxes, trumpets, trombones, and percussion, many band students learn a completely new instrument in addition to their principal instrument. So not only do Jazz Band musicians learn new styles and techniques, they do so on their second—or in some cases, third or fourth—instrument. What is even more impressive is that the Jazz Band class is only half a period. That means that, most days, the band only gets about 20 minutes to rehearse together, so they have to rehearse efficiently. At the start of each concert cycle, the band receives around 9-10 tunes to prepare. They perform these at various gigs and at their concert at the end of each semester. 

Contrary to what the name would suggest, the Jazz Band does not play only traditional jazz. A typical concert set for the band consists of everything from typical swing to Latin to funk, and even pop music. This variety allows Jazz Band members to gain experience playing many different types of music and ensures that every performance is exciting.

The VHHS Jazz Band Fall Concert will be on Monday, November 17th, at 6 pm. Selections will include: Bugle Call Rag, a Benny Goodman tune featuring William Pitts and Autumn Berry on clarinet; Take the A Train, sung by Anna-Sophia Le; and The Incredibles, including themes from the movie soundtrack. There may even be a bongo solo involved… you’ll have to come and find out!