MOUNTLAKE TERRACE—Acclaimed jazz trombonist and educator Francisco Torres paid the Mountlake Terrace Jazz Band a special visit Monday, March 30, for a one-on-one workshop to prepare them for the upcoming 31st annual Jazz at Lincoln Center’s prestigious Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival.
The workshop began at 1 p.m. and spanned fives hours, including a 30-minute pizza break, where Torres listened to the band’s setlist and gave careful criticism – reiterating it was “a great band, the notes are already there” but it just boiled down to ensuring the “music” and soul was there as well.
Torres has taught music to individual students for many years before teaching at the college level. Though he has had an acclaimed musical career, he told the Lynnwood Times his heart has always been with teaching the next generation of musicians.
“I like that ah-ha moment I see in kids after talking about concepts. It’s so valuable to give back to the students because you want to pay it forward. It’s important for young students to learn that you can make a living in music, but there’s a lot more that goes into it than just playing your instrument,” Torres told the Lynnwood Times.
Torres’ mentorship was party of the Essentially Ellington experience, called a “in-school workshop.”
Mountlake Terrace High School’s Jazz Ensemble 1, directed by Darin Faul, earned its 11th invitation to Essentially Ellington. The group last appeared in 2020 and has placed third twice and received honorable mention once. It has also performed at major regional events including Hot Java Cool Jazz and the KPLU School of Jazz for the past 30 years.
The Mountlake Terrace High School Jazz band attended the Essentially Ellington festival last year and placed 14 out of 19 bands. This year only five musicians are returning.
“We’ve just been working really hard to get everyone to play at the top that they can play. It’s a pretty young band, with nine freshmen,” said Faul. “As soon as we got in I became very focused on the foundation of their playing, just trying to get that stronger. We’re just trying to hammer in on some fundamentals. When you go to a competition you’re wanting to do as well as you can. Am I expecting to place? No, but crazier things have happened. We placed twice in the past and I wasn’t expecting it those times either. If we can put all the pieces together and put on a good show I think we’ll do fine out there.”
Included in Mountlake Terrace’s roster is Wyatt Gutting, first chair trombone, who told the Lynnwood Times the preparation for the upcoming jazz festival has taken a “lot of work,” and requires teammate to have the same mindset and same goal.
Michael Brady, second chair trumpet for Mountlake Terrace High School, added that it took integrity; “not just going home and saying you’re going to learn the part but putting in the work.”
“You have the whole band but if one person’s off it can send the thing sideways,” said Brady. “Being committed to the band is probably the biggest thing to me. I’m here, I’m going to do my part, and we’re going to sound good.”
Hailey Biggs, third chair trumpet, added that Torres’ instruction has really helped her playing, specifically, by teaching her that the band as a unified whole – as musicians instead of specific instrumentalists.
Gideon Young, first chair trumpet, shared that he’s most looking forward to getting up on stage and having the most fun possible with their band.
“I think what would be the best thing is us going up on stage and not only having a great time but playing well,” said Young.
Luca Manzo, drummer, added that “listening” is just as important as playing, not only to your bandmates but to other recordings to get ideas about style.
“At the end of the day, though, it’s just about letting it go and loving what you do,” said Manzo.
For Owen Smith, alto and soprano saxophone, he draws inspiration from the people around him – particularly others in the band.
Other schools headed to the Duke Ellington festival
In the days that followed, Torres continued his mentorship to Bothell High School on Tuesday, March 31, from 8 a.m. to noon and Shorewood High School on Wednesday, April 1, from 1 to 5 p.m.
The three schools are among 20 selected from 119 applicants worldwide to participate in the 31st annual festival, set for April 30-May 2 in New York City. The event honors Duke Ellington’s legacy through performances, education sessions and a final concert and awards ceremony at Frederick P. Rose Hall.
Bothell High School’s Jazz Band 1, under director Philip Dean, will make its fifth straight appearance. Matt Simmons, who has directed the school’s Jazz 2 ensemble for 22 years, is also working with the group. The program emphasizes improvisation and all styles of jazz alongside traditional concert ensembles.
Shorewood High School’s Jazz Band 1, directed by Dan Baker, returns to the competition for the first time since the 2000s after earlier appearances in 2000, 2001, 2005 and 2008. Students rehearse before school in a “zero period” class.
About Francisco Torres and the Essentially Ellington program
Torres, a native of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, has built a career as a trombonist, bass trombonist, composer and arranger specializing in Latin jazz. He served 12 years as musical director, producer and arranger for Grammy-winning percussionist Poncho Sanchez. He is a member of Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band and John Beasley’s Monkestra and has performed or recorded with Arturo Sandoval, Bill Holman, the Manhattan Transfer, Terence Blanchard, Santana and Aretha Franklin, among others.
The clinics will give students direct feedback from a professional perspective similar to that of the festival judges, organizers said.
“With the coming of AI, I consistently tell kids that the cool thing about music is it’s you. It’s your instruments and AI can’t make it up. That’s how you define your voice,” said Torres. “Let’s be real; music is entertainment. It isn’t curing cancer but it’s still worth someone to somebody. I was always tell my students to remember that when they’re playing their instrument there’s always someone out there who’s working 40-hours a week, gets their paycheck, and still decides to come pay to watch you play.”
Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington program has shaped thousands of young musicians and educators since its founding, fostering a global community dedicated to Ellington’s music. The festival includes educational activities and big-band competitions before the culminating awards event.
Jazz at Lincoln Center is led by Chairman Clarence Otis, Managing and Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis, and Executive Director Greg Scholl.
To learn more visit us at JAZZ.org; follow on Facebook, Instagram, and X via @jazzdotorg; watch live and on-demand concerts and a wealth of other related programming on our Jazz Live streaming service; and enjoy concerts, education programs, behind-the-scenes footage, programs, and more at youtube.com/jazzatlincolncenter.
Author: Kienan Briscoe
