Jazzmine takes another trip into the past with annual dinner, music show

ARLINGTON The performers for Arlington High School Jazzmine are taking another time trip into the past through music with their annual dinnershow, which started last Friday and continues with three more shows this weekend.
The show starts at 7 p.m., March 2 and 3 and at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 4. Dinner includes ham and scalloped potatoes with vegetarian options.
The theme, On Air, refers to the music played on different Pacific Northwest popular radio stations through the years and their unique genres of music from the 1960s, 70s and 80s. The show starts with KBSG 97.3, and Barbara Ann, Fun Fun Fun, and Where the Boys Are, featuring soloist Jessica Safford.
From the classic jazz and blues at KPLU 88.5, soloist Chelsea Crabtree sings Blues in the Night, and her tribute to the Supremes, from KJR 95.7 also includes Sheri Anderson and Jen Wilson. A senior, Chelsea is the seventh and final Crabtree to take the stage with Jazzmine at AHS. Also in the blues section, Comfort Israel sings Sassy and Jeff Boyden sings Please Send me Someone to Love.
Daniel Murray, on guitar, plays a mean tribute to Jimi Hendrix and a solo in the blues section as well.
The recent winners at the Bellevue Jazz Festival, Abi Swanson captures the essence of Buffalo Springfields For What Its Worth and Jacob Martins great voice shines with Jen Wilson in Moodys Mood for Love.
Representing the radio station, WOLF, the trio of Jessica Safford, Ashley Alexander and Chelsea Penter sing Take me Away, Jessica Safford and Ashley Anderson sing Leave the Pieces and Sheri Anderson sings Man, I feel Like a Woman.
Kyle Johnson offers a lively performance of Pinball Wizard and Andrew Algard sings Mony Mony from KISW.
Erica Ewell offers a dynamic Proud Mary and Abi Swanson sings Love Fool, from JACK FM, with Israel singing a sad song, Cry me a River.
They even add a humorous selection with a classic choir in robes singing Fugue Sandwich and Pie Jesu from KING FM, that shocks director Lyle Forde, causing him to fall off the stage.
Jacob Martin and Sheri Anderson share the stage in Life and I can see Clearly Now,
But the best of all, from my own point of view, is the KZOK 102.5 tribute to peace and love with Aquarius from Hair and songs from the Woodstock concert, as well as the Beatles I get by with a little help from my friends and Murrays solo tribute to Jimi Hendrix.
Its all great fun, and depends on the wonderful contribution of the live instrumental ensemble directed by Post Middle School music teacher Jeff Swanson. The ensemble includes Cassie Wyatt, Lee Steward and Jeff Swanson on keyboards, Karizn Rosebrook and Colt Kesselring on bass, Daniel Murray and Daniel Shortt on guitar, Bob LaTorre Paul Graves and Richard Gonzales on trumpets, Tyler Varnell and Marty Thordarson on sax, and Pat Sweesey and Chad Duskin on trombone.
Sweesey and Duskin have interesting stories about how they got involved with Jazzmine. Indeed Duskin claims he was one of the three who originally came up with the idea of a dinner show 19 years ago.
We were trying to figure out a way to raise money to go to the Fullerton Jazz Festival in California and Tom Almi (now jazz choir teacher at Bellevue Community College) and Marni Osterud and I suggested a dinnershow. said Duskin who now teachers sixth-grade math and science in the district.
My grandpa, Harry Yost, cut out the first backdrop sign and we got lights from my dads pharmacy, Duskin added.
Sweeney has been playing trombone with the ensemble ever since his son was involved and got sick at the last minute.
I filled in and have been here ever since Sweesey said.
Sound is by Robert Campbell and Derek Warby with assistance from Kyle Blevins of Superior Sound, and lights are by Bob Nydegger and the AHS Theater Tech Class.
Nydegger never ceases to be amazed at how well the high school students perform.
The energy of these kids is amazing, Nydegger said. They put in a lot of hours and work really hard. He said the students in the tech class are learning everything they need to know to operate the new performing arts center.
Sound guy Robert Campbell encourages the public to come and see the show.
Its really coming together, he said after rehearsal before opening night last week.
The set is designed by Bill Wright and the lobby design is by John Boyden. The poster and programs are designed by Ammishiddai Israel.
A junior, Kassie Wyatt said all the hard work is rewarded when the audience shows up.
It makes all the hard work worth it when you see the audience happy and smiling, Wyatt said.
Tickets for the dinner show are $20, sold at the Arlington Pharmacy, 540 N. West Ave. and at Flowers by George, at 335 N. Olympic. For information call the Arlington High School at 360-618-6300.