Whether it was their youth, playing outdoors to a live audience, the music or the hope that sunshine on a spring evening brings, there was excitement on the patio of Black Cow Fat Pig on Wednesday evening.
The downtown Norfolk restaurant played host to the Northeast Nebraska Jazz Collective, a newly formed group comprised of select-area high school students who were invited to participate.
Northeast Community College and the Northeast Area Jazz Machine collaborated to create this opportunity on May 14. The musicians rehearsed twice, with the Northeast Area Jazz Ensemble helping to provide the financial support to get the project off the ground, while Northeast provided the rehearsal space.
As the name implies, the group leaned toward jazz, but there also were some salsa and other influences drifting through the evening breeze, providing for an enjoyable evening for the capacity crowd. Because the patio was filled, some music lovers gathered on the grassy area to the east by the Salvation Army parking lot to listen to the music.
While not everyone can be a musician, the songs and the outdoors remind us how lives can be enriched by slowing down and enjoying the moment.
The group was led by Kevin McLouth, Northeast instrumental activities director, and Mike Sindt, instrumental activities director at Pierce.
Students who performed were Saul Pena, Norfolk High, alto sax; Aubrey Hanson, Pierce, alto sax; Kaylee Steffen, Pierce, tenor sax; Amelia Ahlers, Pierce, tenor sax; Weston Hoffman, Plainview, bari sax; Spencer Sindt, Pierce, trombone; Noah Asbury, Norfolk High, trombone; Natalie Burke, Norfolk High, trombone; Andrew Cook, Norfolk High, trombone; Aidan Bohnert, Wayne, trumpet;
Nate Kaiser, Norfolk High, trumpet; Parker Rabbass, Norfolk High, trumpet; Payton Ebmeier, Pierce, trumpet; Trayton Christiansen, Pierce, trumpet; Hadleigh Collison, Pierce, piano; Madux Cleveland, Norfolk High, drums; Ryker Dahlkoetter, Norfolk High, bass; and Jayce Marksmeier, Norfolk Catholic, trumpet.
Jazzing up the Evening
A group of select high school students performed as the Northeast Nebraska Jazz Collective for the first time publicly on Wednesday, May 14, on the patio of Black Cow Fat Pig in Norfolk. (Northeast Community College)
