Recently students from Newark Arts High School, from which luminaries like Wayne Shorter, Sarah Vaughan, Andy Bey, Tyshawn Sorey, Melba Moore and others once graduated, came into the WBGO Studios for a taping of a special performance by the school’s Latin Band. The students’ director, Kennis Fairfax, joined the band in performance at WBGO.
The current lineup of the Latin Jazz Band are as follows: Christian Arrington (keyboards); Joseph Garcia (keyboards); Yaxiel Nunez (bass/percussion), Yexiel Nunez (bass/keyboards); Mark Exum (drums); Robert Ramirez (percussion/vocals); Xander Thompson (guitar); Miguel Rodriguez (sax); Jacelyn Gonzalez (percussion); Helkin Matos (equipment/percussion); Deeani Colon (lead vocalist); Jayson Marti (vocals on “Stand By Me”); Kennis Fairfax (Advisor/Director and drummer); DaVonne Salley (Parent Liaison and percussion)
As part of this WBGO’s Studio Session, they recorded five songs including “I Will Survive,” “Stand By Me,” “Oye Como Va,” “La Vida es un Carnaval” and the catchy Marc Anthony favorite “Vivir Mi Vida.”
The school’s motto is “Mind, Body, and Spirit Unite In Art, and in Life”, and as soon as this ensemble arrived in their own tour bus at WBGO, the infectious energy of the students and of Mr. Fairfax alike, took over the studio. During early technical difficulties that resulted in a wait until the actual performance, the students continuously ran through their repertoire with unparalleled joy. Their director said “Oh, they’ll play and sing all day if given the chance."
“I was especially impressed with the band’s lead singer, Deeani Colon,” said Carolyn Bednarski, Producer of WBGO’s JAM series. “Her ability to keep the pace with the band, without headphones to hear herself sing, demonstrates how well she knows this music. If this is the future of jazz, we’re in good hands.”
Listen to WBGO three times daily weekdays (11:55am, 6:55pm and 10:55pm) to hear their music, and more to come into early May as we present performances of ensembles from the jazz programs at William Paterson University, Juilliard School of Music, and New York University still to come in celebration of music education for Jazz Appreciation Month.
Funding for this series was made possible by a generous grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
Look for the performance by the Newark Arts High School’s Latin Band in an upcoming Video Performance of the Week on wbgo.org.