Montclair High School’s glee club, The Passing Notes opened the 2nd Annual Concert for Haiti last night with an eclectic selection of songs ranging from classic Americana and do wop to modern pop/rock, beginning what was to be an evening packed with outstanding performers of all ages.
The 14-member, student-run group (led by Jason Cerf and Elena Juliano) wowed the audience with original a capella arrangements and showmanship that was as tightly orchestrated as any top professional ensemble. Soloists showed a range of styles and vocal abilities, while the meticulously modulated back up harmonies added depth and punctuation. Songs performed ranged from the traditional folk song Nelly Bly to the Gershwin jazz standard Someone to Watch Over Me (video below featuring Desiree Bannister), sixties pop single Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye) and Modest Mouse’s contemporary rock anthem Float On.
Next on the stage was Grammy-award jazz bassist, Montclair resident Christian McBride, his wife and musical partner internationally-renowned vocalist Melissa Walker and their band. Walker is the founder of Montclair-based Jazz House Kids, which exposes young people to jazz and nurtures up-and-coming musicians. McBride and Walker brought to the stage two Montclair high school students, saxaphonist Julian Lee and trumpet player Wallace Roney Jr. (as well as Anthony Orgi from Mt. Olive High School playing baritone sax).
While McBride and Walker have played with the world’s top jazz musicians, these young men more than pulled their musical weight on stage and clearly lived up to Walker’s introduction of them as “rising stars.”
Lee, a two-time winner of DownBeat magazine’s annual student music awards, played a soulful rendition of Duke Ellington’s In a Sentimental Mood, accompanied by McBride and his band. Let’s just say that the audience’s jaws were slack with awe as this young man blew into his horn.
According to the Cindy Stagoff, who co-organized the concert with Montclair’s Mayor Jerry Fried, the concert raised close to $16,000 for Edeyo — a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering children in Haiti through education. Edeyo is building a school in the impoverished Bell Air section of Port Au Prince.
Every seat in the house was sold at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, and there were dozens of people standing as well. Fundraising efforts included sponsorship by Whole Foods, who also ran a register campaign, and the sale of art and baked goods by Alma Schneider of Take Back the Kitchen (which alone accounts for almost $900 of the funds raised).
Notably, $1,600 of the total was raised by Glenfield Middle School’s House Scribner and House Miller, through their “Change is Positive” campaign (pictured here).
Stay tuned for next year’s show, which promises an even more diverse line up. To learn more about Edeyo’s efforts, or donate money directly, click here.
