Through the sunny streets of Newtonville, various combos from Jazz Ensemble and Tiger Bebop could be heard, setting the tone for a pleasant afternoon at Village Day with soulful performances Sunday, Oct. 5.

The event kicked off with a lively and fitting piece for the day, “Strolling with Sammy,” performed by one of the combos (a small jazz group). According to fine and performing arts teacher Richard Labedz, the piece is a classic for the Jazz Ensemble, rooted in the North tradition of opening Village Day every year since its first appearance.  

“I think ‘Strolling with Sammy’ has only grown and evolved—the style is shaped by the players who are performing it,” said junior Juliette Winston, the vice president of the Jazz Ensemble.

Following their opener, Jazz Ensemble dazzled the audience with a smooth rendition of “Blues Walk,” “Watermelon Man,” and “Jazz Police.” Their performance of “Jazz Police” amazed the audience with the talent and dedication put into it by each member.

Senior Ari Cohen, president of the Jazz Ensemble, said, “A lady came up to us after our performance and went, ‘Wow, you guys are high schoolers? I would’ve never known.’ It was really sweet to know that people came out and appreciated it the way they did.”

Then, Tiger Bebop took front and center, performing their whimsical and upbeat production of “He Beeped when He Shoulda Bopped.” 

The jazz program’s talent shone throughout the day, making for a skilled, improv-based performance. 

“I think it’s really nice to hear everyone, because they just know their instruments so well that they’re able to make something really beautiful on the fly,” said sophomore Elif Uygun, a member of Jazz Ensemble. 

Leading up to their successful performance, the performers practiced both in and out of school to ensure they gave the best production possible. With only three to four weeks of practice time, the Jazz program was able to pull off a noteworthy performance, wowing many in the audience with their polished performance. Despite the time crunch, the jazz performers played and sang with undeniable talent that brought the Newton community together through the beauty of music. 

North’s jazz program will only continue to impress and unite audiences as they progress throughout the year, setting a good precedent for the rest of the year.