Two Bel Air music groups that love to play jazz are about to show that, in the jazz world, what's really cool is combining forces.
On Feb. 7, the jazz ensemble at The John Carroll School will team up with the longtime Bel Air Community Jazz Ensemble for a night called "Cool Jazz."
The "Cool Jazz" concert will start with a reception and auction at 5:30 p.m., followed by the concert at 7 p.m., on Feb. 7. Desserts and coffee will be available immediately after the show. Tickets are $20 each, or $15 for students ages 18 and under and can be purchased by calling 410-879-5053.
The partnership was suggested by Nadine Wellington, a vocalist for Bel Air's jazz group for about 15 years, who also happens to be the mother of a John Carroll student, explained ensemble director Scott Sharnetzka.
Wellington brought up the possibility of promoting the show to help get some much-needed upgrades for John Carroll's arts department, namely, air-conditioning for its music area.
"We are always glad to help out any way we can," Sharnetzka said. "The Bel Air Jazz Ensemble is just a group of people that get a kick out of playing."
Sharnetzka said his group, which he helped start roughly 20 years ago, has partnered with other groups in the past and likes to help other musical ensembles.
"Anyone who gives us a call, we are glad to accommodate them, if we can," he said. "We have helped out a lot of groups around the county."
Leaders of both groups are expecting the show, which will be in John Carroll's auditorium, to sell out.
The room has 600 seats and John Carroll staff can add some additional chairs, Marc Bolden, the school's director of instrumental music, said.
"We were just talking about ways to get the students playing at the same time as fundraising for air-conditioning and renovations in the performing arts wing," Bolden said.
Bolden, who is in his sixth year at the school, said the first rehearsal with the groups playing together, on Friday, Jan. 16, was a big success.
He did not expect negotiating the logistics of combining two ensembles to be especially difficult.
"It's been very easy," he said. "Scott came to visit and listen to our band at the beginning of January, and we had been going over on e-mail and seeing what arrangements we could play together."
The Friday rehearsal "was awesome. The students really enjoyed it, just being able to sit next to semi-professional players," Bolden said.
He said it will be nice to see both young and older people play similar songs and appreciate popular jazz songs.
"We have students as young as 14, and [they have] people who are retired, and what's great about the tunes we are playing, is a lot are considered jazz standards," he said.
The songs may include big-band numbers like Glenn Miller's "In The Mood," as well as Juan Tizol's "Caravan" and Benny Goodman's "Sing, Sing, Sing." Bolden said they have also performed songs by contemporary singers like Michael Buble.
Each band has about 18 people. Sharnetzka said a jazz band typically features about four trombones, four trumpets, five saxophones, four rhythm pieces and a singer.
Bel Air's band was formed in 1998 as an 18-piece jazz band in the style of 1930s and 1940s big bands, according to the group's website.
"These youngsters do a wonderful job," Sharnetzka, who retired as a band director in Harford County Public Schools, said. "They are just as excited as we are."
"It's really just shaping up to be a lot of fun," he said.
Sharnetzka said he is optimistic about the show doing well. He noted the Bel Air band recently just had a "huge performance" at Dundalk Community Theatre, which was a benefit for the facility and also sold out.
John Carroll's ensemble is expected to open the show and play through intermission, with Bel Air's band picking up after that. The bands will also play four or five songs together.
Bolden said having a larger pool of people will help add to a grander jazz ambience.
Also, "this is the biggest that we have been [at John Carroll] in a while, so we can get more of a 'big band' feel," Bolden said.
The show is not just to help the school raise some funds but "to really provide a good concert and have people come out," he said.