The first tour taken by the Smith Jazz Ensemble took place in early February, 2004. The band, headed ultimately for Pittsburgh, PA, stopped at James DeWitt Middle School (our drummer being an alumna) near Syracuse, NY for a Thursday night clinic with the 7th and 8th grade Jazz Ensemble. On Friday morning, the Jazz Ensemble put on two concerts; one for the 4th graders, and a second for the 5th graders. Leaving Syracuse around 11:30am, the band then drove straight to Pittsburgh to meet Michael Sakash, director of the Washington and Jefferson College Jazz Ensemble (http://www.washjeff.edu/organizations_jazz_ensemble.html) for a pizza dinner followed by a clinic in which he directed the Smith band and gave insightful advice on our playing. After rehearsal, some very gracious W&J hosts led band members to their housing for the night. Morning came, and bright and early, the band headed out to the big city to visit the Carnegie Museums of Natural History and Art. After an hour long traffic jam getting back to Washington, PA, the afternoon brought a master session hosted by Bruce, Michael, and two local professional musicians (a guitarist and bassist). After a question and answer session, both Smith and W&J rehearsed on the stage to prepare for the night's concert. The bands got dinner and then returned to play a great concert.
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