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Renowned Musician Tatum Greenblatt visited the jazz band at the Osceola School for the Arts for a March 29 coaching session, ahead of the Essentially Ellington jazz competition in New York May 9-11. OCSA has brought home 1st place awards from the 2022 and ’23 festivals. PHOTO/THOMAS OUELLETTE -
Renowned Musician Tatum Greenblatt visited the jazz band at the Osceola School for the Arts for a March 29 coaching session, ahead of the Essentially Ellington jazz competition in New York May 9-11. OCSA has brought home 1st place awards from the 2022 and ’23 festivals. PHOTO/THOMAS OUELLETTE
After winning back-to-back first-place titles in 2022 and 2023 at the renowned Essentially Ellington Jazz Festival in New York City, the Jazz Band at Osceola County School for the Arts has been invited to go back a third time May 9-11 to try to secure the three-peat.
With the competition right around the corner, the band enrolled in a mentorship program to help step up their game. The mentor they received turned out to be none other than one of the most in-demand trumpeters in New York City: Tatum Greenblatt.
Greenblatt, who can currently be heard on Broadway, is no stranger to the OCSA Jazz Band, having been its competition mentor in the past. His effect on the band’s performance has been unmistakable, OCSA Director of Jazz Studies Jason Anderson said, noting Greenblatt’s influence.
“It’s so exciting. He comes in, and he’s just super cool, very down to earth and he talks to them on their level you know?” Said Anderson.
“I can just see already that they’re responding so well and they’re just so engaged. It’s really cool.”
The respect is not one-sided however, as Greenblatt also expressed immense joy at having the opportunity to work with the OCSA jazz band once again.
“They have a strong reputation that is well deserved,” he said. “The determination and desire and the sort of inspired quality of every single member of the band is here. They go on break, and they immediately go and start playing again, it’s amazing.”
The OCSA jazz band will have its final spring concert on Tuesday, April 18. The concert will feature all four of the school’s jazz bands and will also host an assortment of food trucks.
All proceeds raised from the concert will go directly to funding the rest of the $50,000 needed to make the trip to New York a reality.
