Meet the Carrillo Jazz Combos
The Jazz Apostles playing their set for the 2023 Student Voice Assembly (Natalia Woods/The Puma Prensa)
Written By: Natalia Woods, A&E Editor
Everybody knows Maria Carrillo High School’s talented and esteemed music program: the newly established mariachi, the elegant wind ensemble, and, of course, the vibrant jazz band. But one thing that many people aren’t aware of is the talented music groups that have arisen out of the program. With jazz, blues, and even rock, the student-run combos within the music program are a vital element of the school.
As the longest student-ran music combo at Carrillo, the Jazz Apostles have established themselves as a creative and somewhat eccentric group of musicians since their creation in 2022. The band comprises all seniors, with Ishan Shardha on drums, Tony Li on the keyboard, Kapil Davé on clarinet, Miles Johnson on saxophone, and Simon Righetti on bass guitar. The variety of instruments in this group allows them to flawlessly execute any song style, as seen through their various performances over the years. From playing funk to swing to Latin and even samba, the group continues to prove their musical versatility. Li, the pianist of the group, shares that “jazz is all about listening to people and playing with them, and that’s what the group does so well.” Because the group is solely student-run, motivation is the key to their success. “We simply have to do it ourselves,” Li explains. “We want to create music and sound good, and we don’t have people telling us what to do, so it’s all up to us.” With the group being all seniors, this is the last year to enjoy the vibrant sound of The Jazz Apostles, so be sure to listen to them at this year’s Student Voice Assembly and the Winter Jazz Concert.
Friends who play together stay together, and this is certainly true for the musicians of the Carrillo Blue Roses. This all-junior group features Max Liebinger on trumpet, Kevin Paul-Meritt on tenor saxophone, Dominic Zarate on guitar, Yazan Osman on drums, Callum Robertson on bass, and Yen Khai on piano. Paul-Merritt explains how the Blue Roses are “basically a friend group that plays music together.” The group was started by drummer Osman in the spring and premiered its first performance at the Jazz Banquet last May. Since then, the group has continued to practice and play in gigs both in and out of school, with their most recent performance being at the fall band concert in October. The group played a rendition of Steely Dan’s “Home at Last” and perfected the soft jazz-rock melody of this 70’s band. This performance quickly became the group’s favorite, and Leibinger shared why. “We don't get to do stuff like that in regular band,” he explained. “There are certain songs that are better suited for smaller groups, so we get to do that here.” Leibinger attributes the success of his group to their ability to “respect each other and hold each other accountable to a certain level of playing.” Because they know each other’s skill levels, they all ensure they’re trying their hardest. The group is currently practicing for their set at the Student Voice Assembly.
Arising out of the MCHS music program in the past year is something nobody would’ve expected: a rock band. The unofficial leader, Simon Righetti, shared the work-in-progress title for the group – Righetti Confetti, featuring Machete and Big Betty– or simply the Simon Righetti Experience. Deemed as Carrillo’s first official rock band, the combo brings together a myriad of musicians: seniors Simon Righetti on guitar, Tony Li on drums, Miles Johnson on saxophone, Zoe Leibinger on bass, and juniors Silas Tristan on guitar and Trystan Treiner on vocals. After Assistant Director Matthew Bowker asked Righetti to form the combo, they held their debut performance at the Magical Night of Music last April. Since then, they’ve continued to awe the audience, bringing a new and refreshing sound to the traditional jazz ensembles. Righetti shared his favorite part of being in this group, saying that “the feeling after a concert is amazing” and “that’s what keeps [the band] together.” Being in any musical group is no easy feat. Still, especially for this one, everyone needs to be a well-trained musician and versatile in their instrumental abilities to master an authentic rock and metal sound. Treiner, the vocalist of the group, explained that the main challenge he faces is being able to match the vocal range of the other musicians, but he still loves “the variety of music” they play and how he can “take a song and do what [he] wants with it.” Currently, the group has no plans for nonschool-affiliated gigs, but there is a possibility for some in the future. For now, catch this energetic combo at the Student Voice Assembly.
The Pink Pumas: Carrillo’s first and only all-female jazz group. The creator and leader of the group, senior Natalie Feng, plays flute and trumpet. Along with her, there’s Zoe Leibeinger on bass guitar, Violetta Anadea on drums, Alexis Lavely on alto saxophone, Grace Bacaro on tenor saxophone, and Ainsley Taylor with guitar and piano. The group came together last fall after Feng proposed the idea of a solely female combo. Feng shared the initial reason for starting the group, explaining that “there’s not a lot of girls in jazz, so [they] wanted to inspire young girls to participate.” The group has left no room for disappointment; every performance, from the Magician Night of Music to the seasonal band concerts, has exemplified the strong skills of each player. Feng shared that her favorite part of being in the group is the rehearsals because “they’re really fun…we’re always laughing.” The group brings that same vibrant energy when they’re on stage; they always look like they’re having a good time and even wear matching pink ribbons to represent the group. The group’s next gig is the winter jazz concert in December.
Carrillo’s talented jazz combos perfectly represent what happens when student creativity takes form. Shardha, drummer of the Jazz Apostles, voiced a sentiment shared by many other musicians in these groups. “The creative freedom of it is truly unmatched,” he explains. “Being able to practice and make the perfect sound with others… that makes playing music so special.”