Issue date: February 24, 1999
Menlo-Atherton High School's Jazz Band will do what it does best: belt out its unique sound to raise funds at its 15th annual "Big Band Dance" on Friday, March 5.
Jazz aficionados, alumni, friends and community members are invited to the benefit dance from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. in the high school's J Building at 555 Middlefield Road, Atherton.
Tickets at $17.50 per person ($10 for seniors) may be ordered in advance by calling Barbara Schell at 325-6150, or they may be purchased at the door. Desserts, drinks and a just-released CD -- "The Best of M-A" -- will be available for purchase at the dance.
Formed in 1971 by its current director Frank Moura, the jazz band has been wowing the Menlo Park and Atherton communities for 25 years with its emphasis on the swing styles of Count Basie, Buddy Rich, Woody Herman and Stan Kenton.
Last summer, the band played at the Montreux and North Sea jazz festivals in Europe, performed in Doncaster, England, and participated in the American International Club's Fourth of July celebration in Geneva, Switzerland.
More recently, the band scored unanimous excellent ratings at the Folsom Jazz Festival, which included bands from 50 schools, and at the California Music Educators Association's festival in San Mateo. The band also has been a finalist at the Reno International Jazz Festival three times and has toured Europe eight times.
Proceeds from the band benefit go toward paying entry fees at festivals, purchasing music, and helping finance band activities.
© 1999 The Almanac. All Rights Reserved.