A living history of jazz

SHARON — It was 10 a.m., not exactly the time of day one associates with a cool concert of hot jazz. And yet it was a fine time for a fine jazz concert on Feb. 18 at Sharon Center School.

The Cool Cat Jazz band was led by clarinet player Sherman Kahn (who has played with jazz greats Sammy Kaye and Tommy Dorsey), drummer Sal Ranniello (who has played with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra), trombone player Jim Fryer (who has performed with Dave Brubeck), banjo player Nick Difabbio (who has played in the orchestra of many Broadway shows over his 35-year career) and bass player Donn Doucette, who at one time backed Sammy Davis Jr.

But on this particular morning, their audience was not a select group of jazz afficionadoes but a rapt assembly of students in grades pre-kindergarten through eight.

“Jazz is intertwined and connected with our culture,� Fryer said before the show. “In our show for children, we play music that goes all the way back to 1860. Through our performance, we try to make children understand the American urge of self-expression and freedom. These are all basic human qualities.�

The Kool Kats also performed songs made famous by jazz greats such as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington and offered a sampling of music from New Orleans.

All the performers were dressed in black.

“We do that to not distract from the music,� Fryer said, adding, “It’s all about giving children a good time and a fun education.�

The performance is part of an arts program funded through the school, the school’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) and the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism.

“It means a lot to have an opportunity to share arts and culture with the students,� PTO secretary Stephanie Plunkett said.

 

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