By Steve Hubrecht
If you stand in the halls at David Thompson Secondary School (DTSS) on a Thursday afternoon, a half hour or so after the final bell of the day has rung, and almost all of the students have left, you can hear an unmistakably foot-tapping rhythm. Step from the hall into the room where the DTSS ‘Soul Machine’ jazz band is practising and now you can really hear it.
One younger-looking student’s fingers are bouncing on the piano keys. Music teacher Bryant Olender is tickling the ivories too and stomping his shoes to help keep time. An older student with a deep purple guitar rips out an extended improvised solo that’s both bold and understated at the same time, perfectly suited to the song. Trumpets, trombones and other brass horns add punch, and someone holds up a ukulele.
A few visitors sitting and standing nearby can’t seem to keep still, consciously or subconsciously tapping their fingers and toes or bobbing their heads. It’s impossible not to move, unless perhaps you’re hard of hearing. Or hard of heart.
Sounds like these haven’t echoed around DTSS for a long time.
Soul Machine started up about a year and a half ago, and it’s the first time in years DTSS has a genuine band program.
“It’s nice to have music back,” Olender told the Pioneer. “The kids love being in a jazz band.”
Soul Machine has 19 students in total, including four vocalists. Some of their favourite songs to play include ‘Take the A Train’ and ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’.
The band is preparing for their first major performance outside of the Columbia Valley at the B.C. Interior Jazz Festival in Kelowna from Friday, April 11 to Sunday, April 13, and they are fundraising to make the trip happen.
Last week the local Valley Voices Choir presented Soul Machine with a $1,000 cheque. The band is hoping to raise an additional $4,000 to cover the cost of playing at the jazz fest.
“We want to promote all forms of music in the community,” said choir member Gavin Jacob, speaking on why the choir donated. “We want to make sure the band can go to Kelowna. I’ve heard nothing but good things about the band from everyone who’s heard them. And of course we’re delighted to have a band back at the high school again.”
The Soul Machine will hold a fundraising concert at the DTSS theatre on Thursday, March 13 at 7 p.m.
Anyone wanting to donate to help get the DTSS Soul Machine to Kelowna can write a cheque to ‘DTSS’ with “band fund” in the memo, or if they want a tax receipt they can write it to ‘School District 6 Rocky Mountain’ with “DTSS music fund” or “DTSS band fund” in the memo. You can also contact the school district for other ways to make donations.
