Cypress bay high school sound of thunder & color guard

Sound of Thunder Jazz Bands

The Cypress Bay Jazz Band is an additional band elective class that is offered to those with an interest in jazz.  This branch of music, which typically comprises of Latin, Afro-American, and occasionally Contemporary music requires musicians to be technically and stylistically advanced, so it is mandatory that Jazz Band is taken in addition to a Concert Ensemble class (Concert/Symphonic Band or Wind Ensemble).  

During most summers, Cypress Bay offers a JAZZ BAND CAMP!!!  See the 2024 Jazz Band Camp Flyer below!!!

All musicians that are a part of the jazz band should participate in marching band.  A part of the Jazz Band Honors Credit (available to those who take it) may include transcribing and performing professional jazz pieces and/or biography research.  

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This past year’s (2023-2024) Jazz Band I performed 4 selections during the 2024 Spring Concert, in the following order: “Gibraltar” arranged by Mike Kamuf, composed by Freddie Hubard, “Basie-Straight Ahead” composed by Sammy Nestico, “Tank!” arranged by John Wasson, composed by Yoko Kanno, and “Miami Spice” composed by Victor Lopez. Jazz I is pictured below!I

This past year’s (2023-2024) Jazz Band II performed 4 selections during the 2024 Spring Concert: “Fat Burger” composed by George Vincent, “#1 No Pickles” composed by Matthew Montgomery, “Barbeque Sauce” composed by Mike Carubia, and “La Negra Tiene Tumbao” arranged by Victor Lopez, composed by Fernando Osorio. Jazz II is pictured above!

This past year’s Jazz Band (2023-2024) also attended the annual Lakeside Jazz Festival and earned a “Superior” at it after performing “Absoludicrous,” “Brincando Com Fogo,” and “Missing Tooth.” The Rhythm Section earned the “Most Outstanding Rhythm Section” award and the entire Band earned the “Most Outstanding High School Jazz Band – Main Stage” award!!! Below are some photos from this fun experience and the enthusiastic trip to Universal afterwards!

This year’s (2023-2024) Jazz Band I performed “Bu-Yah!,” “My Foolish Heart,” and “Hit the Ground Running” (click yellow links to access youtube videos of their state performances!) at the 2024 District Musical Performance Assessment on February 15, and earned STRAIGHT SUPERIORS!!! They advanced to States, and on their March 21 performance at Dreyfoos School of The Arts, they earned STRAIGHT SUPERIORS at a STATE LEVEL!!! Jazz Band II performed “Make Swing Your Thing,” “Star Eyes,” and “Aventuras!” at the 2024 District Musical Performance Assessment on February 15. They earned a “Superior” and two ratings of “Excellent” and will sadly not be performing at a State level. Both groups are pictured below! (Jazz I top two, Jazz II below, image carousel below)

This year’s (2023-2024) Jazz Band I performed “The Christmas Waltz,” “I’ll be home for Christmas,” and “Go Tell It on the Mountain” and Jazz Band II performed “Here Comes Santa Claus,” “Feliz Navidad,” and “A Swingin’ Silent Night,” at the 2023 Winter Concert! Pictured below are this year’s Jazz Bands! (left is Jazz I, right is Jazz II)

This past school year (2022-2023), Jazz Band I performed “Poultry in Motion,” “When I Fall in Love,” and “Mondongo,” and earned a “Superior” at the district level and an “Excellent” at the state level. (pictured top two images)

This past school year (2022-2023), Jazz Band II performed the pieces “Tastes Like Chicken,” “Manteca,” and “Lester Leaps In” and earned an “Excellent” at their MPA.  (pictured below Jazz Band I)

This past year’s Jazz Band (2022-2023) also attended the annual Lakeside Jazz Festival and earned a “Superior” at it after performing “Gibraltar,” “Swing Out,” and “Tell Me A Bedtime Story.”  Below are some photos from this fun experience and the enthusiastic trip to Universal afterwards!

The (2021-2022) Jazz Band I performed “All the Things You Are”, “Chicken Scratch”, “MAS Production” and earned a SUPERIOR rating at the District Level. This group made CYPRESS BAY HISTORY, as they moved to the STATE level getting STRAIGHT SUPERIORS. The first time a Cypress Bay Jazz Band gets straight superiors at the State level. Here is the 2021-2022 Jazz Band 1 pictured below during their performancecs at the District and State level.