Rene Adrian Sandoval Sr. Jazz Scholarship

As a musician, I am always looking to expand my horizons when it comes to composition. In 2018, I stumbled upon a YouTube video about 10 songs for the classical guitar. Little did I know that the song at number 7 would have a great impact on my life. The song was called “Mediterranean Sundance,” and after hearing the opening of the song, I became addicted to this style of music. Immediately after, I found a live performance of Mediterranean Sundance which opened the door to improvisation and collaboration. That was the day I discovered my favorite jazz musician, Al Di Meola. Before then, I was not familiar with jazz nor the concept of improvisation. It seemed like a superpower that no ordinary human can obtain. But after watching Al Di Meola perform with his counterpart Paco De Lucia, I began to follow suit. In middle school, I didn’t know anyone else who liked, let alone played jazz fusion. Luckily, I had determination to teach myself how to play, or attempt to play, similar to Di Meola. I would get on YouTube, play the live recording, and play alongside a virtual Di Meola. This helped me develop my own style of improvisation, how to play along with another musician, and helped with my songwriting. Seeing Di Meola play various styles of music, jumping from electric to classical guitar playing instantly made a big impact on my compositions. This motivated me to create music in different styles and even combine genres. From a chill rap beat to an epic choir, Al Di Meola is a key influence on how I discovered my own musical personality. Little did I know that my curiosity on YouTube would lead me down the path I’m on today, all thanks to my favorite jazz musician Al Di Meola.

As a reed player who started on the bass clarinet, my favorite jazz musician is Harry Carney and his successor Joe Temperley. The rich sound he gets out when he plays bass clarinet is inspiring in the sense of the desired sound I want. His work on the reimagination of the Peer Gynt suit by Duke Ellington really stood out to me since I was given the opportunity to play it as well. The excellently written baritone sax part for Morning Mood and Anitra's Dance along with the sad, dragging song that is Ase's Death for bass clarinet. It's the perfect song for a low and somber bass clarinet, which Harry Carney does beautifully. That sound in particular gave me heavy inspiration on what I want my bass clarinet sound to be. Another song a adore is Sophisticated Lady, featuring Harry Carney. In Duke Ellington's live albums you can hear the version of Sophisticated Lady where the baritone saxophone has the melody and solo. The expression Harry Carney puts into that solo each time is outstanding to me. Personally, it's one of my favorite solos of all time and is really what I want my sound on baritone saxophones to be. Harry Carney has always been my favorite voice to listen to when listening to Duke Ellington and he has also become an inspiration towards my sound. As an honorable mention, Harry Carneys successor, Joe Temperley's solo for bass clarinet in a rendition of Single Petal Of A Rose has such a beautiful sound. In fact, I loved it so much I made it my senior piece for my last concert. It's charm is the emotion put into it and it's all thanks to the player. Joe Temperley, despite never meeting him, has shown me that you don't have to be the original in order to fill their shoes. Harry Carney and Joe Temperley have guided me to the sound I want today.