Mercer Island High School - ISLA Yearbook (Mercer Island, WA)

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Time: 3 a.m. Setting: In the middle of a Trivial Pursuit session. Entertainment question for the victory. What school has the largest steel band west of the Mississippi River? After minutes of intense thought, U.S.C. The reply, The answer is Mercer Island High School. More interesting facts about this large Carribean musical groupg Plays concerts at the Westin, Red Lion, Bellevue Athletic Club, Seattle Center, and Crossroads Mall. Practices twice a weelc at 6:30 a.m. Requires no previous musical experience. Creates all it's music by hitting old oil drums with rubber drum sticks. Wears distinctive ruffled-sleeved shirts in many vibrant colors. Is directed by a member of the original navy steel band, Mr. Layer. Now back to the game at hand. Beginning Steel Band. 4 9 C. Steel Band 43

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JAZZ E SEMBLE l First Row: H.B. Radke, Berven, Tim Farrell. Second Row: Luis Antezana, Chris Penny, Naoka Ishida, IHilary Culver-well, Stephanie Marshall, Kevin Dolan, Mrs. Sabo. Third Row: Rob Witmer, Leslie Smith, Alton Willoughby, Chris Berven, Preston Peterson, David Wagner. Fourth RTW Tom Chapman, Mark Gertis, Ken Keating, Tom Gibbons, Dan Witmer. Not Pictured: Mark Gertis. 44 jazz Ensemble SPOTLIGHT declined an interview preferring to let their music speak for themselves. jason Lalce, however, volunteered a com- ment, jazz Ensemble is an avenue for the liberalistic take-over of America. This avenue must be closed by the road block of contemporary America. Barry Goldwater and Communist and Liberal subversion must be stopped at all costs. The versatility of Mercer Island's musicians is enor- mous. Not content to limit themselves to the traditional high school band format, the musicians have created several smaller bands. The following is an account of the jazz Ensemble from the very mouth of these multi-talented musicians. Comprised mainly of people, the jazz Ensemble con- tains four girls. This however does not hinder the band 's ability to play good jazz. Music by Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, the Delta Rhythm Boys and The Cats and jammers Kuls prevails in the jazz-like atmosphere generated in the band room every other morning. The director of the jazz Ensemble is Mrs. Saba, accom- panied by the able Ms. Frank. The Band refuses to play for money, preferring instead charity benefits. This fortunately has not dampened the enthusiasm of its members. I've gotten a lot out of jazz Ensemble, and it 's taken a lot out of me, said one embryonic, Wrath-afjqliated member. The energy and creativity put forth by these musicians picks up the tempo of life here at M. I.