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A Feast of Rhythms and Harmony: St. Luke's Blues Band 2015
Widely known as a “quintessentially St. Luke’s” ensemble, the 2015 St. Luke’s Blues Band set the bar a notch higher with this year’s electrifying, awe-inspiring performances. As the annual, traditional kickoff to the holiday season, the Blues Band performed two concerts in late November to packed audiences in St. Luke’s state-of-the-art Seldin Performing Art Center. What started as a small combo nearly 20 years ago by English teacher and performer (vocals/guitar) “Mad Dog” Mark Bisson, Blues Band has evolved into a semester-long after school activity that brings together a unique group of musicians each year - anywhere from 15-20 middle and upper school students and as many as 10 faculty members practice and prepare for shows that highlight the group’s deep pool of vocal and instrumental talents.
In this, its fifteenth year under the leadership of band teachers Bob Leinbach and Peter Valera, the Blues Band once again featured a number first-time performers. Sixth graders, seniors and musicians from all grades in between collaborated to pay homage to a diverse spectrum of renowned artists. In performing unique renditions of songs from Screamin’ Jay Hawkins and Big Joe Turner, Bruce Springsteen and the Beatles, Tina Turner and The Raconteurs, among others, the Blues Band inspired a greater appreciation for a wide range of musical genres and eras.
Blues Band is regarded by many as a favorite event of the school year. “Best school concert I’ve seen in 30 years!” was the response from math teacher Alvin Hamilton who experienced Blues Band for the first time as a new faculty member. How do they do it year after year? Bob Leinbach sees the Blues Band’s art-in-the-moment creativity of music as a messy, magical process. “Every September, putting together a Blues Band is like preparing a feast without a recipe. Like most project-based learning, it is a gradual, messy process. Peter and I explore a myriad of ways to try to cast the right songs with the talent that we have. There is no secret formula—we draw on the ingredients of experience, input from others, and trust in the process. The magic that happens often surprises and delights us.”
Please enjoy these video highlights of this year’s performances, as well as more photos from both shows. Congratulations to the 2015 Blues Band!
RHYTHM SECTION
Sammi Ryan ‘16 - bass guitar
Will Reed ‘17 - lead guitar
Joel Boyce ‘17 - drum set
Tucker Menzies ‘18 - bass guitar
Will Hetherington ‘19 - drum set
Eli Gillespie ‘20 - drum set
Sam Pakman ‘22 - drum set
VOCALS
Bella Dore ‘17
Lucia Wiggers ‘18
Dylan Antonioli ‘19 (also on flute)
Michael Crispi ‘19
Grant Vogel ‘22
HORNS, etc.
Adriel Alvarado ‘16 - clarinet, tenor sax
Jake Lustig ‘17
Haley Bloch ‘20 - violin
Quinn Gregorich ‘20 - trumpet
Cameron Hill ‘21 – saxophone
Victor Sarrazin ‘21 - clarinet
Claire Watson ‘21 - flute
FACULTY
Bob Leinbach
Peter Valera
James Blau
Ryan Lundquist
Jim Foley
Jon. Shee
P.J. Clarke
Mark Bisson
SPECIAL THANKS to Tech for help with lights and sound:
John Conners - Theatre Technician/AV Specialist
Jason Peck - Director of Theatre Arts
Sarah Bibb ‘20
Brodie Menzies ‘20
Jack Laibe ‘21
St. Luke’s School is a secular (non-religious), private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving over 40 towns in Connecticut and New York. Our exceptional academics and diverse co-educational community foster students’ intellectual and ethical development and prepare them for top colleges. St. Luke’s Leading with Humanity curriculum builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.
