AURORA, COLO.—Dust off that trombone, wet your whistle, and break out the Count Basie – the Community College of Aurora is striking up the band this fall.

Experienced musician and band director Cecil Lewis returns to CCA to conduct its 17-piece jazz ensemble, now in its second year, and new members both young and old are sought to fill out the group. Players must be moderately experienced and be able to read sheet music. Lewis says those who know how to play drums, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, keyboard, bass, or guitar are welcomed. Community musicians may register to participate in the band as a for-credit course or as a continuing education, non-credit course for $100. Classes/rehearsals will take place Wednesdays from 6:00-8:30 p.m. from Aug. 26 through Dec. 9.

Lewis’ goal at CCA is to have a core of band members who return each semester to build a consistent musical presence in the community, and he welcomes participation from adult musicians, as well as high school musicians. He anticipates that as the program grows, and the band gains continuity in its membership, the ensemble can increase its community performances throughout the year.

A professor of band studies at CCA as well as at Arapahoe Community College, Lewis is founder and conductor of Swing 5280 Jazz Ensemble and conductor of the Castle Rock Community Concert Band. A retired U.S. Air Air Force Band conductor, Lewis and his bands have backed prominent professional musicians over the years, including Tony Bennett, Lou Rawls, Cannonball Adderley, and B.B. King.

Students often come in to the class with high expectations of themselves, but don’t know how to get where they want to go, Lewis says. “No matter what their level of musicianship, I take individuals and groups to a high performance level,” Lewis explains. “My students often are inspired to reach further than they ever dreamed possible.” Lewis has former students who are now in prestigious music schools at the University of California-Berkeley and Vanderbilt University.

As a long-time band conductor, Lewis has learned to quickly read his audiences. “We want to give people what they want to hear,” he says. He reports that this semester’s music selections will include a hybrid of styles and will likely include Ray Charles; Blood, Sweat & Tears; various Latin rhythms; several Tonight Show-style tunes; and, perhaps, some country and western. The CCA class culminates in a public concert in December.

Participants in the CCA jazz band will quickly learn that Lewis stays on task as a conductor. “I expect progress, and I expect attendance,” he says, because he wants to turn CCA’s jazz band class into a full-fledged music center. “I can guarantee anyone who participates that, no matter what part of the ladder they are on when they begin the class, they will not be on that same rung when they are done.”

For more information on signing up to participate, call Jodie Matheson at 303-361-7428, or visit www.ccaurora.edu/students/enrollment/registration.

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