By EVELYN BARGE Palisadian-Post Intern It may be uncommon to see 450 schoolchildren pile into a theater to listen to the warm melodies of a jazz artist, but that’s exactly what happened earlier this month when pianist and composer Lisa Hilton kicked off the ARTSReach program at Pepperdine with a taste of the classic American musical style. ‘Are you ready for some jazz music?’ Hilton asked as the lights in Smothers Theatre dimmed. The audience of children bused in from area schools cheered and shouted in affirmation. The ARTSReach program began at Pepperdine in 1991 to introduce public and private school students to professional theater performances. Today, the program provides 16 free shows and art museum tours to more than 10,000 Los Angeles-area children each season. Flamenco dancer Jose Porcel, the Los Angeles Opera and break-dancers from ‘Break! The Urban Funk Spectacular’ are among the artists slated for ARTSReach performances this season. The children’s performances are scheduled for weekday mornings, but many of them are also part of the Center for the Arts’ regular performance series that sells tickets to the general public. Coordinator Carol Kmiec said each program offered by ARTSReach is tailored to the students. ‘We really work with the performers and make it educational,’ Kmiec said. ‘It’s not stuffy, and it’s really brought down to their level. Also, it still has adult elements so the kids are challenged to learn.’ Hilton said she was proud to open up this season’s ARTSReach program. ‘If you can inspire kids to love music, that’s an amazing thing,’ she said. During her performance, the longtime Malibu resident played music from her recently released CD, ‘My Favorite Things: Everyone’s Jazz Favorites,’ and her No. 1 Jazz World single from July 2004 titled ‘Malibu.’ She also introduced the visiting students to the different styles, characteristics and history of jazz. Bassist Reggie McBride, drummer Tal Bergman and saxophonist Brian Scanlon rounded out Hilton’s standard four-piece jazz ensemble. Among the children in attendance at Hilton’s survey of jazz was a group of 120 children from Piru Elementary School in Piru, California. The large group was able to attend the performance through grants from the Fillmore Family Resource and Education Center and the Support the Kids Foundation. The grants helped the school purchase transportation and lunch for all the students attending the musical education program. ‘The kids really enjoyed the performance,’ said fourth- and fifth-grade Piru Elementary teacher Jennifer Weir. ‘This has been a great experience for them.’ The children also voiced positive feedback on Hilton’s jazz performance. ‘I can’t choose my favorite part,’ said 9-year-old Fabiola Magana. ‘I just loved all of it.’ Jacob Prado, also 9 years old, said he enjoyed the field trip to Smothers Theatre. ‘I liked the whole show,’ Prado said. ‘I could see myself on stage someday.’ Fourth grade teacher Cathy DeCecco said the jazz concert was an eye-opening experience for some of her students. ‘Thirteen or 14 of my students play in the band, so it was really neat for them to see what the next steps are for musicians,’ says fourth-grade teacher Cathy DeCecco. ‘Many of them didn’t realize that playing an instrument can lead to a career, so it was really special for them to hear that.’ Hilton’s performance included 10 jazz songs, ranging from the classic jazz of Miles Davis to the reflective sound of Henry Mancini. She also performed her international hit single ‘Malibu,’ which was inspired by her hometown. ‘I love living in Malibu, and I think the seasons are perfect here,’ Hilton said during the concert. ‘I wanted to write something that would create that feeling in others.’ The program also featured an extensive question and answer session with Hilton and her band. Both the drummer and bassist received requests for brief solo performances that were followed by rounds of applause and cheering from the audience. ‘These are the kinds of memories that will last forever,’ Kmiec said. ‘I think they may even listen to jazz after the show.’ Hilton also expressed a similar hopefulness about the future of jazz appreciation in her young audience members’ lives. ‘I hope they all go home tonight and tell their parents at the dinner table that they love jazz. As a child, I just remember loving my piano and really wanting to play. If my performance reaches out to children and motivates them, there’s nothing better.’
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