On April 22, Campolindo’s jazz band performed alongside Acalanes’ band at the Oakland Japanese restaurant called Yoshi’s. This year marks the third time playing at Yoshi’s along Acalanes. And while the two bands did not play together, they did share the same performance night.

The event was made possible in part by the support of the parents. Yoshi’s is a restaurant with two distinct areas – one for the customers to enjoy food and another for a performance to accompany their meal. The jazz band performed at the venue, one where many local artists perform nightly, with guests enjoying some jazz standards such as “Told Ya So,” “A Child Is Born,” “It Is What It Is,” “Stinky Pete,” and “Floating Home.” Many parents and students showed up to the event to support their kids or classmates who were in the band from both schools. Additionally, the jazz performers showed their love and support for one another during their jazz sets.

Trombone player and Campo sophomore Adrian Lueder enjoyed meeting up with the Acalanes jazz band and hearing their pieces being performed. He was happy to play in a historic venue where historical artists performed to play like a historical venue as Yoshi’s, and mentioned valuing his role as a trombone player, explaining that his instrument is essential for the band’s continuity. “I have a few solos which are important, and my section trombone; usually we’re supporting the other instruments, which is important.” Lueder thinks that having similar performances at other venues could make the band even better, and added that it helps musicians to “listen to each other, and [be] flexible.”

In spite of the camaraderie experienced at Yoshi’s, there has been a historic spirit of competitiveness with Acalanes. Saxophone player and Campo freshman Gavin Casaregola stated how much he enjoyed performing at Yoshi’s. He liked the event and the opportunity it provided to show off who can have the better jazz performance. “And like with Acalanes just meeting them too and playing against them was really fun and interesting.” His role with the saxophone was viewed as a component of making the music flow well between all the instruments. “…Overall a saxophone [is] a very jazzy instrument, so having saxophones just like levels up the jazz band entirely,” Casaregola added.

The friendly meeting between the two jazz bands allowed them to learn and grow from the music they showcased. In order to learn from other bands, students need to know more about how to perform in public. “I think it’s really just to get kids the show experience, and to kinda open our eyes to what other jazz bands are doing, so I know a big reason we did this it was just to see,” senior Julian Lueder said. His role in the jazz band is to play the guitar, which accompanies the chords of the louder instruments like the trombone and the saxophone. “I guess this is like rhythm section in general, which would be drums, piano, bass and guitar; we kinda set the foundation for the music that they can play,” Julian Lueder noted.

Everybody enjoyed listening and watching both of the performances in the completely different venue that Yoshi’s provided. The performance marked yet another continuation of the Campolindo-Acalanes traditions, and promises future nights of camaraderie and musical appreciation.