Just back from this summer’s European tour, the Garfield High School Jazz Band will kick off its 2003 – 2004 season tomorrow night in a benefit for Greenwood Elementary School at the Museum of Flight. In addition to playing their standard repertoire, the band will feature singer Ernestine Anderson, a long-time patron of Garfield music and one of Seattle’s many living music legends.

Once described by Garfield grad Quincy Jones as having “a voice like warm honey at dusk,” Ms. Anderson has performed with the band for many years and remains to this day an integral part of the Garfield Jazz programs.

Coming off its most successful season in years, the Jazz Band will have a lot to live up to in the coming year, especially with the absence of several star soloists. In addition, the band will be tackling a grueling schedule of competitions throughout the winter and spring. This year, the band will face off with usual rivals Roosevelt and Mountlake Terrace at the Clark, Bellevue, Lionel Hampton, and Reno Jazz Festivals.

Acceptance permitting, the band will also travel to New York City in an attempt to repeat last year’s first-place finish in the Essentially Ellington Competition at Lincoln Center. Despite the upcoming challenges, the Jazz Band seems prepared for the fight and looks forward to a promising season filled with excitement and state-of-the-art swing.