PALO ALTO, Calif. – Journalism students and staff listened to the Gunn Jazz Band play music as they ate lunch during the Journalism Education Association NorCal Media Day at Palo Alto High School today.
The band opened with blues and transitioned into pieces like “The Great Pumpkin Waltz” from Charlie Brown and “The Chicken,” a funk song by Pee Wee Ellis. They concluded with rhythm changes and “Strasbourg / St. Denis.”
Gunn keyboard player Alex Zhupanob (12) took the opportunity to play at JEANC Media Day after her band director invited her to perform. She and her bandmates improvised their performance.
“Jazz is all about communication,” Alex said. “I listen to the bassist and the drummer for what they’re doing and what the rhythms are. Sometimes, I play a rhythm and they play a similar rhythm, and it’s almost like they’re agreeing with what I’m saying.”
Students sitting at the round tables positioned in front of the band enjoyed the performance while eating pizza and chatting with friends. Junior Emily Tang from St. Francis High School particularly appreciated their talent due to her own experience as a musician.
“I know how hard it is to learn improvisation like this,” Emily said. “What they do is super cool and they’re doing really well. If I had cash on me, I would tip them. They should get paid to do this.”
Alongside the performance, students from Palo Alto High School handed out cheese and pepperoni pizza to journalists and staff. Attendees also visited organization and university-run booths, which handed out stickers and customized merchandise.
While the pepperoni pizza arrived immediately, students had to wait for the delayed cheese pizza. Sophomore Samaara Patil stood in line for over ten minutes in order to grab her lunch
“I was actually starving. All I was thinking about in my session was the pizza,” Samaara said. “When I went to get the pizza and there was none, I was outraged.”
Unlike Samaara, Emily picked up her lunch from the pepperoni pizza stand without a long wait. She sat down at one of the many tables in front of the Media Arts Center with her friends.
“Fortunately, I’m not vegetarian so I didn’t have to wait for the cheese pizza,” Emily said. “I got the pepperoni right away and it was really good, especially considering they had to order enough for everyone here. The lunch was really good, and they provided a good balanced meal. I love this place.”