When his dad encouraged him to learn an instrument, senior Max Rossip, then a 6-year-old, only knew what he did not want to play — not a wind instrument because it was his dad’s expertise, not a guitar because it was too common and not a brass instrument because it looked uncomfortable.
“I wanted to beat my dad at his own game by choosing an extremely loud and cumbersome instrument: the drums,” he said.
Since then, Rossip has played drums for almost 12 years and is currently part of the concert band and evening Big Band, a part of the school’s music program that practices every Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. The Big Band is a group of 17 musicians, including four trumpet players, four trombonists, five saxophonists, a pianist, a guitarist, a bassist and a drumist, who play sheet music with specific solo sections to help them learn improvisation.
Rossip also has participated in Jazz Cabaret, a Saratoga Music Boosters fundraiser that entertains guests with jazz music, for three years.
“I like that the Jazz Cabaret provides an atmosphere for people to just enjoy themselves,” he said. “For me, I love performing and seeing others have fun to my music.”
Rossip is “really happy” to play in this year’s Jazz Cabaret with his new jazz quartet. Rossip met his members at San Jose Jazz Camp in the summer of 2014.
His quartet consists of Leland High sophomore Jordan Ando playing piano and Los Gatos twin juniors Graham and Ian Houts playing guitar and bass, respectively. So far, they have played around venues in San Jose and Los Gatos, like Cafe Stritch, the Holiday Club and The Testarosa Winery; they occasionally earn money for their gigs.
His quartet plans to play “Proto Cosmos” by Alan Pasqua, “Red Baron” by Billie Cobham, “The Eye of the Hurricane” by Herbie Hancock and “Donna Lee” by Charlie Parker at the Jazz Cabaret.
In preparation for the event, which will take place on Feb. 6 from 7 to 10 p.m. in the gym, Rossip has been sight reading and practicing jazz standards, musical compositions, whenever his groups have time to practice. Rossip, who is in two combos in addition to Saratoga Music Boosters, selected his music in the beginning of January.
His combo is a group of students who play melodies with specified chord changes and forms. After playing a tune, each musician takes turns improvising form and chord changes.
“We were trying to play catch up since everyone was readjusting from the Rose Parade,” Rossip said.
Rossip’s combo has prepared songs like “Recordame” by Joe Henderson, “Billie’s Bounce” by Charlie Parker,” “Fly Me to the Moon” by Bart Howard and “Giant Steps” by John Coltrane.
Since Jazz Cabaret was canceled last year because it conflicted with Junior Prom, Rossip is looking forward to performing with his quartet.
“I’m excited because this way, even if I am away next year for college, the younger members of my group can get regular gigs or form new groups,” he said.
As a senior, Rossip said it is hard to inspire younger musicians to pursue jazz as many students who take part in marching band do not have time to invest in jazz.
“Jazz is an extremely complex form of music and sounding good takes really long with no clear ‘result.’ In marching band, you practice for a few months and then are compared to other bands,” Rossip said. “But jazz is a very nonjudgmental community, so people may feel disheartened [by lack of outside recognition].”
Since Rossip has developed a passion for playing music through his combos and quartet, he is grateful for the experience he has had playing jazz and encourages others to pursue it as well.
“As the great trumpeter Wynton Marsalis put it, ‘Once you start to put a backbeat or machine on your music, you have popularity, but lose flexibility,’” Rossip said. “I really think everyone should explore jazz because there is just something missing from the popular music of today.”