Jazz Masters play annual concert, meet music legend

Haynes posed with Elmont Union Free School District Superintendent Al Harper and the district's Board of Education members.

Courtesy Sherri Candel

Roy Haynes, left, shook hands with Jazz Master drummer Ryan Savasta.

Courtesy Sherri Candel

Roy Haynes, left, shook hands with Jazz Master drummer Ryan Savasta.

Susan Grieco/Herald

Roy Haynes, center, with Elmont students, Elmont Superintendent Al Harper, left, Principal Marshall Zucker, right, and Anthony Pino, second from right.

Susan Grieco/Herald

• 
• 
• 
• 

The Elmont Jazz Masters program has been turning musically talented students in the Elmont Union Free School District on to blues and jazz for more than 10 years. Under the direction of Elmont music teacher Anthony Pino, the highly selective program — participating students must first be recommended by their music teachers — emphasizes improvisation and high tempos.

The Jazz Masters annual spring concert was held on March 28, at the Gotham Avenue School in Elmont. Roy Haynes, a legendary jazz drummer and recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, made a special appearance at the show. Jazz Masters provides students with the opportunity to work with professional jazz musicians like Haynes, to develop enhanced instrumental and improvisational skills.

Pino has directed the Elmont Jazz Masters since its inception in 2002, and has taught music to Gotham Avenue’s kindergarten through sixth-grade students for the past 12 years. He also directs the school’s marching band.

In addition to the spring concert, Jazz Masters students play at district Board of Education and Parent-Teacher Association meetings and community events throughout the year. Jazz Masters students play a range of instruments, from saxophones, trumpets and trombones, to flutes, clarinets, piano and guitar. The program annually includes about 20 students — many of whom go on to play jazz in high school and beyond.

Enrollment for Elmont’s Jazz Masters program is now open for the 2012-13 school year. For more information on the program, call the Elmont district at (516) 326-5500.