Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Hart High Musicians Issue CD of Jazz Tunes

A group of high school jazz players has gained firsthand experience with the music industry, issuing its own collection of tunes on compact disc.

The 42-minute album by the William S. Hart High School Chieftains Jazz Ensemble, titled “Yes Sir,” was released Thursday, featuring 11 tracks by composers from Cole Porter to George and Ira Gershwin.

“We’re one of probably two or three high school bands in this state who have made a CD,” said George Stone, ensemble director and producer for the album.

Two California radio stations with jazz formats, KLON in Long Beach and KJAZ in Alameda, have agreed to broadcast songs from the album, according to Stone.

“It was really fun. I’m glad I got to do it,” said student Nick Neft, who played baritone sax and bass clarinet on the album, including a solo part on one track. “It’s a really great sense of satisfaction. I like hearing myself play on the solo.”

The 18-member jazz ensemble recorded the album at Entourage Studios in North Hollywood over two days in June. With final exams set for the following week, many of the young musicians spent the two days juggling their instruments and books during brief break periods.

Students were able to follow the project from their original playing through the dubbing process until hearing what each song sounded like after final mixing.

“I had no idea how much work goes into mastering a CD,” Neft said.

Stone declined to say how much it cost to produce the disc, which had a minimum 1,000 copies pressed, other than “thousands of dollars.” However, Stone estimated that about half of the 1,000 copies will need to be sold, at $15 each, to break even on the investment. The proceeds go to the Hart High School music program.

He said the project was made possible with parent support and significant discounts given by the studio personnel who worked on the album.

“It really gives (students) a taste of what it’s like to be a professional,” said parent Beth Neft.

The idea for the compact disc evolved from recordings of Santa Clarita Valley high school band music that longtime band director Larry Thornton assembled in the 1970s.

Thornton would create a tape of chosen music, calling the annual collection “Bandstand” and updating the year in the title each time. Participating in one such recording was Stone, then a high school freshman.

After four years as Hart High School’s band director, Stone updated the idea to 1990s technology with the compact disc. The disc’s title is taken from “Yes Sir, That’s My Baby,” a selection by Walter Donaldson and Gus Kahn that Stone believes is representative of the album.

Although future taping of Chieftains music will continue, he said another CD will probably not be made for four years because of the cost and effort required.

“For them to have a budget to go into a studio to do a professional quality (recording) of any type is great,” said Guy Paonessa, owner of Entourage Studios. “I think it says a lot about the school.”