During Pizza Jam students perform with professional musicians.
Courtesy | Sophia Bryant

While snow covered the ground outside, pizza and jazz warmed McNamara Hall the night of Nov. 9 as students gathered to play or sing with professional jazz musicians at Pizza Jam. 

Trumpeter Fred Radke, bassist Paul Keller, pianist Terry Lower, and Adjunct Instructor of Music Larry Ochiltree on drums, performed with students who brought their own instruments, including trumpets, clarinets, and saxophones. 

“They’re the finest, first-call musicians in the tri-state area,” Chris McCourry, director of jazz ensembles, said in an email. “Most of them are local legends like Paul Keller and Terry Lower.”

Ochiltree has taught at Hillsdale for 16 years, according to McCourry.

“He’s continuously produced great drum students,” McCourry said. “And he makes them out of nothing. He makes them out of a little dust that he finds and makes them into great drummers.”

Radke, the leader of the Harry James Orchestra, will be in Hillsdale for 10 days and will work with 40 students, according to McCourry.

“Nobody plays like him. Nobody,” McCourry said. “Nobody has his personality, the way he leads. It’s such a joy. He’s an old school big band, and I love that. You know what that means? That means he ain’t taking no mess from nobody. So you better act right. And I love it.”

The audience ate pizza from Cottage Inn while more than a dozen students played a variety of songs with the section. The professional jazz musicians frequently shouted out encouragement to the students and led the audience in applause throughout the performance.

“Yes, that’s the money note, the jazz viola,” Keller said during sophomore Lilly Faye Kraemer, who plays viola, and senior euphonium player Gavin Todd’s performance of “All of Me.”

Kraemer, who performed first but stayed for the rest of the event, said it was fun to see other students in the music department that she hadn’t seen at other events play with professional musicians. 

“It was fun hearing new jazz pieces with a professional section,” Kraemer said.

Sophomore Michael Choe, who attended the performance, said he was impressed that the rhythm section knew all the songs and were so in-sync. 

“It was fun to see the diversity of instruments, because we had a soprano sax to a baritone sax, and we even had a clarinet,” Choe said. 

Senior Therese Williams, sang “Save Your Love For Me,” and said she appreciated the encouragement of the section. 

“They were so appreciative of every student playing with them and hyped each one up,” Williams said. “I’m sure everyone walked away feeling gratified and good about themselves.”

Kraemer said she appreciated the unique opportunity to play with a professional rhythm section. 

“Even if you messed up or you played really bad, the rhythm section still kept the song going, and they still made you sound good,” Kraemer said. 

Senior Nick Rutkoski and junior Nathan Fish wore pineapple and fish Hawaiian print shirts and sweatpants while they played “Freddie and the Freeloader” with the section.

After their performance, Keller called them the “best dressed” of the night.

Senior Josh Hoggatt sang “Moonlight In Vermont.”

“It’s stress-inducing, just being in front of a crowd, but it’s really fulfilling to finally bring a song to life with a professional rhythm section,” Hoggatt said. 

Saxophonists sophomore Asher Moorefield and juniors Mikayla Manna and Nathaniel Mack performed “Sunday Room For Two.” 

“It was really fun,” Manna said. “It was nice to have professionals backing you. Playing with Fred Radke especially was fun, and in a low stakes environment, surrounded by friends.” 

Todd joined senior Benjamin Cook to perform “Straight No Chaser.” Senior Alexander Lauve performed “Billie’s Bounce” on the trumpet. 

“Mr. Radke was such a joy to sing with,” Williams said. “The band had perfect control and knew each song by heart. They needed no music and brought vivacious energy to each song. Nothing was rehearsed either, this is just what they do.”

Radke said he is encouraged every time he comes to Hillsdale. 

“Every time I come here it’s an uplifting experience,” Radke said. “Hillsdale is a wonderful place and it’s a positive place. Everybody laughs and is friendly, and it’s a special place.”