Finding Joy In Jazz

A trio of CB students are adding a new type of flavor to the Sacramento jazz scene.

Frank Huntington (’15), Josh Stone (’14), and Matthew Reade (’14) walk around Christian Brothers like normal students. But on select weekends, they become much more than just Christian Brothers students — they transform into Capitol Jazz Combo, one of the hottest Sacramento jazz bands. Surprisingly, this amazing band had a humble beginning.

Josh, the lead saxophonist,  has been playing sax for six years.

“I played in a school band because I loved jazz. I really wanted to play saxophone.” says Josh. “They wanted me to play french horn and I was like ‘no way, Jose.'”

Frank Huntington has been playing bass for three years.

“I had wanted to play something but I didn’t want to play guitar,” Frank says. He had been in a couple rock bands, but rock music could not contain the fantastic grooves of this talented bassist.

The group formed out of necessity — “Frank needed a band to play for his father’s crab feed fundraiser,” Josh recollected.

The world came calling and Capitol Jazz Combo answered the call, having played several very exclusive gigs at great venues..

“Josh printed out the sheet music, and that was that,” Frank says.

A majority of their success and their ability to make such great jazz is owed to their interesting outlook on music.

Josh, along with the rest of Capitol Jazz Combo, believe music is a bridge in which people can communicate feelings.

“What is lost in translation is found in music,” says the exuberant sax player. “Music is life put into sound is a beautiful expression of human emotion.”

“The beautiful thing about music is that it doesn’t matter if you’re French, German, or Italian, you can listen to the same piece of music and enjoy it,” added Matthew.

A bright future lies on the close horizon for this tightly knit jazz band.

“This spring break we are going to record and make a website,” says Josh.

“Our next show is at Second Saturday in June” Frank says. The location is yet to be announced.

The whole of  the Christian Brothers community will watch with pride as this great trio climbs the latter into stardom. No one can put a lid on their talent or their music.

“When people give us the freedom to play its perfect,” says Matthew, “because you can’t control the beast.”