Navy Commodores Perform Jazz at Flint Hill

As a music teacher at , Dave Cosby invited Chief Musician Robert Holmes, who plays with the U.S. Navy's Commodores Jazz Ensemble, to perform and do a workshop for students two years ago. The two have played together professionally at other gigs for years, so Holmes happily obliged.

And then Cosby invited him to do the same last year. Holmes now has a standing invitation to do it again this year, but Cosby wanted to take it one step further.

"Finally I just mentioned, 'You know, I'd love to have you all perform at Flint Hill.' [The Commodores] were more than happy to work with us to figure out a date," Cosby said.

After working through scheduling conflicts, the Commodores played a free concert at Flint Hill on Feb. 4.

"I wanted [my students] to see really good musicians play, which is why I invited [Holmes] to play in the first place. He's just so good, it is really inspiring for the kids," Cosby said. "If they're inspired, maybe it'll translate into more practicing and so forth."

But the crowd wasn't only students. The concert was open to members of the local community, and many took advantage.

"We wanted it to be something that would also embrace the nearby community," Cosby said. "I'm glad there was a nice blend."

The Commodores worked through a host of jazz songs, from standards like "Alright, Okay, You Win" to original compositions from members of the ensemble. They also dabbled in a sound that mixed hip-hop and jazz with Buckshot LeFonque's "Another Day."

The group even added a new song to their repertoire, performing for the first time composer Sara Jacovino's take on the familiar "Three Blind Mice," which received hoots and hollers from the audience at its conclusion.

"The technical precision was just incredible [throughout the concert]," said Ben Jackson, a freshman at George Mason University, who attended in support of his trombone teacher Chief Musician Matthew Neff. "And they were fantastic improvisers, not to mention the vocalist was phenomenal."

The audience's enthusiasm resulted in a standing ovation, but the band felt the love from the crowd all night, said Senior Chief Musician Philip Burlin, the unit leader.

"Great crowd, great little hall here. It was a smashing success," Burlin said. "It makes the band play better when we feel the audience really appreciating it."

Part of the Commodores' mission when playing shows is to get people to feel good about the military.

"The bands gives people a little bit of a different perspective of the military besides war," said Burlin, who has been in the Commodores for about 20 years. "There's more going on in the Navy than just battle. ... When people walk out of a show, we want them to be proud to be Americans, proud of the military. And hopefully playing a truly American art form of jazz sends that message out."

Free recordings from the Commodores and the other Navy Bands their website here.