Young musicians shine at Starbucks Hot Java Cool Jazz
For nearly three decades, the Starbucks Hot Java Cool Jazz benefit concert has showcased talented young musicians in the Seattle area while raising more than $1.4 million for high school music programs.
Chris Leslie remembers exactly where he was when he learned Decatur High School was chosen to perform in this year’s Hot Java Cool Jazz.
“When I got the email, I was in the middle of a meeting,” said Leslie, Decatur’s band director, who is in his first year of teaching at the school. “I opened it up and just started freaking out. People were like, ‘What’s wrong? What’s going on?’ And it was all excitement, but also like, ‘Oh man, this is real now.’”
That moment marked a milestone – not only for Leslie, but for Decatur High School. On March 27, five top Seattle-area high school jazz bands took the stage at the historic Paramount Theatre for the 29th Annual Starbucks Hot Java Cool Jazz. The lineup featured Mount Si High School, Decatur High School, Garfield High School, Edmonds-Woodway High School and Roosevelt High School.
Since the first concert in 1995, Hot Java Cool Jazz has celebrated area high school music programs and raised more than $1.4 million for music programs in the state of Washington. The annual benefit concert highlights both the impact of arts education and the exceptional level of student musicians across the region. Its longevity is a testament to the quality of the programs invited to perform and the enduring power of jazz education.
For Leslie, seeing Decatur represented on stage brought a deeper sense of meaning.
What matters is work ethic, culture, and how much these kids care about each other.
Chris Leslie
“Getting to bring representation from Federal Way onto that stage, that’s powerful,” he said. “We’re not a wealthy school. We’re not pulling in huge fundraiser numbers. But this shows that money isn’t what determines success.”
The Language of Jazz
Hot Java Cool Jazz isn’t just a celebration of the arts or young, up-and-coming musicians, it’s a celebration of jazz itself, a unique musical language that has endured for generations.
That idea resonates deeply with Vastyne, a senior at Garfield High School and alto saxophone player. Before moving to Seattle, Vastyne grew up in China, where jazz was not widely popular or well understood. Her introduction to the genre began at home. Her father, also a saxophone player, immersed her in jazz from a young age. Still, it wasn’t until she arrived at Garfield that she felt she had truly found a place where that musical language was spoken fluently.
“I feel comfortable doing a jam session with the other students because I know no one is going to judge me for how good I play,” Vastyne said. “It’s so good to have a safe space where you can mess with your saxophone and just have fun.”
Over time, that sense of belonging became just as important as the music itself.
“I realized that I love the people that I play with more than the music that I’m playing,” she said.
Chris Leslie sees those connections as part of a much larger tradition. Reflecting on the history of jazz, he emphasized its role not only as an art form, but as a means of expression during pivotal moments in U.S. history.
“This music has always responded to what’s happening socially, you can hear history in it,” Leslie said. “Jazz gives students a way to share their voice and their experiences, especially during difficult times, without having to say it out loud. Some of the most impactful music comes from challenging moments, and jazz has always made space for that.”
The students at the center of Hot Java Cool Jazz last Friday night made clear that shared musical language is as impactful as ever.
Let’s hear from the night’s seniors:
Logan
Decatur High School, trumpet
“It’s nice seeing the collaborative effort that goes into a single piece. I love the community that jazz builds.”
Cassie
Edmonds-Woodway High School, trumpet
“The nice thing with jazz is it’s so diverse. I feel like anyone can like jazz because it’s so multifaceted and it’s so collaborative.”
Thomas
Decatur High School, piano
“I think the biggest reason why I wanted to take on piano is that I thought I would have missed out on an opportunity that would have changed my life. I really love the element in jazz where you could almost let loose, it’s so freeing.”
Jacob
Garfield High School, trombone
“Being able to play music where you knew everyone and knew them quite well was amazing. In jazz, everyone feels important, even if you’re not soloing, and I haven’t felt that special place really in many places.”
Event photos by Liv Lyons and students portraits by Kendall Rock