[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 80 (Tuesday, May 13, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E417]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CONGRATULATING MEMPHIS CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ BAND

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                            HON. STEVE COHEN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 13, 2025

  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Memphis 
Central High School Jazz Band and Band Director Ollie Liddell for 
winning First Place Honors at the 30th Annual ``Essentially Ellington 
Competition and Festival'' at Lincoln Center in New York City on 
Sunday, May 11. The band was one of 127 that applied this year, 
competing with bands from all over the world including Japan and Spain, 
and was one of the 30 bands--some trained at music magnet schools or 
with private tutors--invited to New York. The Central High students 
advanced to the semifinal level where 10 were selected and then was one 
of the top three bands to play. Dr. Liddell has been the band's 
director for the past 13 years, often spending 12-hour days in the band 
room to give students the practice time they need--especially since 
many can't play in their apartment complexes or transport heavy 
instruments home. Overall, the band won the Best Band honors and awards 
for outstanding trumpet section, outstanding trombone section, 
outstanding rhythm section, outstanding alto saxophone soloist for 
student Jackson Hankins, outstanding trumpet soloist for Kingston 
Grandberry and outstanding trombone soloist for Marqese Cobb. The 
Memphis Central Jazz Band was selected to compete at ``Essentially 
Ellington'' in 2020 and 2021, but the competition was held virtually, 
so the students did not have the opportunity to travel to New York. In 
an interview with The Daily Memphian columnist Geoff Calkins in 
January, Liddell explained that many of his students arrive at the band 
room with no prior knowledge of jazz. He added: ``The City of Memphis 
is why I do what I do.'' Over the years, the numbers in the Central 
jazz band jumped from about 80 to the current 187. The festival in New 
York concluded with a concert at the Metropolitan Opera House featuring 
the top student ensembles and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra 
directed by Wynton Marsalis. Memphis is home to many talented 
musicians, and Central's band members have now earned international 
recognition--a testament to the hard work of the students and Dr. 
Liddell.

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