The Washington High School jazz band rehearses before school Wednesday morning under the direction of Don Hughes. Photo by Sally Y. Hart

The Washington High School jazz band is traveling to Ottumwa Saturday for a competition. The select group will take part in the Indian Hills Jazz Fest and performs at 3 p.m. Director Don Hughes shares the group will play Moanin’ a song by Charles Mingus, a song Hughes has been holding onto for the right group. He tells KCII News, “I’m pretty excited about this year, I really am. We’ve had a few building years and I think we’re strong throughout the sections.” The band is made up of four trumpets, six saxophones, five trombones, drums, auxiliary percussion, a guitar, bass guitar and a piano.

To hear more about the band, listen to the full Washington Page with Hughes here, and find a sample of Moanin’ below.