 "Photo: Jean-Pierre Garcia")
A bespectacled Ken Marr gently taps his brown new balance shoes in time to guitar strumming. Numerous chords echo across the hall. A curious venue, the guest will be greeted at the door of two deadhead skeletons holding signs with two self-incriminating jokes, "what did the deadhead say when he ran out of pot? What do you call a deadhead that just broke up with his girlfriend?"
Among the workshops during in-service day of April 20, there was a jam session from 10:15-11:30 hosted by chemistry teacher, Ken Marr.
John Avery enters with a smile on his face, guitar in hand. He is followed by physics instructor Ajay Narayanan. "I only come to listen," she started off saying. Later though, she would be caught singing songs from The Beatles.
When others had asked if she was going to attend the critical thinking workshop, she refused. "I'm going to live my passion. I'm going to sing, even if I can't," she said.
Avery, in black leather coat offers agreement. "Yeah, might as well have some fun." He was asked by Rolan Vieira, English instructor, if he was a jazz player as Avery began to play. Avery replied that he was just strumming.
In slightly more formal attire a green button up shirt and slacks, Frank Primiani a Business administration teacher, enters.
There is small talk about learning Italian through a Danish film where most everyone is dysfunctional. The staff laughs. Keeping the lighthearted introductions Marr begins the first song with "I just don't look good naked any more".
Relaxed and in good humor the four players move to a Hawaiian song selected by Vieira. Translated the song is entitled "I really care about you, but I have to find my own way". Vieira had a personal slant to the song. His father grew up on the main island of Hawaii. He left to study on the mainland, his sister remained. He envisions the song directed from his father to his sister.
The third song was a 60's classic "A Summer Song" by Chad and Jeremy. At this point the players began to play a tad timidly, but once the music connected with the chords, they loosened up. Several voices joined in. When Marr added a beat he referred to another musician. "How can you put in an extra beat, "He chuckled and replied to his own query "Because Kenny Can". Marr would then explain a few more complicated chords.
"We kind of rock out here," he says with a guitar pick plucking away.
Owl City's "Fireflies" was brought in by Primiani and the group tried to play an acoustic version of the lyrics. Spending several minutes and still not getting it quite right in the chorus Marr shook his head slightly and laughed it off relating how much time is involved in getting a sound just right.
"I could waste a night, 365 days a year learning songs" Marr said. "Yeah and those paper are still not graded," Avery added.
Reverting back to the classics the group played "House of the Rising Sun". Towards the end, Marr's broken fingernail he had held together by superglue was irritating him yet he continued to strum away.
The session had a new energy when they finished with The Beatles. Narayanan added volume to her voice with "Norwegian Wood" and then they moved on to "Eight Days a week". Kathryn Hoope, geology instructor, quietly sat back with papers in hand. She admitted to grading when she wasn't supposed to, but sang along with the room.
The jam session closed with "From Me to You".
Sad to leave but happy to have spent their workshop time with fellow musical enthusiasts the room was cleared for lunch and the tables returned to their intended place.
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