WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP — Musician Chris Vadala may play sax with Chuck Mangione and other jazz greats on weekends, but Friday he spent the day doing what he likes best — working with up-and-coming jazz players decades younger than his professional counterparts.

        Mr. Vadala spent 45 minutes with the Lakota West High School Jazz Ensemble as its members prepared for today's Fraze Jazz Challenge in Kettering. Eight bands will be judged and attend clinics during an all-day program open to the public that culminates in a 5 p.m. concert.

        “I think it's great to give something back. These are my roots,” said Mr. Vadala, who is the director of jazz studies and saxophone professor at the University of Maryland. “The only way to keep this great American music going is to pass it down.”

        As the students practiced their pieces, Mr. Vadala would stop them, giving hints, suggesting modifications in their style. He will be one of the adjudicators in the competition and will perform during the final concert.

        Mr. Vadala's presence and advice sparked some interest for the students he visited.

        “Everyone is fired up, big-time,” said Drews Mitchell, director of Lakota West's jazz group. “We feel real honored to have him here. Chris can offer wonderful insights to all kinds of music.”

        For the students at Lakota West, this was a rare opportunity to get direction from a pro who has played and recorded with musicians they've listened to and copied from.

        “It kind of makes you nervous but gives you something to play for, kind of having an audience,” said sophomore John Morgan, 16, who has been playing trombone since fifth grade. “We like showing off.”

        Junior Craig Duplain said he was inspired to play trumpet by listening to jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis. Working with Mr. Vadala, Craig said, just reinforced what their director, Mr. Mitchell, tells them.

        “He (Mr. Vadala) gets out and plays gigs in the real jazz world,” said Craig. “It's just fun to play around ... or mess around with a melody.”

        The most important thing, Mr. Vadala told the students, is to enjoy yourself.

        “You gotta have fun playing this,” he said. “You really have to get into this thing and I think you are.”

        After working with the Fraze Jazz Challenge today, Mr. Vadala will play Sunday with the National Symphony Orchestra for Ray Charles in Washington, D.C. The orchestra is under the direction of Cincinnati Pops conductor Erich Kunzel.

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