While the sounds of music were all too familiar, it was not everyday that middle school students heard anything like they would that night.

            In an auditorium crowded with parents and students alike, the student band at Hammocks Middle school seemed to wait patiently for their conductor to signal the commencement of their concert. Their long awaited performance seemed to begin like any other in the year, but that night was different. Anticipation mounted as a man took the stage with them, holding a saxophone that appeared much more weathered and experienced than that of the student's shiny new ones. 

            "It’s exciting for the kids. The kids are so excited they’re about to burst. They get to play with world class musicians and maybe the best jazz saxophone player alive, Ed Calle," said Hammocks band director Mr. Steven Kirkland. "What better thing can I have for my students than to have them performing with professional musicians on stage for an audience that includes their parents and doing at the same time a fundraiser."

            Off to the side, Calle admitted to seeing a smaller version of himself in the young group of music students; a beginning saxophone player who would later become an award-winning jazz musician and songwriter.

“We’re very lucky that Ed Calle is not only a Grammy nominated artist, twice nominated, but he is also a band parent," said Kirkland.

 While it wasn't possible for Calle to reverse the clock to that earlier time in his life, he could do the next best thing by watching his own son prepare himself in his seat on stage in front of the audience and make the same music that inspired him to be where he was today.

            "For me, the most exciting part is that I’m working with kids because I grew up at Dade County Public Schools. I grew up playing in band. So for me the fun is being with the kids because I use to sit in those same chairs. So I’m not really performing for them, I’m performing with them. That’s really special for me," said Calle.

            Present on stage with him as well was longtime colleague and friend, musician Jose Negron who performed beside the acclaimed saxophonist and the middle school band in February in order to raise funds for the band department.

            Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Calle began playing the tenor saxophone during the first years that his family moved to the United States in 1966. Encouraged by his father's own love for music, Calle continued to play in his own spare time as well as in the school band, eventually becoming familiar with a number of other instruments

            "I’ve been doing it [playing music] since the seventh grade so I’ve been doing this a long time now," said Calle. "Music has always been a part of my life because my father was a concert pianist and my mother always sang at home."

            It was when he began college at the University of Miami that Calle made it official that music was his true calling and graduated with a master's degree in jazz studies. Although even during his time in college, the saxophonist gained impressive background experience by being able to perform with various artists like Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine, Julio Iglesias, Michael Bolton, Bob James, Vanessa Williams, and Frank Sinatra. After releasing four albums with many of his own musical compositions, Calle recorded ‘Ed Calle Plays Santana’ in 2004 which received him a Grammy nomination for best instrumental album. His most recent production, the album entitled ‘In the Zone,’ has given Calle his second nomination

            Along with the students on stage, Calle opened up the show with a solo with the Hammocks band joining in to add to the jazzy music in the packed auditorium as well as perform many of his own songs like one entitled ‘Rice and Beans.’ While much of the spotlight was on the saxophonist himself, there were other players who joined him in the concert such as a selected band student, Mr. Kirkland, and Calle’s son who plays with the Early Bird Band.

            Overall, the night was surging with the rhythmic energy that can only be radiated with the outgoing sound of brass and percussion instruments working together; giving its audience an appealing performance in which the experienced generation collides with the new.

            "It’s always great to see kids playing music and Steven Kirkland is doing an incredible job with the band. He has a wonderful band; there are so many kids playing music and playing so well," said Calle, "I’m thrilled that I’m part of this community and that I’m a part of this and anytime that we can do things with children that help them, I think it’s a wonderful thing."