It is unusual for a school to take on the atmosphere of a jazz club, but when Calder Prescott is involved, anything can happen.
Logan Park High School became a jazz club last night as about 70 staff and former pupils paid tribute to Mr Prescott, one of the school's longest-serving music teachers.
The Dunedin jazz maestro has conducted the school's jazz band since 1983, but recently the 83-year-old decided to end his tenure with the sweetest of blues chords.
Before the tribute event last night, Mr Prescott said he took up the role of conductor after being invited to listen to the jazz band by the school's first head of music, Netta Wylie.
''I said to her, `The band sounds quite nice, but they're not playing jazz.'''She said, `Would you like to take the band?' So I got hoist by my own petard and I accepted.''
After he took on the school band, it was soon in demand to perform at school, city and national concerts.
Within three years, he had raised the band to a standard where it won the 1986 New Zealand Secondary Schools Jazz Festival in Wellington and was runner-up in the national jazz festival for secondary schools held in conjunction with the Tauranga Jazz Festival.
Since then, the band has won many national and international awards, toured Australia several times and represented New Zealand at the International Music Festival.
In 2009, the band made its first CD, in the University of Otago music studio.
Many former members of the jazz band have been selected to play in the New Zealand Secondary Schools' Jazz Orchestra, continued their study of performance jazz music at the Wellington School of Music at Victoria University or in overseas universities and become members of some of New Zealand's top ensembles.
Many have also become experts in other musical areas, including composition and musical arranging.
Mr Prescott said he would miss the band, particularly the ''absolute joy'' of picking up ''the odd prize'' with the band.
''I'll also miss the kids. It's all been good fun - it's been very rewarding. I wouldn't have missed it for quids.''
Last night's event included tributes read by former and present staff and pupils, and performances by the Dunedin City Jazz Orchestra, the Logan Park High School jazz combo HooDoo VooDoo and the present Logan Park High School Jazz Band.
Despite retiring as conductor of the school band, Mr Prescott said he had no intention of retiring as conductor of the Dunedin City Jazz Orchestra.
''I'm 84 in a couple of months. I'm not going to take it easier - why should I? That's only for old people.''
