WHS senior thrives under jazz spotlight

Stan Getz, Chick Corea and Charlie Parker. It’s these jazz legends that inspire Rmi Strauser to put in the hours sharpening a craft that demands a complicated mix of technical perfection and abstract creativity.

The Whitefish High School senior will sometimes play his tenor saxophone three hours a day, going over finger work and learning new scales. He says that level of dedication is required to pull off a smooth solo in front of a packed crowd.

“You have to play a lot to get good,” Strauser said of his long recording sessions. “You get better the more you play.”

His hard work paid off this year when he received the Buddy DeFranco Outstanding Soloist award at the annual Buddy DeFranco Jazz Festival at the University of Montana in Missoula.

Strauser, along with Whitefish junior guitarist Annika Gordon, were selected to perform on the Dennison Theater stage for an audience of nearly 1,000 jazz enthusiasts.

“It was a huge rush of adrenaline,” Strauser said of playing at the jazz festival. “You’re in front of 1,000 people — it’s a pretty amazing feeling. I have my best ideas when there is that adrenaline and I’m really focused.”

Strauser was only 9 years old when he started listening to and enjoying jazz music. By seventh grade he was playing alto sax in the middle school jazz band.

In high school he switched to tenor saxophone for its “deeper and darker sound.”

His sophomore year, something clicked that made him want to push the boundaries of his abilities.

“I don’t know exactly what it was, but playing sax started to become really fun,” he said. “I started to listen to other musicians and that inspired me to become a better player.”

He said the music department at Whitefish High School has pushed and challenged him to improve.

“We have a top-notch jazz program here — one of the best in the state, easily,” he said.

He praises the instruction of music teacher Mark McCrady.

“He is a really selfless guy and gives a ton of time to helping students learn,” Strauser said.

Strauser also trains under local musician Erica Von Kleist.

After graduation, Strauser plans to attend the University of Montana and study jazz and music education. He envisions a career of teaching and performing on the side.

He’s already started his own quartet, Blue Avenue, that plays gigs around town. The band includes Ethan Potthoff on drums, Marty Anderson on guitar, and Matt Carper on bass. This summer they’ll play once a week at Casey’s.

Outside of music, Strauser enjoys the outdoors and has taken to his art classes. He also played on the golf team for three years.

He says his experience at Whitefish High School has been enjoyable.

“The music department and socially, it’s been awesome,” he said.

He’s looking forward to college and seeing what challenges await after graduation.

“I’m ready for the next chapter,” he said.