Junior percussion player Jordan Hughes looks forward to performing some of the more difficult songs the Blue Band is attempting this year.

“I’m very excited to see how Skyfall turns out; we’ve only recently started working on it along with the choir but we’re all working hard to get it ready in time. I’m also excited for ‘Sir Duke,’ a song of much higher difficulty than most of what we’ve played in the past,” he said.

Junior Kit Rasmussen agreed that “Sir Duke” will pose a special challenge, describing it as “a fast paced song by Stevie Wonder with a swingy feel to it.”

However, Rasmussen’s favorite piece is “Feeling Good,” based off a Michael Bublé adaption of the original James Bond soundtrack. “It’s jazzy [and] sounds very spy-ish,” he said.

The jazz bands are working hard to perfect their pieces as the concert draws near.

“It’s much more intense as Pops approaches. People are really starting to feel the pressure and take rehearsals more seriously,” Hughes said.