Paul Morgenroth, alto sax strapped to his neck, is looking around the room, hoping to find a brave soul to take an improv solo. It’s one thing for these junior high musicians to play off the printed page, and another for them to just play what the spirit moves them ‘” preferably in the right key. Gradually, Morgenroth, co-director of the Lawrence All-City Junior High Jazz Band, finds a few takers. For most of the 20 musicians in the room, this is their first venture into jazz performance.

‘њThis is the first time I’ve been able to play in an actual band,’ќ says Keil Eggers, a drummer and ninth-grader at Southwest Junior High School. ‘њI’ve been practicing for quite a while. My dad listened to it extensively, so caught onto that. It can be as complex or as easy as you want to make it.’ќ The band, which practices Tuesday nights at Free State High School, is in its second year.

But it’s part of a bigger movement among Lawrence jazz fans and advocates who are trying to build more educational and performance opportunities in town. The Lawrence Jazz Alliance, which has been meeting for about six months, will have its first major event tonight, when trumpeter Ingrid Jensen comes to town for a concert. She’ll perform with the Kansas University Jazz Ensemble I at 7:30 p.m. at the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 N.H., and proceeds will go to support the junior high band.

Members of the Lawrence Jazz Alliance include the Arts Center, Lawrence Public Schools, KU, Hume Music, Kansas Public Radio and the Americana Music Academy. ‘њWe talked to people in the community, and we don’t have a lot of jazz in our community,’ќ says Patrick Kelly, who co-directs the junior high group and is fine arts specialist for Lawrence Public Schools.