Winter Park Boy Scout plans jazz concert for veterans, Toys for Tots

A Winter Park Boy Scout is blending his passion for playing jazz with supporting a good cause — all to lend a helping hand and fulfill his Eagle Scout project.

Winter Park High School senior Thomas Davidson, a 17-year-old from Boy Scout Troop 246, has organized a Jazz for Tots event, which takes place from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 11, at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2093, 4444 Edgewater Drive, Winter Park.

The event offers veterans a jazz concert to thank them for their service while also serving as a toy drive for Toys for Tots.

It’s a way for Davidson — a tenor saxophonist — to use his musical talents to support a good cause. He’ll be playing alongside a jazz combo of 10 to 15 other Winter Park high-schoolers, running through a set of patriotic themes with a flag ceremony beforehand.

Davidson has loved playing the saxophone since he was accidentally scheduled for a music class in the eighth grade. He fell in love with jazz, including legends Dexter Gordon and Louis Armstrong.

“There’s always something to be heard,” Davidson said. “If you listen closely, you can hear what they’re trying to say. It’s like they’re talking to you.”

Realizing that many veterans of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War grew up listening to jazz, Davidson said he hopes to spark a sense of nostalgia for the attendees of the event — and perhaps draw a bigger crowd who will donate toys.

“I think music is timeless, especially with jazz,” Davidson said. “Kids these days don’t necessarily listen to jazz as much, but if you consider the 60-, 70- and 80-year-olds who are still members of the VFW, most older folks enjoy jazz. This is something they would be interested in. If it was a rap concert, I don’t think I’d be getting too many VFW people. So many people have been impacted by jazz in a positive way. This is just a way for me to honor them.”

As part of his Eagle Scout project, Davidson was required to create the concept for the event, find a venue and reach out to the parties who would benefit.

The project teaches a Boy Scout how to be responsible, conduct research and consider all the small details involved.

So far, Davidson has done just that while putting his own creative musical spin on it, project coach David Reynolds said.

“He’s doing it for the veterans,” Reynolds said. “It’s a good plan, but he’s also trying to raise toys for Toys for Tots. It could be one toy, it could be 100 toys. … We’ll have to see what happens.”

 “I don’t have any goal as far as a limit,” Davidson said. “It really doesn’t matter how big or small it is, more that it affects someone positively. That’s the whole purpose: doing what I can to benefit someone.”