Local Oakland Middle School Jazz Band Plays in Pixar’s “Soul”

Some very lucky Oakland middle schoolers just got their big break.

Oakland’s Edna Brewer Middle School Jazz Band is featured in Pixar’s newest movie, Soul, which tells the story of a middle school band teacher who grapples with his purpose after a near-death experience.

Luck would have it that Pixar Producer Dana Murray happened to be eating at Yoshi’s in Jack London Square when students from Edna Brewer Middle School’s band were performing (in pre-Covid times), which led her to a great idea. Instead of using professional musicians, they should have middle school students play in the movie.

Those lucky students were at the right place at the right time as the band can now be heard playing “Things Ain’t What They Used to Be” in the film.

Read more at KTVU.