Following the encore after this year’s Paramount Jazz show, I lost count of the number of comments ringing through the lobby, all of them along the lines of, “Wow.”

Tim Davis, Bradley Mariska, and Nino Tarara have successfully developed the annual concert into something worthy of these reactions.

Whether the bands were accompanying the inimitable Brian Koser or slaying their own version of “At Last,” their energy and enthusiasm were contagious.

We can thank their teachers for instilling passion and maintaining the discipline necessary to master an instrument, but the occasional visit from the musical realm outside the classroom certainly doesn’t hurt.

The New Standards, a jazz trio out of the Twin Cities, spent the day on Thursday visiting the two intermediary schools as well as AHS to play and talk music with students.

The effect of this outreach was apparent later that night, as a handful of high schoolers attended the full-length show at the Paramount (and were among the first to stand and give the group an ovation).

Paramount Jazz pianist Zeke Peters said the Standards’ visit was what convinced him to come to the show, while Peters’ fellow musician Quin Brunner added, “They’re the kind of group you want to support, really interesting, passionate guys [who] make great music.”

Max Deyo, another band student, appreciated their authenticity, while vibes player Isaac Schumacher enjoyed their unique instrumentation and range, and hopes to see them return to Austin.

“The New Standards encouraged [me] to approach music in a different way,” he said.

Ashley Harrington, who herself delivered a version of Etta James’ “At Last” that had the crowd buzzing on Sunday, described The New Standards as truly memorable.

“I think bringing bands like that into the high school and Austin reminds us that music is truly powerful,” she said. “It inspires me to continue with music as I grow older.”

Max Deyo puts it simply: “We should do this again.”

I think we can all agree — yes, we should.