Monterey Jazz Festival's Next Generation Jazz Festival in April

Monterey Jazz Festival’s Next Generation
Jazz Festival Celebrates 40th Anniversary

America’s Top Young Jazz Musicians from 10 States
Compete for Spot on Monterey Jazz Festival Stages
Monterey Jazz Festival Artist-In-Residence and Two-Time Grammy-Nominee Joshua Redman to Participate

The Monterey Jazz Festival, a nonprofit leader in jazz education since its inception in 1958 and JazzTimes Readers’ Poll multi-year winner for Best Jazz Festival, is proud to announce its annual Next Generation Jazz Festival, April 1 - 3, 2011 in downtown Monterey. The weekend-long event, devoted to the future of jazz, includes the Next Generation Jazz Festival Jazz Competition with Big Bands, Combos, Vocal Ensembles, and individual musicians vying for a spot on the stages of the 54th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival. The event will be open to the public, free of charge.

With over 1200 students participating in the Next Generation Jazz Festival, Monterey Peninsula residents are in a unique position to enjoy the largest gathering of young jazz talent in the region, outside of the Monterey Jazz Festival itself. Sixty-four groups from ten states will participate in the 2011 event, which marks the Festival’s 40th anniversary of the birth of its Annual Jazz Competition.

Introduced in 1971 as the California High School Jazz Band Competition by Monterey Jazz Festival Founder Jimmy Lyons, the competition was conceived as a way of as a way of bringing talented student musicians and groups to Monterey, and cultivating musicians for the future. Notable participants of the Jazz Competition and Next Generation Jazz Orchestra members (formally the California High School All-Star Band) include saxophonists Joshua Redman, Dave Koz and Dave Ellis, pianists Benny Green and Patrice Rushen, multi-instrumentalist Peter Apfelbaum, bassist Larry Grenadier, and many more. 2011 Next Generation Jazz Festival judges trombonist Andy Martin, saxophonists Mary Fettig and Joshua Redman, and trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire are alumni of the Festival’s education programs, coming through the California High School All-Star Band in the 1970s, 80s and 90s.

California, one of the strongholds of music education, has schools from 15 counties represented in the 2011 festival – including Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno, Los Angeles, Marin, Riverside, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Yolo Counties.

In addition, the Next Generation Jazz Festival will present special guest groups from Alaska, California, Oklahoma, Oregon, Nebraska, New York, Pennsylvania, and Japan throughout the weekend.

“Despite all the news being trumpeted about music programs being cut in the public schools, jazz is alive and well at the Next Generation Jazz Festival,” said Dr. Rob Klevan, Education Director of the Monterey Jazz Festival. “Sixty-four of the “Best of the Best” from around America descend upon Monterey April 1 - 3 to share in the joy of performing this great music. The Next Generation Jazz Festival will have a bit of an international flavor as well, with the Tomisato High School Jazz Band from Tomisato, Japan joining us for the festivities. It is going to be another exceptional jazz education event.”

The Next Generation Jazz Festival officially starts with the annual Opening Night Concert at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 1, at the Monterey Conference Center. The opening night's activities will feature the Festival's annual Salute to Jazz Education hosted by local radio personality, Barry Brown of KWAV-FM, along with performances by the internationally-renowned competition judges, including pianist Alan Pasqua, drummer Peter Erskine, saxophonists Antonio Hart, Paul Contos, Mary Fettig, and Aaron Lington; trumpeters Ambrose Akinmusire and Sal Cracchiolo; bassist Ray Drummond, and vocalists Jennifer Barnes and Michele Weir. Also featured during the evening concert will be the 2011 Monterey Jazz Festival Artist-In-Residence, two-time Grammy nominee, saxophonist Joshua Redman.

New for 2011 is the opportunity to purchase optional VIP Gold Circle tickets for the Opening Night Concert, on Friday, April 1, for $50. VIP tickets assures seating in the front rows as well as an invitation to the post-concert “meet and greet” wine and cheese reception with the judges and Artist-In-Residence, Joshua Redman.

The Festival will conduct clinics, workshops, jam sessions, and auditions in the heart of historic Monterey, with music to be performed at the Monterey Conference Center, the host Portola Plaza Hotel, Gilbert’s Restaurant on Fisherman’s Wharf, and the Monterey History and Maritime Museum. The Next Generation Jazz Festival is also continuing its College Fair, allowing students an opportunity to visit with several colleges offering jazz and other music programs.

All Next Generation Jazz Festival competition events -- from the exuberant and electric Big Band, Vocal Ensemble and Combo Competition on Saturday, April 2 and the College Big Band Vocal Jazz Ensemble competition on Sunday, April 3 -- are open to the public, free of charge.

For a complete schedule of activities and competition times, visit www.montereyjazzfestival.org

The Next Generation Jazz Festival Jazz Competition begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 2 in the Conference Center. Throughout the day, the high school groups will perform, with several educational clinics featuring the 2011 Monterey Jazz Festival Artist-In-Residence, Joshua Redman and the Alan Benzie Quartet from the Berklee College of Music.

The top Vocal, Combo, and Big Band divisions will be announced at 6:15 p.m. Saturday evening from the Serra Ballroom stage. At 8:30 p.m., the top finalists will perform a Showcase Concert -- a preview of the groups performing at 54th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival. The final rankings will be announced at the end of the evening.

The Next Generation Jazz Festival continues through Sunday, April 3 with Middle School, College, Conglomerate Big Band, Open Combo, and College Vocal Ensemble Divisions performing in the Serra Ballroom and Steinbeck Forum. The top college big band, college vocal ensemble, and conglomerate big band (to be announced during the day) will also earn a performance slot at the 54th Monterey Jazz Festival. Auditions will also be held for the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, the Festival’s national all-star high school band.

A one-year grant from the AT&T Foundation supports the Next Generation Jazz Festival and the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra performance tours. AT&T invests significant resources to advance education, strengthen communities and improve lives.

Next Generation Jazz Festival partners and supporters include longtime Monterey Jazz Festival partner Yamaha, providing instruments for Next Generation Jazz Festival stages. Additional support for the Next Generation Jazz Festival comes from generous individuals and organizations such as AT&T Foundation, the Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation, the Joseph Drown Foundation, Evans Drumheads, Remo Drumheads, Zildjian Cymbals, Planet Waves Accessories, and Rico Reeds.

More information on all Next Generation Jazz Festival activities and events is available on the Monterey Jazz Festival Web site, www.montereyjazzfestival.org and by phone at 831-373-3366.
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2011 Next Generation Jazz Festival Finalists and Participants
HIGH SCHOOL BIG BAND DIVISION

School
City
State
Director

Berkeley High School
Berkeley
CA
Scott Dailey

Buchanan High School
Clovis
CA
Paul Lucckesi

Davis Senior High School
Davis
CA
Fredrick Lange

Folsom High School Jazz Band I
Folsom
CA
Curtis Gaesser

Hamilton Academy of Music
Los Angeles
CA
Jim Foschia

Las Vegas Academy
Las Vegas
NV
Patrick Bowen

Los Alamitos High School Jazz Band I
Los Alamitos
CA
John Rush

Los Angeles County High School for the Arts
Los Angeles
CA
Jason Goldman

Marin High School for the Arts I
Novato
CA
Mark Peabody

Northgate High School
Walnut Creek
CA
Greg Brown

Rio Americano High School "AM"
Sacramento
CA
Josh Murray

Westside High School
Omaha
NB
Roger Groth

HIGH SCHOOL COMBO DIVISION

School
City
State
Director

Berkeley High School Combo I
Berkeley
CA
Scott Dailey

Berkeley High School Combo II
Berkeley
CA
Scott Dailey

Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences
Santa Monica
CA
Evan Avery

Hamilton Academy of Music
Los Angeles
CA
Jim Foschia

Marin High School for the Arts
Novato
CA
Mark Peabody

Northgate High School
Walnut Creek
CA
Greg Brown

HIGH SCHOOL VOCAL DIVISION

School
City
State
Director

Arts West High School
Eagle
ID
Jeff Baker

Downey High School
Downey
CA
Cory Olariu

Folsom High School Jazz Choir I
Folsom
CA
Curtis Gaesser

Folsom High School Jazz Choir II
Folsom
CA
Fred Weber

Los Angeles County High School for the Arts
Los Angeles
CA
Pat Bass

Valencia High School "Seven AM"
Valencia
CA
Christine Tavares

Valencia High School "Two N' Four"
Valencia
CA
Christine Tavares

Valley Christian High School
San Jose
CA
David Hook

CONGLOMERATE BIG BAND DIVISION

Ensemble
City
State
Director

American Music Program
Portland
OR
Thara Memory

Déjà Vu Jazz Band
Santa Clara
CA
David Anderson

Jazzschool Monday Night Studio Band
Berkeley
CA
Keith Johnson

Jazzschool Thursday Night Studio Band
Berkeley
CA
Keith Johnson

SFJAZZ High School All-Star Jazz Orchestra
San Francisco
CA
Paul Contos

Tucson Jazz Institute 'Ellington' Band
Tucson
AZ
Doug Tidaback

COLLEGE BIG BAND DIVISION

School
City
State
Director

Azusa Pacific University
Azusa
CA
David Beatty

California State University, Long Beach Jazz Orchestra
Long Beach
CA
Jeff Jarvis

Cuesta College
San Luis Obispo
CA
Ron McCarley

Sacramento State University
Sacramento
CA
Steve Roach

Santa Barbara City College
Santa Barbara
CA
Jim Mooy

University of Southern California Thornton School of Music
Los Angeles
CA
Bob Mintzer

COLLEGE VOCAL ENSEMBLE DIVISION

Ensemble
City
State
Director

Cabrillo College "West Coast Voices"
Aptos
CA
Mark Bidelman

College of the Canyons "Just Jazz"
Valencia
CA
Julie Lawson

Contra Costa College "Jazzanova"
San Pablo
CA
Stephanie Austin

California State University, Long Beach “Pacific Standard Time”
Long Beach
CA
Christine Guter

Fresno City College Jazz Singers
Fresno
CA
Mike & Julie Dana

West Valley College
Saratoga
CA
Michelle Hawkins

OPEN COMBO DIVISION

Ensemble
City
State
Director

C.O.L. Jazz Band
Pittsburgh
PA
Tim Smith

Chase Morrin Group
San Diego
CA
Chase Morrin

Josiah Boornazian Group
Northridge
CA
Matt Harris

Midwestern Barncoat
Northridge
CA
Matt Harris

University of Nevada, Las Vegas Contemporary Combo
Las Vegas
NV
Dave Loeb

University of Nevada, Reno Quintet
Reno
NV
Hans Halt

MIDDLE SCHOOL BIG BAND DIVISION

School
City
State
Director

Alta Sierra Middle School
Clovis
CA
Paul Lucckesi

Arden Middle School
Sacramento
CA
Rick Baker

Borel Middle School
San Mateo
CA
Brian Switzer

Eagle Rock Jr. Middle School
Los Angeles
CA
Greg Samuel

Folsom Middle School
Folsom
CA
John Zimny

Sutter Middle School
Folsom
CA
John Zimny

SPECIAL GUEST GROUPS

Ensemble
City
State
Director

Alaska Jazz Workshop
Anchorage
AK
John Damberg

Broken Arrow High School Jazz Band
Broken Arrow
OK
Reid Bennett

Heatwave Jazz and Show Band
La Quinta
CA
Jim Little

Jazz Elite Jazz Ensemble
Woodland
NY
Iantheia Calhoun

Metropolitan Youth Symphony Jazz I
Portland
OR
Derek Sims

Sacramento State University Jazz Singers
Sacramento
CA
Kerry Marsh

Tomisato High School Jazz Band
Tomisato
JAPAN
Masaki Shinohara

University of Nevada, Las Vegas Jazz Ensemble I
Las Vegas
NV
Dave Loeb

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About the Next Generation Jazz Festival and the Monterey Jazz Festival Jazz Education Programs

The Monterey Jazz Festival is dedicated to perpetuating the uniquely American form of music known as jazz by producing performances that celebrate the legacy and expand the boundaries of jazz; and by presenting year-round local, regional, national, and international jazz education programs. The Monterey Jazz Festival is a nonprofit organization and has donated its proceeds to musical education since its inception in 1958.

These hands-on, cutting-edge educational components include the Traveling Clinician and Latin Jazz Programs, with professional musicians visiting Monterey County schools to teach students how to play and improvise in jazz and Latin styles; the Artist-In-Residence Program, which brings a leading jazz performer to work with students throughout the year; the annual Summer Jazz Camp, the Instrument and Sheet Music Library, the Digital Music Education Project, the Next Generation Jazz Festival, the Monterey County High School All-Star Band, the Monterey County Middle School Honor Band and Vocal Honor Jazz Ensemble, and the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra.

The genesis of the Next Generation Jazz Festival started in 1971 when Jimmy Lyons, founder and General Manager of the Monterey Jazz Festival, began presenting the top groups of the Festival-sponsored California High School Jazz Band Competition on the final day of the MJF. Over the years, some of the young musicians who have participated in what tenor saxophonist Joshua Redman describes as “the Super Bowl of California high school jazz competitions” have gone on to become stars of their generation in their own right: saxophonists Joshua Redman, Dave Koz, and Dave Ellis, pianists Benny Green and Patrice Rushen, multi-instrumentalist Peter Apfelbaum, bassist Larry Grenadier, and many more.

In 2005, the competition was expanded – adding more educational components – and renamed the Next Generation Jazz Festival, and the California High School All-Star Band morphed into the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra. Now in its seventh year, the Next Generation Jazz Festival draws upon 40 years of previous educational experience, history and innovation to its expanding lineup and scope.