Monterey Jazz Festival Announces 2010 Next Generation Jazz Festival Results

Monterey Jazz Festival Announces 2010 Next Generation Jazz Festival Results

Top High School Big Band:
Los Angeles County High School for the Arts
(Los Angeles, CA)

Top High School Combo:
Los Angeles County High School for the Arts G
(Los Angeles, CA)

Top High School Vocal Ensemble:
Folsom High School Jazz Choir I
(Folsom, CA)

Top College Big Band:
California State University, Northridge A
(Northridge, CA)

Top College Vocal Ensemble:
Mt. San Antonio College “Singcopation”
(Walnut, CA)

Top Conglomerate Big Band:
Jazzschool Monday Night Studio Band
(Berkeley, CA)

Top Open Combo:
California State University, Northridge 1
(Northridge, CA)

2010 Composition Competition Winner:
John Sturm
(Princeton High School, Princeton, NJ)

Over 63 Big Bands, Combos, Vocal Ensembles, and Special Guests from 14 States Performed throughout Weekend of April 9 - 11, 2010
Top 10 Groups Will Appear At 53rd Monterey Jazz Festival
Presented by Verizon, September 17 - 19, 2010

The Monterey Jazz Festival is proud to announce the results of the 6th Annual Next Generation Jazz Festival, incorporating MJF's 40th Annual National High School Jazz Competition. A full list can be found on the Festival's web page http://www.montereyjazzfestival.org/2010/NGF/results.php

Results by Category

In the High School Big Band category, top honors went to the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (Los Angeles, CA), directed by Jason Goldman. The runner-up was Rio Americano High School AM, directed by Josh Murray. Third place went to Folsom High School Jazz Band 1, (Folsom, CA), directed by Curtis Gaesser. All three bands will perform at the 53rd Annual Monterey Jazz Festival in September.

In the High School Combo category, top honors went to the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts G (Los Angeles, CA), directed by Jason Goldman. Second place went to the Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences A (Santa Monica, CA), directed by Evan Avery. Third place went to Berkeley High School A (Berkeley, CA), directed by Scott Dailey. The Los Angeles County High School for the Arts G will perform the 53rd Annual Monterey Jazz Festival in September.

In the High School Vocal Ensemble category, top honors went to Folsom High School Jazz Choir I (Folsom, CA), directed by Curtis Gaesser. Second place went to Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (Los Angeles, CA), directed by Pat Bass. Third place went to Hamilton High School Academy of Music (Los Angeles, CA), directed by Jim Foschia. The Folsom High School Jazz Choir and the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Vocal Ensemble will perform the 53rd Annual Monterey Jazz Festival in September. 2010 is the third year in a row that Folsom has been the top High School Vocal Ensemble.

In the College Big Band category, top honors went to California State University, Northridge “A” (Northridge, CA), directed by Matt Harris. Second place went to University of Nevada, Las Vegas I (Las Vegas, NV), directed by David Loeb and Nathan Tanouwe. Third place went to Azusa Pacific University (Azusa, CA), directed by David Beatty. California State University, Northridge “A” will perform at the 53rd Annual Monterey Jazz Festival in September.

In the College Vocal Ensemble category, top honors went to Mt. San Antonio College “Singcopation” (Walnut, CA), directed by Bruce Rogers. Second place went to Sacramento State University Jazz Singers (Sacramento, CA), directed by Kerry Marsh. Third place went to American River College (Sacramento, CA), directed by Art Lapierre. Mt. San Antonio College “Singcopation” will perform at the 53rd Annual Monterey Jazz Festival in September.

In the Conglomerate category, top honors went to the Jazzschool Monday Night Studio Band (Berkeley, CA), directed by Keith Johnson. Second place went to the American Music Program (Portland, OR), directed by Thara Memory. Third place went to the Jazzschool Thursday Night Studio Band (Berkeley, CA), directed by Keith Johnson. The Jazzschool Monday Night Studio Band will perform at the 53rd Annual Monterey Jazz Festival in September.

In the Open Combo Division, top honors went to California State University, Northridge 1 (Northridge, CA), directed by Matt Harris. Second place went to the Chase Morrin Group (San Diego, CA), directed by Chase Morrin. Third place went to California State University, Northridge 2 (Northridge, CA), directed by Matt Harris.

The Monterey Jazz Festival is also proud to announce the winner of the Next Generation Jazz Festival’s Composition Competition. John Sturm, from Princeton High School in Princeton, New Jersey, won with his composition, “Sounds of Dusk” which will be performed by the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra on the Jimmy Lyons Arena Stage on September 19, 2010. He will receive the 3rd Annual Gerald Wilson Award and a cash prize. For a complete list of top ensembles, outstanding soloists and scholarship recipients, please visit www.montereyjazzfestival.org. See below for a complete list of the performers at the 53rd Annual Monterey Jazz Festival in September, 2010.

Day by Day Review

The 6th Annual Next Generation Jazz Festival got off to a spectacular start on Friday, April 9th with a standing room-only crowd of 1,500 jazz fans for the highly-anticipated Kick-Off Concert. Opening the show were ensembles from Texas Southern University, who entertained the crowd prior to the performances by the NGJF Judges, including Alan Pasqua (piano); Billy Harper (tenor saxophone); Paul Contos (alto saxophone); Aaron Lington (baritone saxophone); Terri Lyne Carrington (drums); Andy Martin (trombone) Ray Drummond (bass); Corey Christiansen (guitar) and vocalists Matt Falker, Michele Weir, and Jenifer Barnes. Artist-In-Residence Dianne Reeves also performed, and got the largest-ever audience for the Next Generation Jazz Festival on their feet with a standing ovation. The jazz masters performed in small combos and all-star groups which set the standard for the high energy and excitement to be felt throughout the weekend. After the conclusion of the Kick-Off Concert, a large number of students remained to participate in the traditional Student Jam Session, hosted by Berklee College of Music’s Nadia Washington Quartet.

Prior to the start of the concert, the Monterey Jazz Festival presented its annual Salute to Jazz Education, hosted by local radio personality Barry Brown. The event recognizes educators, student participants, volunteers, and the many supporters of the Festival's year-round Jazz Education Programs with plaques named in honor of past MJF Board members. Monterey Mayor Chuck Della Sala opened the Salute by issuing a proclamation of Jazz Weekend Monterey in honor of the Next Generation Festival.

Saturday’s activities included over ninety back-to-back performances in five locations in downtown Monterey, the largest amount of shows ever produced by the Next Generation Jazz Festival. Tourists and fans alike gathered in large numbers at the historic Fisherman’s Wharf and Cannery Row, the Portola Hotel & Spa, and the Monterey Conference Center. The participating bands performed with precision, taste, and professionalism that belied their young looks on stage.

In addition, several clinics were held at the Next Generation Jazz Festival, including two separate vocal clinics with Dianne Reeves and Nadia Washington. Ms. Reeves brought up four young vocalists who then performed in front of the crowd, with Ms. Reeves providing pointers, tips input, and encouragement.

Early Saturday evening, after a long afternoon of performances, students packed the Serra Ballroom to hear the announcement of the top High School Big Bands, Vocal Ensembles and Combos, and soloist and scholarship awards. As usual, explosive applause rang out in support of the soloist winners, scholarship winners, and for the top groups from their fans.

The Showcase Concert that evening was a preview of the 2010 Monterey Jazz Festival, which included the big bands from Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, Rio Americano High School, and Folsom High School; the Folsom High School Jazz Choir and the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Vocal Ensemble; and the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts G combo.

Only at the end of the evening would it be known that Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Big Band earned their second appearance in a row on the Arena Stage - and their third time since 2007.

After the conclusion of the Showcase Concert, students continued to play music for several more hours in a jam session hosted by the house band for the evening, the combo from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Sunday morning may have brought a rainstorm to Monterey, but that didn’t dampen the enthusiasm for the final components of the Next Generation Jazz Festival: the Middle School, Conglomerate, College Big Band, and College Vocal Ensemble performances. In the Steinbeck Forum, six middle school bands - some with members that were barely teenagers - played with intense devotion and ebullience to the room of proud parents and fans. In addition, a special clinic on performance tips improvisation was held by the middle school adjudicators Dave Loeb, Dave Gregoric, and Dr. Howard Harris. All gave valuable advice to the young performers.

Downstairs in the Serra Ballroom, the Conglomerate Division was also underway. Representing the best-of-the-best high school musicians in a particular region of the country, each band was an all-star congregation of young players. For the second year in a row, Berkeley’s Jazzschool Monday Night Studio Band won top honors (the Jazzschool also took third place with their Thursday Night Studio Band), with the American Music Program from Portland as the runner-up. The Jazzschool Monday Night Studio Band will perform in the Night Club at the 53rd Monterey Jazz Festival on September 19, 2010.

The College Big Band Division featured some of the most professional-sounding groups in the nation. Fluid and commanding in their performances, each group showcased their unique interpretations of big band literature. The California State University, Northridge “A” took top honors, with second place going to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas I. Third place went to Azusa Pacific University. For the second time in three years, California State University, Northridge “A” will perform at the 53rd Monterey Jazz Festival in September.

Sunday afternoon was College Vocal Ensemble time in the Steinbeck Forum, with each of the six top schools showing their sophisticated and daring harmonic sounds. In the end, Mt. San Antonio College “Singcopation” took top honors, with second place going to the Sacramento State University Jazz Singers. Third place went to American River College. Mt. San Antonio College “Singcopation” will make their debut at the 53rd Annual Monterey Jazz Festival in September.

Also on Sunday, behind closed doors, live auditions for the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra were taking place. The Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, one of the premier high school bands in the country, is the Monterey Jazz Festival's national high school showcase band, filled with all-star musicians from around the country. The prestigious orchestra will embark on a 10-day North American tour, with five performances slated in Cleveland, the Toronto Jazz Festival, the Montreal Jazz Festival, Burlington, Vermont; and New York City’s Jazz Standard, from June 30 - July 7, 2010.

Student musicians also auditioned for the Jimmy Lyons Scholarship, a four-year, full tuition scholarship to Berklee College of Music, named in honor of MJF's founder.

After two days and nights, with nearly one hundred twenty events in five locations, performed by over sixty-three participating groups, the 6th Annual Next Generation Jazz Festival came to a close, marking the largest attendance of fans, musicians, and performances in the event’s forty-year history. All the students, fans, judges, and educators who came to the Next Generation Jazz Festival will have memories of 2010 that will carry into the future of their extraordinary weekend in Monterey.

Partners in Jazz

Two new Official Partners joined in the Next Generation Jazz Festival festivities over the weekend. Jazz Cruises was a prominent player with a booth set up in the Conference Center lobby, and with their sponsorship of the official Next Generation Jazz Festival T-Shirts, visible throughout the downtown Monterey area throughout the weekend.

The classic jazz publication, DownBeat Magazine, was also prominently displayed in the hub of all the NGJF activity. DownBeat gave away over 500 copies of their latest issue throughout the weekend, in addition to offering DownBeat shirts and souvenirs recognizing their 75th anniversary.

For the second year in a row, the Next Generation Jazz Festival hosted two jazz-related endeavors: The Instrument Showcase and the College Fair.

The former hosted representatives and instruments from Antigua Winds, Best Buy Instruments, Gallien-Krueger, and Steve Gray’s Musical Instruments. As an indication of the popularity of the Instrument Showcase, the venue was jam packed throughout the weekend with students trying out offerings from the new NGJF partners.

The Next Generation Jazz Festival College Fair hosted some of the top schools and jazz programs in the country, including the Jazzschool, Roosevelt University, the Stanford Jazz Workshop, Texas Southern University, University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and University of the Pacific.

In addition, longtime MJF partner Yamaha provided instruments for Next Generation Jazz Festival stages, and J. D’Addario & Company gave away reeds, strings, and other complimentary products.

The 7th Annual Next Generation Jazz Festival is slated for April 1 - 3, 2011. The MJF High School Jazz Competition will celebrate its 41st year in 2011 and will continue to draw the country's best student bands, vocalists, and individual musicians. The Monterey Jazz Festival is proud to support the Next Generation Jazz Festival and congratulates all the participants, fans, volunteers, parents, supporters, and donors who have helped make this special event possible every year.

Supporters Help Fund Next Generation Jazz Festival

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.

A three-year grant from the Surdna Foundation supports the Next Generation Jazz Festival and the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra's international tours. The Surdna Foundation’s Arts Program is national in scope and supports the artistic advancement of teens, ages 12 - 18.

Additional financial support for the Next Generation Jazz Festival comes from foundations such as the AT&T Foundation, the D’Addario Music Foundation, and the Joseph Drown Foundation. Partners, highlighted above, include DownBeat Magazine, Jazz Cruises, Yamaha Piano Division and the Yamaha Pro Audio and Combo Division, and with gifts-in-kind from Yamaha, Rico Reeds, and generous individual contributors.

NEXT GENERATION JAZZ FESTIVAL FINAL RANKINGS AND PERFORMANCE DATES AT MJF/53

HIGH SCHOOL BIG BAND DIVISION
First Place:
Los Angeles County High School for the Arts
(Los Angeles, CA)
Jason Goldman, director
Jimmy Lyons Stage, Arena, 9/19/10

Second Place:
Rio Americano High School AM
(Sacramento, CA)
Josh Murray, director
Night Club Stage, 9/19/10

Third Place:
Folsom High School I
(Folsom, CA)
Curtis Gaesser, director
Night Club Stage, 9/19/10

HIGH SCHOOL COMBO DIVISION
First Place:
Los Angeles County High School for the Arts G
(Los Angeles, CA)
Jason Goldman, director
Night Club Stage, 9/19/10

Second Place:
Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences A
(Santa Monica, CA)
Evan Avery, director

Third Place:
Berkeley High School A
(Berkeley, CA)
Scott Dailey, director

HIGH SCHOOL VOCAL DIVISION
First Place:
Folsom High School Jazz Choir I
(Folsom, CA)
Curtis Gaesser, director
Night Club Stage, 9/19/10

Second Place:
Los Angeles County High School for the Arts
(Los Angeles, CA)
Pat Bass, director
Night Club Stage, 9/19/10

Third Place:
Hamilton High School Academy of Music
(Los Angeles, CA)
Jim Foschia, director

COLLEGE BIG BAND DIVISION
First Place:
California State University, Northridge A
(Northridge, CA)
Matt Harris, director
Garden Stage, 9/19/10

Second Place:
University of Nevada, Las Vegas I
(Las Vegas, NV)
David Loeb and Nathan Tanouwe, directors

Third Place:
Azusa Pacific University
(Azusa, CA)
David Beatty, director

COLLEGE VOCAL JAZZ ENSEMBLE DIVISION
First Place:
Mt. San Antonio College “Singcopation”
(Walnut, CA)
Bruce Rogers, director
Night Club Stage, 9/19/10

Second Place:
Sacramento State University Jazz Singers
(Sacramento, CA)
Kerry Marsh, director

Third Place:
American River College
(Sacramento, CA)
Art Lapierre, director

CONGLOMERATE DIVISION
First Place:
Jazzschool Monday Night Studio Band
(Berkeley, CA)
Keith Johnson, director
Night Club Stage, 9/19/10

Second Place:
American Music Program/Pacific Crest
(Portland, OR)
Thara Memory, director

Third Place:
Jazzschool Thursday Night Studio Band
(Berkeley, CA)
Keith Johnson, director

OPEN COMBO DIVISION
First Place:
California State University, Northridge 1
(Northridge, CA)
Matt Harris, director
Coffee House Gallery, 9/19/10

Second Place:
Chase Morrin Group
(San Diego, CA)
Chase Morrin, director

Third Place:
California State University, Northridge 2
(Northridge, CA)
Matt Harris, director

2010 COMPOSITION COMPETITION WINNER
John Sturm
(Princeton High School, Princeton, NJ)
Sounds of Dusk *

*Sounds of Dusk will be performed at the 53rd Annual Monterey Jazz Festival by the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, on the Jimmy Lyons Stage on Sunday, 9/19/10. Mr. Sturm will also receive the 3rd Annual Gerald Wilson Award.