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.
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