Inaugural Concert Series to Educate and Entertain
Elementary and High School Students, Grade 3-12
Monterey, Calif.; October 12, 2015; Monterey Jazz Festival is pleased to announce that it has created a new free concert series to be performed by Monterey Jazz Festival’s Traveling Clinicians in Monterey County schools, called “What is Jazz?” The concerts, part of the new MJF in the Schools series, are taking place in four locations in Monterey County. Students in grades 3-12 can attend the free shows that combine an interactive blend of music, movement and narrative.
“What is Jazz?” performances will feature an eight-piece band of Monterey Jazz Festival’s professional jazz artists, long known to area music students as the Traveling Clinicians. Performers include trumpeter Peck Allmond, saxophonist Gary Meek, guitarist Bruce Forman, drummer Vince Lateano, pianist Eddie Mendenhall, bassist Scott Steed, vocalist Tammi Brown, and dancer Micha Scott. Special guests include members of the Monterey Jazz Festival High School All-Stars—some of the County’s best high school jazz musicians—and Latin percussionists Javier Tamayo and Joshua Alfaro for the Salinas performances.
The one-hour concerts, featuring classic jazz repertoire for Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, Billy Taylor, Dizzy Gillespie, and others, will show students how jazz, as an American art form, helps people tell stories and brings together different communities as Americans.
Performance locations include Pacific Grove Middle School (11/4); Sherwood Hall (11/5) and the Breadbox Theater (11/7) in Salinas, and Stanton Theater (11/6) in King City.
“What is Jazz?” is part of Monterey Jazz Festival’s ongoing commitment to support school music programs across Monterey County. “We anticipate reaching nearly 5000 students and teachers,” said Paul Contos, Education Director for Monterey Jazz Festival. “Our hope is that these concerts will inspire students to explore this music at home and in their school band rooms. More than ever, we need young men and women to discover their creativity and talent through instrumental and vocal music.”
Tickets are free, but seating is limited. Teachers interested in attending should contact the Monterey Jazz Festival immediately to ensure availability by calling Samantha Samuels, at 831.373.8843 or by emailing [email protected] no later than Friday October 23, 2015. Bus stipends are also available to schools on a limited, first-come, first-served basis. Read more about the concerts here.
“What is Jazz?” Presented by Monterey Jazz Festival
Wednesday, November 4: 9:30am & 12pm / Pacific Grove Middle School, Pacific Grove
Thursday, November 5: 9am & 11:15am / Sherwood Hall, Salinas
Friday, November 6: 9am & 11:15am / Stanton Theater, King City
Saturday, November 7: 12pm / Breadbox Theater, Salinas
About Monterey Jazz Festival
Monterey Jazz Festival, a leader in the jazz world since 1958, celebrates the legacy of jazz, expands its boundaries, and provides opportunities to experience jazz through the creative production of performances and educational programs.
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For more information please contact:
Timothy Orr
Marketing Associate
Monterey Jazz Festival
831.646.8670
[email protected]