Next Generation Jazz Festival Presented by Monterey Jazz Festival Hosts America’s Top Young Jazz Musicians,
April 5-7, 2013 in Downtown Monterey
56 Groups from 11 States and 14 California Counties
are Finalists
March 12, 2013; Monterey, CA; The 9th Annual Next Generation Jazz Festival Presented by Monterey Jazz Festival takes place April 5-7, 2013, at the Monterey Conference Center. The weekend-long event includes Big Bands, Combos, Vocal Ensembles, and individual musicians vying for a spot on the stages of the 56th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival. The event will be open to the public, free of charge.
With more than 1200 students participating in the Next Generation Jazz Festival, the public can enjoy the largest gathering of young jazz talent in Northern California, outside of the Monterey Jazz Festival itself. Fifty-six groups from 14 states and Japan are finalists in 2013, which includes the Festival’s 43rd Annual High School Jazz Competition. Click here for the list of finalists.
Major funding for the Next Generation Jazz Festival and the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra performance tour comes from a three-year grant awarded by the Surdna Foundation.
California is represented by 41 ensembles from 14 counties–including Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno, Los Angeles, Marin, Orange, Placer, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Joaquin, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Ventura Counties.
Other states represented include Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Massachusetts, Ohio, Oregon, Nevada, Texas, Utah, and Washington State.
In addition, 19 special guest groups shall perform, including student ensembles from Japan, Alaska, California, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Texas. Altogether, 75 bands will perform at the Next Generation Jazz Festival.
“The Next Generation Jazz Festival continues to expand, showcasing extraordinary musical talent exhibited by young people from across the U.S. and overseas,” said Paul Contos, Monterey Jazz Festival’s Education Director. “Our roster of artists and adjudicators is formidable this year, and features the most respected names in jazz today. That, coupled with epic special guest groups from the Berklee College of Music, Eastern Michigan University, and our delight in featuring the University of North Texas One O’Clock Lab Band and others, make this a Next Generation Jazz Festival not to be missed!”
The Next Generation Jazz Festival officially starts with the annual Opening Night Concert at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 5, at the Monterey Conference Center. The concert features the Festival’s annual Salute to Jazz Education, with performances by the Edmar Colón Quartet from Berklee College of Music, as well as from internationally-renowned artists and competition judges, including drummer Jeff Hamilton, saxophonists Joel Frahm, Antonio Hart, and Gary Smulyan, pianist Patrice Rushen, guitarist Russell Malone; trumpeter Bobby Shew; bassist Ray Drummond, and vocalist Kenny Washington.
There is an opportunity to purchase optional VIP Gold Circle tickets for the Opening Night Concert, on Friday, April 5, for $50. VIP tickets assure seating in the front rows as well as an invitation to the post-concert “meet and greet dessert reception with the judges and Monterey Jazz Festival Adjudicators.
Throughout the weekend, all events in both the Steinbeck Forum and Serra Ballroom including the Friday Night Concert, will be available as a live Web stream on Monterey Jazz Festival’s Web site, provided by Next Generation Jazz Festival Media Partner, Access Monterey Peninsula.
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 Hotel, Gilbert’s Seafood Grill on Fisherman’s Wharf, and the Museum of Monterey. The Next Generation Jazz Festival will also continue its Jazz Expo, allowing students an opportunity to visit with several colleges and organizations 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 6 to the College Big Band and Vocal Jazz Ensemble Competition on Sunday, April 7–are open to the public, free of charge.
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 to bring talented student groups to Monterey, and to cultivate 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.
For a complete schedule of activities and competition times, visit montereyjazzfestival.org/2012/NGJF. A 2013 Next Generation Jazz Festival event App for iPhone and Android will also be available for download on Google Play and Apple’s App Store.
The 43rd Annual High School Jazz Competition begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 6, in the Monterey Conference Center. Throughout the day, the high school groups will perform, with several educational clinics and performances featuring the Edmar Colón Quartet, from Berklee College of Music, and the One O’Clock Lab Band from the University of North Texas.
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 the 56th 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 7, with Middle School, College, Conglomerate Big Band, 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 56th Monterey Jazz Festival. Auditions will also be held for the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, the Monterey Jazz Festival’s national all-star high school band.
Next Generation Jazz Festival partners and supporters include longtime Monterey Jazz Festival partner Yamaha Drums and Yamaha Pianos, providing instruments for Next Generation Jazz Festival stages; Macy’s; and Monterey-Salinas Transit, a Community Partner of Monterey Jazz Festival. Additional support is provided by generous individuals and organizations such as Access Monterey Peninsula, Arts Council for Monterey County, D’Addario Music Foundation, Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, Remo Drumheads, Gallien-Krueger, Zildjian Cymbals, and Planet Waves Accessories.
More information on all Next Generation Jazz Festival activities and events is available on the Monterey Jazz Festival Web site, www.montereyjazzfestival.org/2012/NGJF and by phone at 831.373.3366.
2013 Next Generation Jazz Festival Finalists
HIGH SCHOOL BIG BAND DIVISION |
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| School | City | State | Director |
| Buchanan High School | Clovis | CA | Paul Lucckesi |
| Folsom High School Jazz Band I | Folsom | CA | Curtis Gaesser |
| Lakota East High School | Liberty Township | OH | Todd Hartman |
| Las Vegas Academy Big Band | Las Vegas | NV | Patrick Bowen |
| Lone Peak High School | Highland | UT | Curtis McKendrick |
| Los Alamitos High School Jazz 1 | Los Alamitos | CA | John Rush |
| LA County High School for the Arts | Los Angeles | CA | Jason Goldman |
| Marin School of the Arts | Novato | CA | Mark Peabody |
| Mission Viejo High School Jazz Ensemble | Mission Viejo | CA | Doug Meeowsen |
| Northgate High School | Walnut Creek | CA | Greg Brown |
| Rio Americano High School | Sacramento | CA | Josh Murray |
| Valley Christian High School | San Jose | CA | Dr. Marcus Wolfe |
HIGH SCHOOL COMBO DIVISION |
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| School | City | State | Director |
| Berkeley High School Combo A | Berkeley | CA | Sarah Cline |
| Fresco Arts Academy Quartet | Eagle | ID | Kendell Nielsen |
| Las Vegas Academy Quartet | Las Vegas | NV | Patrick Bowen |
| Las Vegas Academy Trio | Las Vegas | NV | Patrick Bowen |
| Orange County School of the Arts Jazz Quartet | Santa Ana | CA | Dan St. Marseille |
| Santa Barbara High School Jazz Combo | Santa Barbara | CA | Charles Ortega |
HIGH SCHOOL VOCAL DIVISION |
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| School | City | State | Director |
| Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts Lab Singers | Dallas | TX | Kent Ellingson |
| Downey High School | Downey | CA | Cory Olariu |
| Folsom High School Jazz Choir I | Folsom | CA | Curtis Gaesser |
| Hamilton High School | Los Angeles | CA | John Hamilton |
| Kirby Jazz Singers | Santa Cruz | CA | Drew Lewis |
| LA County High School for the Arts | Los Angeles | CA | Pat Bass |
| Marin School of the Arts | Novato | CA | Stevie Greenwell |
| Valley Christian High School “Room 107” | San Jose | CA | Michelle Hawkins |
COLLEGE BIG BAND DIVISION |
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| School | City | State | Director |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa | CA | David Beatty |
| Eastern Washington University Concert Jazz Ensemble |
Cheney | WA | Phil Doyle |
| Fullerton College Big Bad Band | Fullerton | CA | Bruce Babad |
| Santa Barbara City College Lunch Break Big Band |
Santa Barbara | CA | Jim Mooy |
| University of Nevada, Las Vegas Jazz Ensemble 1 |
Las Vegas | NV | Dave Loeb & Nathan Tanouye |
| USC Thornton Jazz Orchestra | Los Angeles | CA | Bob Mintzer |
COLLEGE VOCAL DIVISION |
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| School | City | State | Director |
| College of the Canyons “House Blend” | Valencia | CA | Julie Lawson |
| College of the Canyons “Just Jazz” | Valencia | CA | Julie Lawson |
| Contra Costa College “Jazz-ology” | San Pablo | CA | Dr. Stephanie Austin |
| Mt. San Antonio College “Singcopation” | Walnut | CA | Bruce Rogers |
| Sierra College Jazz Voices | Rocklin | CA | Greg McLaughlin |
| West Valley College “Synchronicity” | Saratoga | CA | Michelle Hawkins |
CONGLOMERATE BIG BAND DIVISION |
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| School | City | State | Director |
| American Music Program Pacific Crest Jazz Orchestra |
Portland | OR | Thara Memory |
| Jazzschool Monday Night Studio Band | Berkeley | CA | Keith Johnson |
| Jazzschool Thursday Night Studio Band | Berkeley | CA | Keith Johnson |
| Metropolitan Youth Symphony Jazz Orchestra | Portland | OR | Derek Sims |
| SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Orchestra | San Francisco | CA | Claire Phillips |
| Tucson Jazz Institute Ellington Big Band | Tucson | AZ | Doug Tidaback |
OPEN COMBO DIVISION |
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| School | City | State | Director |
| The Beantown Boys | Boston | MA | Chase Morrin & Josh Shpak |
| Council Meeting | Stockton | CA | Paul Bloom |
| Fantastic Planet | Northridge | CA | Gary Pratt |
| Indiana University Jazz Quartet | Bloomington | IN | Steve Houghton |
| University of Nevada, Las Vegas Latin Jazz Ensemble |
Las Vegas | NV | Uli Geissendoerfer |
| Victor San Pedro Trio | Northridge | CA | Gary Pratt |
MIDDLE SCHOOL BIG BAND DIVISION |
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| School | City | State | Director |
| Folsom Middle School | Folsom | CA | John Zimny |
| La Paz Intermediate | Mission Viejo | CA | Dan Robbins |
| Los Cerritos Middle School West Coast Jazz Band |
Thousand Oaks | CA | David Blake |
| Oak Middle School | Los Alamitos | CA | Justin Padilla |
| Stanley Middle School Jazz Messengers | Lafayette | CA | Bob Athayde |
| Sutter Middle School | Folsom | CA | John Zimny |
SPECIAL GUEST GROUPS
Alaska Jazz Workshop Advanced Ensemble / Anchorage, AK
Alaska Jazz Workshop Ice Blue Jazz Sextet / Anchorage, AK
Edmar Colón Quartet / Berklee College of Music / Boston, MA
JazzSchool Advanced Jazz Workshop / Berkeley, CA
JazzSchool Middle School Combo / Berkeley, CA
Kuumbwa Jazz Honor Band / Santa Cruz, CA
Monterey Jazz Festival County High School All-Star Band / Monterey, CA
Monterey Jazz Festival Honor Vocal Jazz Ensemble / Monterey, CA
Monterey Jazz Festival Middle School Honor Band / Monterey, CA
The One O’Clock Lab Band / University of North Texas / Denton, TX
Pine Street Middle School Rascals / San Jose, CA
Sacramento State University Jazz Singers /Sacramento, CA
San Benancio Middle School / Salinas, CA
SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Combo / San Francisco, CA
Tomisato High School Mad Hatters / Tomisato, Japan
Tucson Jazz Institute Blue Note Combo / Tucson, AZ
University of Nevada, Las Vegas Contemporary Jazz Ensemble / Las Vegas, NV
University of Nevada, Las Vegas Joe Williams Every Day Foundation Jazz Sextet / Las Vegas, NV
Western Michigan University Combo / Kalamazoo, MI