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Home , Aaron Parks, Bunky Green, Caleb Chapman, Jazz education, Music award, Steve Wiest

92 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2017 40TH ANNUAL

Brightest The Best Student Musicians of 2017

JUNE 2017 DOWNBEAT 93 Theresa Chen of the Eastman School of earned an Outstanding Composition at the Graduate College level in the category Original Composition–Small Ensemble. Welcome to the 40th Annual DownBeat Student Music

Eastman New Ensemble, Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York

THIS SECTION IS ALL ABOUT YOUNG problems are compounded by one person talent. The annual DownBeat Student or group’s inability to view an issue from Features Music Awards (SMAs) provide a show- another, opposing perspective, we should case for some of the world’s most talent- all take a moment to reflect on the values 100 JAZZ SOLOIST ed young musicians—from the junior that are promoted in a music classroom. high level all the way up to graduate col- As students are learning about the 106 LARGE JAZZ ENSEMBLE lege students. We are proud to highlight technical aspects of making music, they and encourage the musical endeavors of also learn about democracy, equality, col- 114 SOLOIST all our competitors. laboration, cooperation and the devel- For 40 years, the SMAs have been a opment of invididual contributions that 118 /POP/ROCK GROUP stepping stone for many of the world’s enhance the efforts of the collective. They greatest musicians. Among the notewor- also learn to respect colleagues who might 122 JAZZ thy SMA competitors over the decades have different backgrounds and opinions are such major artists as Norah Jones, than they do. When students learn to per- 126 DOWNBEAT , Maria Schneider, Chris form in harmony, it is often in both a liter- HALL OF FAME: Potter, Donny McCaslin, Darcy James al and a figurative sense. CLARENCE ACOX Argue, Roy Hargrove, Zaccai Curtis, Jon So while we applaud all the great melo- Irabagon, Grace Kelly, and dies, compositions and 130 DOWNBEAT JAZZ EDUCATION Aaron Parks. crafted by SMA musicians, we also realize In addition to the students who have that their work on the bandstand and in ACHIEVEMENT : become major jazz artists, and the hun- the recording studio often results in those PAUL CONTOS dreds of musicians who became jazz edu- musicians being a bit more empathetic cators, there are thousands of SMA com- when they are off the bandstand. 132 DOWNBEAT JAZZ EDUCATION petitors who have benefited in other ways. On the following 38 pages, you’ll see ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: For those who did not choose a career path the names and photos of some of the best in music, their studies helped them to and brightest young musicans on the plan- HOWARD STONE become better listeners, better team mem- et. In the future, we know that you’ll be bers and better leaders. hearing a lot more music from some of 96 DOWNBEAT STUDENT MUSIC Nowadays, when so many of our social these gifted youngsters. —Bobby Reed AWARDS—COMPLETE RESULTS

94 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2017 JUNE 2017 DOWNBEAT 95 Student Music Award Listings

Jazz Ensemble I at the University of Wisconsin Eau-Claire

Hamilton High School Performing Arts High School Jay Anderson Jazz Soloist Eric Rasmussen Outstanding Performance New York, NY Chandler, AZ Junior High School Winners Howard Dietz Luca Mendoza Joseph Yang Henry Acker Piano Trombone University of North Texas Guitar Colburn Community School of Valley Christian High School Brad Leali Performing Arts Duxbury Middle School Dr. Marcus Wolfe Denton, TX Lee Secard Jill Norenberg San Jose, CA Los Angeles, CA Duxbury, MA Tobias Meissl High School Vibraphone Matthew Lee Community College Drums and Trumpet Outstanding Performances Outstanding Performance Greg Hopkins Glenfield Middle School Albert Newberry Boston, MA Jon Ward Piano Arek Gralnic Montclair, NJ Guitar North Cross School Henry Solomon MiraCosta College Baritone Saxophone Junior High School John Salmon Greensboro, NC Steve Torok USC Thornton School of Music Outstanding Performances Oceanside, CA David Sneider Los Angeles, CA Daiki Nakajima Trumpet Undergraduate Tenor Saxophone Ardsley High School College Winner Graduate Moreland Middle School Alan Goidel College Winner Dann Zinn Ardsley, NY Josh Shpak San Jose, CA Trumpet Eitan Gofman Performing Arts High Berklee College of Music Tenor Saxophone Oliver Tuttle School Winner Trombone Tiger Okoshi School of Music Boston, MA Justin DiCioccio Edna Brewer Middle School Petros Anagnostakos New York, NY Zack Pitt-Smith Drums Oakland, CA Undergraduate College Humber College Graduate College Community Outstanding Performances High School Winners Music School Outstanding Performances Kirk MacDonald Cole Davis Alex Yuwen Toronto, Ontario Acoustic Bass Chase Morrin Tenor Saxophone Canada Manhattan School of Music Piano

96 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2017 JOE MARTINEZ

he May 18, 1978, issue of DownBeat included a at the age of 22, was serving as pianist and arranger for Tcover story on Frank Zappa with features on bassist . He would later go on to head up the jazz Dave Holland and baritone saxophonist Nick Brignola. studies program at William Paterson University. Those On the cover, the “down beat” logo was two words, ren- three jazz-education titans started a tradition of amaz- dered in a lower-case font that screamed, “This is the ing adjudicators that continues to this day. ’70s!” The tagline above the logo let everyone know that Some of the competitors went on to have great db was “the contemporary music magazine.” careers, like high school saxophonist Ted Nash, who But that cover did not mention what would become received an honorable mention for solo instrumental one of the cornerstones of DownBeat and its dedication performance. Today, Nash is revered as a leader and as to jazz education—the Student Music Awards. In those a member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. days, they were actually called the “down beat Student Other participants from the 1978 competition went Recording Awards,” and given all of one-and-a-half on to do great things in the music business, like Jim pages of space in the magazine. Rupp, the drummer for The Ohio State University These awards prove that “from small things, mama, Jazz Ensemble. He toured with and big things one day come.” The goal was to create an , and spent eight years drumming awards program that could one day be as important for Diane Schuur. But Rupp is probably best known to student musicians as the Grammys were to the pros. as the owner of Columbus Pro Percussion, one of the Performances that year were adjudicated by a trio nation’s best drum shops, located in Columbus, Ohio. of jazz education royalty—, Bunky Green And still others became teachers, bankers, lawyers, and James Williams. Baker was already making history civic leaders and parents. If a person can learn to do in his post as head of jazz studies at Indiana University. one thing well, chances are they can learn to do many Green was making his mark as head of jazz studies at things well. Shining a spotlight on students who learn State University. He would later become the to play jazz well: That’s been the spirit of the SMAs for Grammy winner Ted Nash received an honorable mention accolade in chair of jazz studies at the University of North Florida. the past 40 years. And it’s a tradition that will continue the 1978 Student Music Awards. And Williams, who taught at Berklee College of Music for many more. —Frank Alkyer

JUNE 2017 DOWNBEAT 97 Jazz Orchestra, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan

Berklee College of Music Academy of Music Marco Pignataro & Performing Arts Boston, MA Jim Foschia Los Angeles, CA Shai Golan Alto Saxophone Honors Ensemble Winner Manhattan School of Music Justin DiCioccio Institute New York, NY National Performing Arts High School All-Star Peer- Small Jazz Combo to-Peer Jazz Quintet Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, UCLA High School Winner JB Dyas Los Angeles, CA Tempus Fugit Ann Arbor Community High School Honors Ensemble Jack Wagner Ann Arbor, MI Outstanding Performances

High School Advanced Jazz Workshop 1 The Jazzschool Community Outstanding Performance Music School Michael Zilber Jazz Combo I Berkeley, CA Folsom High School Curtis Gaesser SFJAZZ All-Stars Combo Folsom, CA SFJAZZ Dan Zinn Performing Arts San Francisco, CA High School Winner Community College Winner Colburn Jazz Workshop Monday Night Band Jazz Combo I Colburn Community School of Riverside City College Performing Arts Joel Paat Lee Secard Riverside, CA Los Angeles, CA Community College Performing Arts Outstanding Performance High School Outstanding Performance Jazz Collective MiraCosta College Hamilton ‘A’ Combo Steve Torok Hamilton High School Oceanside, CA

98 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2017

Jazz Instrumental Soloist

Joseph Yang Eitan Gofman Matthew Lee VARIED SKILLS YIELD REWARDS IN NOVEMBER 2014, TENOR SAXOPHONIST graduate college level, is developing a broad Eitan Gofman returned to his native Israel to set of skills. While he impresses listeners with play in a that was performing the his playing, he is pursuing endeavors that

Josh Shpak ANDRE LAMAR music of his countryman Eli Degibri. To take complement his performing. part in the , Gofman took a leave of After finishing course requirements for his absence from the Manhattan School of Music, performance degree at Boston’s Berklee Col- where he was a first-year master’s student in lege of Music, Shpak, who hails from the San jazz performance. Francisco Bay Area, decided to complete the As it happened, Mike Holober, who taught requirements for another major: film scoring. Gofman arranging at the Manhattan School, He hopes to apply what he has learned to com- was the conductor and arranger for the Degi- mercial work and film production. bri project. Suddenly, Gofman was thrust into “The trumpet is physically demanding and a work situation in which he had to perform as something that is a passion and pleasure to

the colleague of a mentor, leading to a slight- take on,” he said. “But I also love writing and Petros Anagnostakos ly disorienting realization: As a jazz musician, producing music.” he needs to be broadly prepared for whatever This year’s winners at the high school lev- phone-playing relatives, father Mike Lee and comes his way. el seem similarly primed. Trombonist Joseph brother Julian Lee. Julian is a former winner Having earned his degree in 2016, Yang, a senior at Valley Christian High School of a DownBeat Student Music Award and a Gofman, the recipient of a DownBeat Student in San Jose, California, has, in his contributions student at The Juilliard School who has per- Music Award as Jazz Instrumental Soloist at to the school’s big band, already shown an formed on Jazz at Lincoln Center’s stages. the graduate college level, takes an expansive ability to “speak the language” of jazz, said Matthew, who won the DownBeat award view of his career. He has a weekly after-hours Marcus Wolfe, one of his teachers. based on his work while a student at Glenfield gig at Smalls in New York. He teaches at Similarly, drummer Petros Anagnostakos— Middle School in Montclair, New Jersey, is now Jazz Empowers, a group that brings jazz into a freshman at the University of Toronto who a freshman at Montclair High School. He has low-income schools. And he’s busy creating has performed in Canada’s elite National Jazz also studied at the Jazz House Kids program in compositions for strings that he hopes will get Youth Orchestra—has distinguished himself Montclair, run by singer Melissa Walker. The an airing at Smalls. In short, he is living the life with his leadership qualities, technical ability organization is known for opening doors for of a multifaceted jazz artist in the 21st century. and artistic sophistication. young artists. “I can envision myself trying to push the “He’s got the entire package,” said Kirk Mc- Julian’s success notwithstanding, Mat- music forward by balancing the writing with Donald, Anagnostakos’ teacher and the direc- thew said he knows that the doors won’t open the playing and the teaching,” he said. “Bal- tor of the orchestra. automatically. Nonetheless, with the examples ance is important for every musician. It makes Meanwhile, drummer/trumpeter Mat- of his brother and father, he can see himself him more valuable.” thew Lee, a winner at the junior high school living the jazz life: “I’m pretty set on living in Like Gofman, trumpeter Josh Shpak, the level, already has a head start on a music ca- the city, being around all my friends all the Jazz Instrumental Soloist winner at the under- reer—benefiting from the advice of his saxo- time and just playing music.” —Phillip Lutz

100 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2017 JUNE 2017 DOWNBEAT 101 Graduate College John Zimny Outstanding Performance Folsom, CA

WMU Graduate Ensemble High School Winners Western Michigan University Dr. Scott Cowan AM Jazz Ensemble Kalamazoo, MI Rio Americano High School Josh Murray Sacramento, CA Large Jazz Ensemble I Junior High School Winners Folsom High School Curtis Gaesser Little Big Band Folsom, CA Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse Caleb Chapman High School , UT Outstanding Performances Peter Vode, New England Shai Golan, Manhattan School of Conservatory, Boston Music, New York Eckstein Sr. Jazz Band Jazz Band Eckstein Middle School Harvard-Westlake School Moc Escobedo Shawn Costantino Undergraduate Bill Boris Seattle, WA Studio City, CA College Winner Chicago, IL Junior High School Studio Jazz Ensemble I Graduate College Winners The Oostende Quartet Outstanding Performances Westlake High School University of Adelaide Brian Peter Elder Conservatorium of Music A.I.M.E. Westlake Village, CA Dustan Cox University of Texas at Austin Stanley Jazz Messengers Adelaide, Australia John Fremgen Performing Arts Austin, TX Stanley Middle School Bob Athayde High School Winner Undergraduate College Lamont Small Jazz Group I Lafayette, CA Outstanding Performance University of Denver Jazz Workshop Orchestra Lamont School of Music Sutter Middle School Denver School of the Arts Fusion Ensemble Steve Wiest and Eric Gunnison Jazz Band Dave Hammond Columbia College Chicago Denver, CO Sutter Middle School Denver, CO

102 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2017 JUNE 2017 DOWNBEAT 103 Henry Solomon, USC Thornton Lucas Apostoleris, Frost School School of Music, Los Angeles of Music, Coral Gables, Florida Improvisation Ensemble (Reggie Workman), The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, New York Doug Tidaback Jazzschool Tucson, AZ Dave Eshelman Performing Arts Don Zentz Berkeley, CA High School Outstanding Jacksonville, FL Precollege Big Band Manhattan School of Music Performances SFJAZZ High School Honors Ensemble Winners Precollege All-Stars Big Band Jeremy Manasia SFJAZZ Jazz Band New York, NY Paul Contos Las Vegas Academy of the Arts Crescent Super Band Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse San Francisco, CA Patrick Bowen Honors Ensemble Las Vegas, NV Caleb Chapman Salt Lake City, UT Outstanding Performances Community College Winner Jazz Ensemble I Douglas Anderson School Ellington Big Band Jazzschool Studio Band Oceanside Jazz Orchestra of the Arts Tucson Jazz Institute California Jazz Conservatory’s MiraCosta College

104 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2017 JUNE 2017 DOWNBEAT 105 Steve Torok (foreground) leads a rehearsal of MOJO, AM Jazz Ensemble at Rio Americano High School the MiraCosta Oceanside Jazz Orchestra. STRENGTH IN DIVERSITY AS IN NATURE AND THE WORKPLACE, THE the beginning of the year, we were going to “strength in diversity” principle is reflected . So we tried , straightahead on the bandstand with this year’s Large Jazz and second-line.” Ensemble winners. At the high school level, diversity came While there isn’t a jazz studies major at in the form of age, as evidenced by the Jazz the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, one Workshop Orchestra, the performing arts wouldn’t know it from the level of activity high school winners from the Denver School on campus and around town, says Connor of the Arts in Colorado. “There are about sev- Pietrzak. A member of Jazz Ensemble I, the en seniors and probably as many juniors and trumpeter noted that most every section in sophomores,” said Dave Hammond, director this group includes both sophomores and of bands at the school. “I’ve got a few sopho-

non-music majors. mores who are just crazy good. It’s really com- Jazz Workshop Orchestra at Some of Pietrzak’s bandmates major in petitive now. Most of the seniors have been Denver School of the Arts chemistry, education, computer science and with me since sixth grade.” business, he noted. “For 30 years, jazz en- “I would consider the Jazz Workshop Or- sembles were the only things taught here,” chestra to be one large family,” proclaimed he said. “But the people at this school take it double bassist Gabe Rupe. “The people I’m upon themselves to form jazz combos and r&b making music with are the people that I’m get- and hip-hop groups. The scene in Eau Claire is ting lunch with, too, regardless of grade.” alive, because it’s hugely infused by students “Gabe’s been with the program since ninth playing at different places in town.” grade and has done amazing things, including Students can take a the Vail Jazz Workshop,” Hammond beamed.

course as part of the curriculum, and several One of this year’s high school winners, AM Jazz Band I at members of the music staff are excellent jazz Jazz Ensemble at Rio Americano High School Folsom High School players and educators, Pietrzak said. in Sacramento, California, also has students of Given the shorter-term nature of commu- various ages collaborating on the bandstand. “Nick is a super-supportive player and also nity college, saxophonist Josias Miguel of the “Right now it’s exactly half seniors, a couple really grounded both musically and personali- MiraCosta Oceanside Jazz Orchestra (MOJO) of freshman and sophomores and a lot of ju- ty-wise, which is especially important in a band at MiraCosta College in Southern California, niors,” said Josh Murray, band director for the setting,” McElman observed of his bandmate. confirmed that the group experiences period- AM Jazz Ensemble. “We have three levels of “He’s also very insanely talented as a writer.” ic shifts in personnel. “We get new members jazz band. Anyone who rises up is pretty good.” “Duncan brings a lot of energy to the mu- almost every semester because people have AM Jazz Ensemble pianist Nick Augusta sic,” Augusta reflected. “He’s really passionate class conflicts or are transferring out” to four- and baritone saxophonist Duncan McElman about what he plays and is very dedicated.” year colleges and universities, he said. were both recognized as Outstanding Solo- This year’s other winner at the high school Steve Torok, who directs MOJO and ists at this year’s High School level is Jazz Band I at Folsom High School in serves as the chair of the music department Competition, which took place in New York. Folsom, California. The ensemble is led by the at MiraCosta, established goals for the group. “Duncan is the kind of musician that every school’s music director, Curtis Gaesser, who “The way it works is that [Torok] sets a theme, teacher loves to have,” Murray said. was the recipient of a 2007 DownBeat Jazz Ed- and we work around it,” Miguel explained. “It Augusta was a trumpeter when he first ucation Achievement Award. Jazz Band I has was Latin this semester, so we pulled out mu- auditioned but switched to fill a vacant piano been a winner in the Large Jazz Ensemble cat- sic that has Latin themes or rhythms. And at chair. “Now he’s our best pianist,” Murray said. egory every year since 2014. —Yoshi Kato

106 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2017 JUNE 2017 DOWNBEAT 107 BTWHSPVA Jazz Singers, Booker T. Washington HSPVA,

Steve Torok Oceanside, CA

Community College Outstanding Performance

Jazz Ensemble Riverside City College Charlie Richard Riverside, CA

Undergraduate College Winner

Jazz Ensemble I University of Wisconsin–Eau The Standard Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Claire Kansas City Kansas Community College Robert Baca Eau Claire, WI Jazz Ensemble I The University of Kansas Undergraduate College Dan Gailey Outstanding Performance Lawrence, KS Get Jazz Orchestra Vocal Jazz Soloist Senzoku Gakuen College of Music Yoshihiko Katori Kanagawa, Japan Junior High School Winner

Graduate College Winner Brooke Lambert Eckstein Middle School UNC Jazz Lab Band I Moc Escobedo Seattle, WA University of Northern Colorado Dana Landry Greeley, CO Junior High School Outstanding Performance Graduate College Outstanding Performances Tessa Korver Eckstein Middle School Jazz Orchestra Moc Escobedo Western Michigan University Seattle, WA Dr. Scott Cowan Kalamazoo, MI High School Winner

Eastman New Jazz Ensemble Emma Hedrick Eastman School of Music Carmel High School Dave Rivello Michael Pote Rochester, NY Carmel, IN

108 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2017 Kendra Wheeler, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis

High School Outstanding Performance

Anson Jones Groton School David Lopato New York, NY

Performing Arts High School Winner

Rachel Webb Booker T. Washington HSPVA Kent Ellingson Dallas, TX

Performing Arts High School Outstanding Performance

Kaprice Maxwell High School of the Arts Raymond Roberts Milwaukee, WI

Undergraduate College Winner

Kaitlyn Williams Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Jeremy Fox Bloomington, IN

Undergraduate College Outstanding Performances

Lia Booth California State University, Long Beach Bob Cole Conservatory of Music Christine Helferich Guter Long Beach, CA

Peter Vode New England Conservatory Dominique Eade Boston, MA

Graduate College Winner

Jaime Van Der Sluys California State University, Long Beach Bob Cole Conservatory of Music Christine Helferich Guter Long Beach, CA

JUNE 2017 DOWNBEAT 109 Loren Battley, California State University, Long Beach, California

Graduate College Outstanding Performances

Eliza Dickson University of Adelaide Elder Conservatorium of Music Lauren Henderson Adelaide, Australia

Monica Pabelonio New England Conservatory Dominique Eade Boston, MA

Small Vocal Jazz Group

High School Winner

Midnight Voices Rochelle Township High School Cory Jones Rochelle, IL

High School Outstanding Performance

Cary-Grove Jazz Choir Cary-Grove High School Patrick Whalen Cary, IL

Performing Arts High School Outstanding Performance

OCSA Vault Combo Orange County School of the Arts Dan St. Marseille and Charles Wackerman Santa Ana, CA

Honors Ensemble Outstanding Performance

The New Standard Student-Led Ensemble Various North Carolina High Schools

Community College Winner

Jazz-ology Contra Costa College Dr. Stephanie Austin San Pablo, CA

110 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2017 Tempus Fugit, Ann Arbor Community High School, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Undergraduate College Junior High School Winners Outstanding Performance

Vocal Jazz Ensemble Vocal Jazz I American River College Eckstein Middle School Dr. Art Lapierre Moc Escobedo Sacramento, CA Seattle, WA Outstanding Soloists: Vox Now Brooke Lambert and Tessa Korver Sacramento State University on “Mr. PC” Gaw Vang Williams Sacramento, CA High School Winners

Undergraduate College Jazz Choir I Outstanding Performances Folsom High School Curtis Gaesser Improvisation Ensemble Folsom, CA (Reggie Workman) The New School for Jazz and Two ’n’ Four Contemporary Music Valencia High School Keller Coker Christine Tavares-Mocha New York, NY Valencia, CA

Vocal Jazz Messengers High School Outstanding University of Denver Lamont School of Music Performance Donna Wickham Denver, CO Take One Niles North High School Daniel Gregerman Graduate College Skokie, IL Outstanding Performances Performing Arts Anna Jalkéus Group University of North Texas High School Winner Rosana Eckert Denton, TX BTWHSPVA Jazz Singers Booker T. Washington HSPVA C-Sus Voices Kent Ellingson Dallas, TX Sacramento State University Gaw Vang Williams Sacramento, CA Honors Ensemble Winners

2016 Iowa All-State Large Vocal Jazz Jazz Choir Ensemble Duane Shields Davis, Guest Conductor Junior High School Winner Various Iowa High Schools Missouri All-State Vocal Jazz Choir Jazz Ensemble Sinaloa Middle School Christine Helferich Guter, Jason Eckl Guest Conductor Novato, CA California State University,

JUNE 2017 DOWNBEAT 111 Long Beach Wallace Long Bob Cole Conservatory of Music Salem, OR Long Beach, CA Undergraduate College Honors Ensemble Outstanding Performances Outstanding Performance Advanced Vocal Jazz Vocal Jazz I Ensemble Illinois Berklee College of Music Association District 9 Ned Rosenblatt Jim McCullough, Boston, MA Guest Conductor Algonquin, IL OneVoice Millikin University Quincy Avenue Rhythm Band, Kent Denver School, Englewood, Colorado Community College Winner Steve Widenhofer Decatur, IL Outstanding Soloist: Jacobs School of Music Singcopation James Richardson on “Um Filme” Jeremy Fox Mt. San Antonio College Graduate College Winner Bloomington, IN Bruce Rogers Pacific Standard Time Walnut, CA Northern Colorado Voices California State University, Long University of Northern Colorado Beach Blues/Pop/Rock Soloist Community College Kerry Marsh Bob Cole Conservatory of Music Greeley, CO Christine Helferich Guter Junior High School Winner Outstanding Performance Long Beach, CA Graduate College Easton Christiansen The Standard Vocal Jazz Outstanding Performances Vocal Lab Guitar Ensemble University of Northern Colorado Mountain Ridge Junior High Kansas City Kansas Kerry Marsh Richard Bateman Community College Frost Extensions Greeley, CO John Stafford II University of Miami Highland, UT Kansas City, KS Frost School of Music Graduate College Kate Reid Junior High School Coral Gables, FL Outstanding Soloist Undergraduate Outstanding Performance College Winner Gold Company Elena Escudero on Western Michigan University “Spokane Shuffle” Tessa Korver Willamette Singers Gregory Jasperse IUnison Vocalist Willamette University Kalamazoo, MI Indiana University Eckstein Middle School

112 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2017 JUNE 2017 DOWNBEAT 113 CARLIN MA PHOTOGRAPHY

Brooke Lambert Rachel Webb Jaime Van Der Sluys DRAWN TO JAZZ NOT EVERY ASPIRING MUSICIAN GROWS start seriously studying it until my senior year.” up surrounded by jazz. Indeed, for some, the Webb spent the summer listening path to discovering jazz can be indirect. to recordings by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, This year’s Vocal Jazz Soloist winner at the Lalah Hathaway and before she junior high level, Brooke Lambert from Eck- dove into improvising. She said that in the fall stein Middle School in Seattle, has been play- she initially felt nervous trying to scat, but by ing classical flute since third grade. “Singing spring she was completely at ease with the art. has always been of interest to me,” said the The winner at the undergraduate college eighth grader. “And sixth grade was my intro- level, Kaitlyn Williams, enrolled in Indiana Uni- duction to both singing and jazz.” versity’s Jacobs School of Music as a classical Lambert plays in her school’s concert band voice major but then switched to jazz her ju- and jazz band. She is also a member of the nior year. “I really enjoyed singing classically Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra. She said for the challenge it is vocally,” she said. “It’s she enjoys the freedom of improvising—“writ- incredibly difficult—like working out, really. ing my own music on the spot”—and that her “But I didn’t love it, and I didn’t listen to classical training gave her a good instrumen- classical recordings outside of class,” she ex- Kaitlyn Williams tal foundation for her jazz pursuits. plained. “Jazz, on the other hand, I was seek- Lambert moves easily between worlds. ing out.” her high school jazz band in Snellville, Georgia, At one of her band’s , she said, she In addition to composing, Williams also from her sophomore to senior years. She then might be a flutist for the first three numbers enjoys arranging material from a variety of earned a bachelor’s degree in jazz vocal per- and a vocalist for the final three songs. “It’s a styles. One of Williams’ Student Music Award formance from the University of North Texas. pretty natural switch,” she said. “And the two submissions was a piece she had performed Next, she enrolled in a master’s program at the really complement each other.” for her senior recital; it was composed by con- Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California Rachel Webb, the performing arts high temporary Brazilian singer- Djavan. State University, Long Beach, after meeting school winner, spent only one year in the vocal As a classical vocalist, Williams had long Christine Helferich Guter, her future faculty jazz ensemble at Booker T. Washington High been comfortable singing in multiple languag- advisor, in Dallas. School for the Performing and Visual Arts in es, including Italian, German and French. But When submitting recordings from her Dallas. But she excelled and progressed quick- she was a little unsure about her pronuncia- graduate recital, Van Der Sluys explained that ly. Webb is currently studying musical theater tion of the Portuguese lyrics in Djavan’s song. she aimed not only for “songs that best repre- at Texas State University in San Marcos. So she consulted with a classical voice major sented me and my voice” but also her aesthet- “I can’t think of anybody else who had who hails from the same region of northeast- ic. She wrote all her own arrangements: “That that kind of [rapid] success,” said Kent Elling- ern Brazil as Djavan. By the time of the recital, was important for me, too,” she said. son, the Booker T. Washington music teacher Williams’ colleague was impressed that she A member of the school’s vocal ensemble in charge of jazz singing as well as AP music had successfully adopted the pronunciation Pacific Standard Time, she enjoys performing theory and . and phrasing of a native Brazilian from that with current music students as well as accom- “I’ve always been in love with the sound region. plished alumni who have remained in South- of jazz,” Webb said. “My mom used to play Jaime Van Der Sluys, this year’s winner at ern California following graduation. George Benson songs at home. But I didn’t the graduate college level, was a vocalist in —Yoshi Kato

114 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2017

Moc Escobedo Seattle, WA

High School Winner

Anson Jones Vocalist Groton School Greg Dayton Boston, MA Performing Arts High School Winner Pepe Valdez Quintet, University of Charisma Carson North Texas, Denton, Texas Vocalist Joseph Genualdi, Lawrence Saxophone University, Appleton, Wisconsin Milwaukee High School Undergraduate College University of Kentucky of the Arts Outstanding Performances Miles Osland University of Massachusetts at Raymond Roberts Lexington, KY Amherst Milwaukee, WI Jonathan Barrett Jeffrey W. Holmes Saxophone Loren Battley Amherst, MA Undergraduate University of Kentucky Vocalist College Winners Miles Osland Dann Friedman Lexington, KY California State University, Long Tenor Saxophone Beach Hao Jia Sun Bob Cole Conservatory University of Massachusetts at Guitar Sarah Burkhart Amherst Vocalist of Music Musicians Institute Christine Helferich Guter Jeffrey W. Holmes Cornish College of the Arts Lyman Medeiros Long Beach, CA Amherst, MA Hollywood, CA Johnaye Kendrick Seattle, WA Graduate College Mike Caudill Victor Johnson EWI and Tenor Saxophone Outstanding Performances Electric Bass Guitar Graduate College Winners University of Massachusetts at Lee University Amherst Dr. José Valentino Ruiz Ian Cruz Christian Tremblay Jeffrey W. Holmes , TN EWI and Soprano Piano/Keyboards Amherst, MA

116 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2017 Thelonious Monk Institute National Performing Arts High School All-Star Peer-to-Peer Jazz Quintet, Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, Los Angeles

Blues/Pop/Rock Group Undergraduate College Winner High School Winner Lushh Cary-Grove Jazz Combo Western Michigan University Cary-Grove High School Keith Hall Patrick Whalen Kalamazoo, MI Cary, IL Unergraduate College High School Outstanding Outstanding Performance Performances Prussia Midnight Voices Musicians Institute Rochelle Township High School Lyman Medeiros Cory Jones Hollywood, CA Rochelle, IL Graduate College Winner Modern Music Ensemble St. George’s Independent Jazz Ensemble I School University of Massachusetts at Tom Link Amherst Memphis, TN Jeffrey W. Holmes Amherst, MA Quincy Avenue Rhythm Band Graduate College Kent Denver School Outstanding Performances Steve Holley Englewood, CO Frost Fusion Ensemble University of Miami Honors Ensemble Winners Frost School of Music Steve Rucker Jukebox Antihero Coral Gables, FL Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse Evan Wharton Gymnoped Salt Lake City, UT University of Toronto Nick Fraser The Inevitables Toronto, Ontario Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse Canada Evan Wharton Salt Lake City, UT Latin Group Honors Ensemble Outstanding Performances Honors Ensemble Outstanding Performances Kingston Winter Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse Caliente Evan Wharton Diaz Music Institute Salt Lake City, UT José Antonio Diaz Houston, TX Soundhouse Soul Project Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse La Onda Caribena Caleb Chapman and Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse Evan Wharton Caleb Chapman Salt Lake City, UT Salt Lake City, UT

JUNE 2017 DOWNBEAT 117 Blues/Pop/Rock Group ©HANNAH TRUCKENBROD PHOTOGRAPHY

Jukebox Antihero Lushh Cary-Grove Jazz Combo

lineups every year so the students get to play a wide range of music,” Wharton explained. “We review the recordings and pick the best ones

ERIC BERLIN to submit to DownBeat.” The winners at the undergraduate college and graduate college levels— Lushh at West- ern Michigan University in Kalamazoo and Jazz Ensemble I at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, respectively—also benefited from strong music department support. Lushh’s saxophonist, Eddie Codrington, cited strong encouragement from the music department as an impetus for the band to submit recordings to DownBeat for this year’s Jazz Ensemble I at UMASS Amherst competition. “I got together with Grayson Nye on key- boards, Andrew Saliba on guitar and effects, bassist Matt Epperson and drummer Madison FOSTERING A George two years ago,” Codrington recalled. “We all had classes together and we all had similar musical influences, like Kneebody, WINNING TEAM Donny McCaslin and Thundercat. Western en- courages bands to submit every year. There’s a IN THE WORDS OF THE INIMITABLE YOGI started working with [trumpeter] C.J. Olsen, fund to help pay for three to four hours of stu- Berra, for some educators and students in the we just bonded really well—musically for sure, dio time, and our professors were really proac- Blues/Pop/Rock Group category, “It’s déjà vu and outside the group as well. tive, reaching out to [encourage] us to enter.” all over again.” The Cary-Grove Jazz Combo “At Cary-Grove, every jazz combo records At the graduate college level, saxophonist from Cary-Grove High School in Cary, Illinois, each year at a local studio, which is a great ex- Mike Caudill of Jazz Ensemble I at UMass Am- was named a winner at the high school level perience. I think we played the best we could herst cited strong support and collaboration for the fourth year in a row. And among the at that session and really communicated mu- from the entire music department as essential honors ensemble competitors, two bands sically.” factors in the group’s winning submission. from Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse in Salt The two winners for honors ensembles— “The cool thing about the ensemble is that Lake City, , added to the list of dozens Jukebox Antihero and The Inevitables—con- there’s a lot of flexibility in instrumentation,” of winners who have studied at Soundhouse tinued the winning tradition for Caleb Chap- Caudill said. “We often collaborate with other over the last decade. man’s Soundhouse. The two combos are departments to pull in musicians who play vio- According to Maddi Vogel, drummer for among the 20 different groups (made up lin and other string instruments. the Cary-Grove Jazz Combo, the continuity of of junior high and high school students) at “There’s also a lot of emphasis on keeping musicians in the group from year to year, plus Soundhouse. things fresh as far as what we play. For exam- the strong support of band director Patrick The members of Jukebox Antihero are ple, Professor Jeffrey Holmes, who directs the Whalen, have been crucial elements in the mostly junior high students, and The Inevita- ensemble, heard me fooling around on EWI ongoing success of the band. bles are high school students. [electric wind instrument] and encouraged me “I didn’t start playing jazz until my soph- “Jukebox Antihero plays a classic rock rep- to incorporate it into what we were doing. omore year,” Vogel said. “That’s when I tried ertoire,” said Evan Wharton, who has super- “We came up with a really crossover fusion out for the jazz combo and became part of vised bands at the Soundhouse for the past sound, and it was good stuff that we really had the group. [Bassist] Devin Sova, [guitarist] six years. “The Inevitables take contemporary fun playing. We ended up with enough good Josh LaSota and I had already been playing tunes and put a vintage jazz spin on them. material to record for a submission.” together quite a bit already. And when we “All our groups record, and we reset the —Terry Perkins

118 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2017 JUNE 2017 DOWNBEAT 119 Mike Conrad, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colorado

Undergraduate College Winner

UMASS Vocal Jazz Ensemble University of Massachusetts at Amherst Catherine Jensen-Hole Amherst, MA

Undergraduate College Outstanding Performance

Improvisation Ensemble (David Schnitter) The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music Keller Coker New York, NY

Graduate College Winners

Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra Manhattan School of Music Bobby Sanabria New York, NY

Christian Valdes Sextet University of North Texas José Aponte Denton, TX

Pepe Valdez Quintet University of North Texas Fred Hamilton Denton, TX

Graduate College Outstanding Performances

Frost Salsa Orchestra University of Miami Frost School of Music Alberto De La Reguera Coral Gables, FL

Mixcla + 1 Berklee College of Music Oscar Stagnaro Boston, MA

Original Composition – Small Ensemble

High School Winner

Alec Schulman, “Distant Sands” Crossroads School

120 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2017 Frost Salsa Orchestra, Frost School of Music, Coral Gables, Florida

Evan Avery Gary Keller Santa Monica, CA Coral Gables, FL

High School Outstanding Adam Hersh, “Blistering” California State University, Compositions Northridge Matt Harris Vincent Le, “Acacia” Northridge, CA Harvard-Westlake School Shawn Costantino Undergraduate College Studio City, CA Outstanding Compositions Kate Williams, “Disguise the Limit” Connor Evans, Vanden High School “Thoroughly a Rusted Life” Nicholas Cagle Indiana University Fairfield, CA Jacobs School of Music Dave Stryker Performing Arts Bloomington, IN High School Winner Michael Orenstein, “Slow Coffee” Luca Mendoza, “Synergy” Oberlin Conservatory Colburn Community School of Dan Wall Performing Arts Oberlin, OH Lee Secard Los Angeles, CA Graduate College Winners

Performing Arts High School Juan Daniel Chaves Pinilla, Outstanding Compositions “Not Even a Portrait” Texas Christian University Evan Abounassar, Blaise Ferrandino “Enigma” Ft. Worth, TX Colburn Community School of Performing Arts Lucas Apostoleris, Lee Secard “Approximate Proximity” Los Angeles, CA University of Miami Frost School of Music Jordan Reifkind, Gary Lindsay “Dualism” Coral Gables, FL Colburn Community School of Performing Arts Graduate College Lee Secard Outstanding Compositions Los Angeles, CA Michael Spicer, “Calico” Undergraduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas Winners Nathan Tanouye Las Vegas, NV Adam Claussen, “All Bets Are Off” Theresa Chen, “The Song University of Miami of Taibalang” Frost School of Music Eastman School of Music

JUNE 2017 DOWNBEAT 121 Pascal Uebelhart Kate Williams George Darrah CREATIVITY IN COMMON THE WINNING SUBMISSIONS IN THIS chose ‘Israel’ because I love the melody, and year’s Jazz Arrangement category includ- I decided to use polytonal chords in my ar- ed the reinvention of jazz standards as well rangement.”

as recent compositions, and were written for Uebelhart arranged “New Swing,” a com- SIMON BURRI small combos, mid-size ensembles and big position by bassist Morten Ramsbøl, for an bands. ensemble patterned after the original instru- The common demominator in these di- mentation used on Birth Of The Cool, which in- verse arrangements was the creativity that cluded French horn. “I had never arranged for these young musicians brought to their that instrument before,” Uebelhart explained, work. But there are several other interesting “so I really wanted to make sure I gave that parallels among the winners. part room and attention.” For example, Demian Coca Guzman, the Kate Williams, a trumpeter at Vanden High winner at the undergraduate college level, School in Fairfield, California, used a Davis and Pascal Uebelhart, the graduate college composition, “Milestones,” for her winning ar- winner for small ensemble, both study at rangement. “Kate actually wrote that arrange- Demian Coca Guzman Hochschule Luzern in Lucerne, Switzerland. ment for the SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Guzman, who was born and raised in Bo- Combo, an eight-piece band she’s been in for Rafael Piccolotto de Lima came to the Unit- livia, chose Hochschule Luzern because he two years,” said Nicholas Cagle, band director ed States from his native Brazil to study com- was able to take courses in both composition at Vanden High. “What’s impressive is that she position and arranging as well as production and arranging starting in his first year with can arrange for a variety of ability levels. She’s and recording. He enrolled in the Frost School faculty member Ed Partyka. “I knew [Partyka] a trumpet player, so arranging trumpet tunes of Music at the University of Miami, and over was a renowned teacher of jazz composition was where she started. But in her arranging, the past four years he’s won Student Music and arrangement,” Demian said, “and it was she treats all instruments with respect.” Awards for both studio recording and arrange- great I could start right away.” Uebelhart George Darrah, the graduate college win- ments. earned his bachelor’s degree at Luzern in ner for studio orchestra, arranged “Too Close The graduate college winner for big band, 2014, then studied for a year at the University For Comfort” for the Eastman School of Mu- de Lima collaborated with vibraphonist Errol of Music and Performing Arts in Graz, Austria, sic’s Studio Orchestra (at the University of Rackipov to craft an arrangement of Racki- where Partyka also teaches, before returning Rochester in western New York state). pov’s composition “Jumble.” to Luzern to work on his master’s degree. “Eastman has a group modeled after the “I really like to collaborate with other mu- These two musicians have another con- Metropole Orchestra as far as instrumenta- sicians,” de Lima said. “The [Frost] Concert nection: ’ classic Birth Of tion,” Darrah explained. “It gave me my first Jazz Band invited me to write an arrangement The Cool. Guzman’s winning submission was chance to arrange a great standard for a big for them, and I thought ‘Jumble’ had a very his arrangement of the John Carisi composi- band with a string section. And since it was unique flavor. In my arrangement, I tried to tion “Israel, ” which Davis recorded in 1949. going to be an instrumental arrangement and show off the strongest elements in the piece “In to apply for my master’s, I had was a piece with no verse, I knew I could be as well as imprint my personality. We were to write an arrangement for trumpet, alto and flexible with writing the introduction. There all very happy with the result, and decided to tenor sax, trombone, piano, bass and drums was a lot of potential to put my own signature send in a recording. It’s definitely an honor to based on a ,” Guzman said. “I on it.” receive the award.” —Terry Perkins

122 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2017 JUNE 2017 DOWNBEAT 123 Frost Fusion Ensemble, Frost School of Music, Coral Gables, Florida

Harold Danko Rochester, NY

Original Composition – Large Ensemble

High School Outstanding Composition

Luca Mendoza, “Hope Is a Thing with Feathers” Crossroads School Evan Avery Santa Monica, CA

Undergraduate College Winner

Matt Wong, “Golden Fields” Manhattan School of Music Jim McNeely New York, NY

Ian Cruz, University of Kentucky, Undergraduate College Outstanding Lexington, Kentucky Compositions

Joseph Genualdi, “Treelight” The University of Kansas Lawrence University Dan Gailey Patricia Darling Lawrence, KS Appleton, WI Emiliano Sampaio, “De Norte a Sul” Demian Coca Guzman, “Italaque” University of Music and Hochschule Luzern Performing Arts, Graz Ed Partyka Ed Partyka Luzern, Switzerland Graz, Austria

Graduate College Winner Mike Conrad, “Union” University of Northern Colorado Claudia Döffinger, “White Note David Caffey Greeley, CO Exorcist” University of Music and Performing Arts, Graz Ed Partyka Jazz Arrangement Graz, Austria

Graduate College Outstanding High School Winner Compositions Kate Williams, “Milestones” Vanden High School Brock Chart, “Down Nicholas Cagle to the Wire” Fairfield, CA

124 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2017 OneVoice, Millikin University, Decatur, Illinois Pacific Standard Time, California State University, Long Beach, California

Community College Undergraduate College Graduate College Frost School of Music Outstanding Arrangement Outstanding Arrangement Outstanding Arrangement Gary Lindsay Coral Gables, FL Studio Orchestra Andrew Valenzuela, “On Gregory Santa Croce, Graduate College Green Dolphin Street” “Dance of the Infidels” Jon Rarick, “Portrait Riverside City College University of North Texas of Jennie” Outstanding Arrangements Charlie Richard Richard DeRosa Eastman School of Music Big Band Riverside, CA Denton, TX Bill Dobbins Rochester, NY Gaia Wilmer, “Sete Anéis” Undergraduate College Graduate College Winner New England Conservatory Winner Studio Orchestra Graduate College Winner Ken Schaphorst Boston, MA Demian Coca Guzman, George Darrah, “Too Close Big Band “Israel” for Comfort” Lucas Apostoleris, Hochschule Luzern Eastman School of Music Rafael Piccolotto de Lima, “Passport” Ed Partyka Bill Dobbins “Jumble” University of Miami Luzern, Switzerland Rochester, NY University of Miami Frost School of Music

JUNE 2017 DOWNBEAT 125 Clarence Acox Garfield High School, Seattle Washington THE MAGIC TOUCH IN THE SPRING OF 1971, WHEN CLARENCE and Dave Barduhn have kept jazz in the spot- Acox was about to graduate from Southern light. They have also passed the torch so that University with a music education degree, his today, third-generation teachers at suburban band director advised him to accept a surprise schools such as Edmonds-Woodway, Mount Si job offer from Seattle. and Mountlake Terrace are vying for honors at “Seattle?” responded Acox, who had Essentially Ellington this year. grown up in New Orleans’ Upper Ninth Ward. “It’s competitive, but it’s friendly,” Acox “I’m not going to Seattle. That’s like the last says of his colleagues. “We share information,

frontier.” MATT LAWRENCE PHOTOGRAPHY arrangements. When we go to New York to As pretty much everyone in jazz education perform, Seattle kids cheer the loudest for us.” knows by now, Acox—this year’s DownBeat Regional pride is nowhere more evident Jazz Education Hall of Fame inductee and than at Hot Java, , an annual con- recipient of a 2001 DownBeat Jazz Education cert sponsored by Seattle-based coffee giant Achievement Award—took the job. Since his Starbucks that presents five high school bands first day 46 years ago at Garfield High School, and consistently sells out at the Paramount Acox has led students to four first-place vic- Theatre. tories at the Essentially Ellington High School “Seattle has always been a good arts Jazz Band Competition & Festival, eight town,” Acox observes. “People here have em- all-festival sweepstakes at the Lionel braced jazz education.” Hampton Jazz Festival and 12 European tours. That embrace extends beyond the school- As Rosselle Pekelis, one of the Garfield yard with Seattle JazzED, which Acox co-found- band’s past booster club parents, once put it, ed seven years ago to offer jazz opportunities “He’s got the magic touch.” to kids who for various reasons don’t make it Clarence Acox Though Quincy Jones, Ernestine Ander- into the school stream. son and Jimi Hendrix count Garfield as their club in 1990 to take advantage of an invitation “There are a lot of kids in Seattle who can alma mater, back in 1971, things did not look to perform at the . Acox play, but who can’t get into Garfield or Roos- good there for jazz—or much of anything else, typically deflects attention from himself to evelt because they don’t live in the attendance for that matter. Seattle had taken a huge hit others, but there’s no getting around the fact area or they weren’t involved in the right pro- when its then-primary employer, Boeing, shut that his teaching skill is the main ingredient in gram,” Acox says. down the controversial SST (supersonic jet) Garfield’s recipe. Acox also co-directs the Seattle Reperto- project. The real estate market had collapsed “When he talked about Basie,” says Gay- ry Jazz Orchestra, which he co-founded with and morale in schools was low. ton, “he would point out the details of swing saxophonist Michael Brockman in 1995, and “I was recruited here to reorganize the and dynamics and tone production.” A strong plays in the Legacy Quartet, which celebrates band program,” explained Acox, a friend- disciplinarian, Acox also “knew when to take a Seattle’s jazz heritage. Back in the day, he was ly bear of a man with a New Orleans accent break and have us just listen to stuff. He’d play also highly respected for his funk drumming in and a deep, commanding voice. “The princi- cassettes and we’d have these heated discus- local group Elbowed Out. (His main squeeze is pal saw my marching band [from Southern sions.” Basie, but don’t be dissing Earth, Wind & Fire University]—we were playing for the Super Over the years, Garfield has sent swinging when he’s around.) Acox also finds time to Bowl—and he said, ‘That’s what I want. I want alumnae out into the world, including flutist teach at band directors’ institutes, including to start a band like that.’ He was trying to fig- and pianist Anne Drummond, who has record- the one presented by Jazz at Lincoln Center, ure out ways to bring back school spirit.” ed with and taught at The New and judge competitions around the country. Acox revived that spirit by focusing on School and Manhattan School of Music; trum- Technically, Acox, who turns 70 in Octo- marching band and a funk-infused pep com- peters Tatum Greenblatt (Mingus Big Band, ber, retired 12 years ago, but the parents keep bo that then-student Clark Gayton recalls was Richard Bona) and Owuor Arunga (Mackle- bringing him back to lead the jazz band. He a livelier draw to basketball games than the more & Ryan Lewis); and the Marriotts’ sons says he intends to keep coming back “until team. Gayton, now a busy New York freelanc- Thomas (trumpet) and David Jr. (trombone), they throw me out.” er (Mingus Big Band, Count Basie Orchestra, mainstays on the Seattle scene. As Garfield’s That seems unlikely, though he does hope Bruce Springsteen), got the ball rolling for jazz reputation spread in the early 2000s along someone like saxophonist Jacob Zimmerman, when he and students started gather- with that of Seattle’s Roosevelt High School, a former student who teaches one of the Gar- ing in the band room at 7 a.m., before school folks started asking if there was “something field ensembles, will keep the fires burning started. Acox and the principal formalized the in the water” in the Northwest. But there’s no when Acox makes his exit. In the meantime, he group as a jazz band class in 1979. magical additive, just a long history of great continues to school young players in the intri- Acox says jazz band never would have tak- teachers. Waldo King started the first jazz cacies of swing and to keep spirits high, as he en off without supportive parents like David band at Garfield in 1960, and other strong ed- was hired to do more than four decades ago. and Helen Marriott, who organized a booster ucators such as Hal Sherman, John Moawad —Paul de Barros

126 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2017

Gary Lindsay Coral Gables, FL

Graduate College Winner Small Ensemble

Pascal Uebelhart, “New Swing” Hochschule Luzern Ed Partyka Luzern, Switzerland

Graduate College Outstanding Arrangements Small Ensemble

Joshua Hettwer, “#ILY” University of Oregon Steve Owen Prussia, Musicians Institute, Los Angeles Eugene, OR Community College Michael Caudill, “Scarborough Fair” Outstanding Live Recording University of Massachusetts at Amherst Jordan Lankhorst Jeffrey W. Holmes Kansas City Kansas Community College Amherst, MA John Stafford II Kansas City, KS Engineered Live Recording Graduate College Performing Arts High School Winner Outstanding Live Recording

Levi Post Kendra Wheeler Tucson Jazz Institute University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Doug Tidaback Preston Duncan Tucson, AZ Minneapolis, MN

128 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2017 Take One, Niles North High School, Skokie, Illinois

Engineered Studio Recording

High School Winner

Ryan Williams Walker Valley High School Dr. José Valentino Ruiz Cleveland, TN

Undergraduate College Winner

Colton Sparks University of Denver Lamont School of Music Michael Schulze Denver, CO

Undergraduate College Outstanding Studio Recording

Jay Newsome II Lee University Dr. José Valentino Ruiz Cleveland, TN

Graduate College Winner

Rafael Piccolotto de Lima University of Miami Frost School of Music Gary Lindsay Coral Gables, FL

Graduate College Outstanding Studio Recording

Veronika Griesslehner University of Music and Performing Arts, Graz Dena DeRose Graz, Austria

JUNE 2017 DOWNBEAT 129 Paul Contos Education Director, , Monterey, California WITNESSING HIS OWN LEGACY he directs jazz ensembles and teaches cours- es at the University of California–Davis, Santa Clara University and American River College. “We’ve actually judged some jazz festivals together,” Contos marveled.

MASAKI SHINOHARA Pianist Eddie Mendenhall was another band member in Monterey back when Con- tos was first starting. His daughter, bassist and 2015 Student Music Award winner Kanoa Mendenhall, is an alumnus of the SFJAZZ High School All-Stars and the Vail Jazz Institute. She is currently studying at Columbia University as part of a Columbia-Juilliard exchange program. “Paul’s approach is disarmingly gentle and understated, with a genuine ability to bring out the best in his students,” wrote Rebeca Mauleón, SFJAZZ director of education, in an email. “Over the years and through the many iterations of the SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Big Band, Paul has consistently found the se- Paul Contos cret recipe for working with high school musi- THE LIST OF MUSIC STUDENTS WHOSE cians in a way that simultaneously puts them lives have been affected by saxophonist and at ease while encouraging them to excel. educator Paul Contos is lengthy and diverse. “Never one to badger or berate, his magic A leader of the Monterey Jazz Festival’s (MJF) as a director is in finding a true synergy with various jazz education programs since those his students,” she continued. “They absolutely efforts were launched in 1984, the lifelong love and trust him and know that if they don’t Northern California resident currently serves come prepared to give their all, it is ultimately as the festival’s education director. In 2009, Paul’s disappointment that will motivate them he was named director of the SFJAZZ High to rise to the occasion.” School All-Stars. When Contos was a high school student The MJF’s annual Next Generation Jazz on the San Francisco Peninsula, playing in Orchestra (NGJO), which Contos directs, has jazz band was for musicians like making the generated famous alumni, including trum- football team was for many athletes. “One of peter , tenor saxophon- the coolest things was to be in the jazz band,” ists Donny McCaslin (Contos’ one-time private Contos reflected. “That’s why I’m such a big student) and and pianists proponent of music in public schools: I was Patrice Rushen and Benny Green. fortunate enough to be around some good Contos, who wears many hats, also serves programs. We had a wonderful director who as a lecturer at the University of California– was inspirational and informative. And if I look Santa Cruz and directs the MJF High School back, I realize he really allowed us the band- All-Star Band. width for creativity.” “Some of the students I have worked with The MJF NGJO takes an annual trip to Ja- are teaching now,” Contos said by phone prior pan. It’s a voyage that Contos has taken nearly to one of his student band’s rehearsals. “And 20 times. The SFJAZZ High School All-Star Big we’re starting to see the children of the peo- Band, in turn, competed in and won at the 9th ple who have been through various aspects of Annual Charles Mingus High School Competi- my programs.” tion in New York this February. Surveying his illustrious career in jazz edu- “One of the main goals in taking students cation, the San Francisco native recalls two ex- on tour is so they can experience what it’s like amples where he was able to witness his own to be a pro on the road,” he said. “You have to legacy. Trombonist Sam Griffith was one of learn how to sleep on a bus and be ready to hit Contos’ students in Monterey and now holds a sound-check and then make that lobby call a doctor of musical arts degree in jazz studies; at the hotel.” —Yoshi Kato

130 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2017 JUNE 2017 DOWNBEAT 131 Howard Stone Vail Jazz Workshop, Vail, Colorado OUTREACH YIELDS REWARDS IN VAIL WHEN HOWARD STONE HEARD DOWNBEAT Howard Stone DownBeat would like was giving him a 2017 Jazz Education Achievement Award, he said, “I’m deeply hon- to thank our world-class ored, but I have to be very honest. This is an adjudicators for making the award that really should go to the educators.” Stone is the founder of the Vail Jazz Work- 40th Annual Student shop and founder and artistic director of the Music Awards Vail Jazz Festival. His deference isn’t surpris- a success. ing: This is the first time the award has gone to a non-educator. But when you look at what Stone has accomplished the past 23 years, the honor makes perfect sense. “Being the selfless person that he is,” Vail Jim Anderson workshop director John Clayton said of Stone, “he asks himself, ‘How can I make a differ- Darcy James Argue ence?’ He’s that kind of person.” Janice Borla Stone started the Vail Jazz Festival in 1995 after retiring from a career as a real estate at- 14 hours a day of composing, practicing and Don Braden torney in Los Angeles. A lifelong jazz fan, child- rehearsing. The workshop culminates in a per- .IJJ'SJ½R hood sax player and skier, he was inspired by formance by each sextet at the Vail Jazz Festi- attending Dick Gibson’s Labor Day Weekend val, as well as opportunities to jam with former John Daversa jazz parties, which ended in 1992, the year alums and other professional musicians. Orbert Davis Stone moved to his second home in Vail. After The financial structure at Vail is also note- the first Vail Jazz Party, Stone said he “realized worthy. Every student gets a 50 percent schol- Les Hooper that this was what I was going to do with the arship, and larger subsidies are offered on a Fred Irby III rest of my life.” The second year, Stone asked needs basis. Vail reaches out to low-income bassist Clayton to add the workshop, which kids, drawing on nominations from inner-city Kevin Mahogany now boasts a roster of alumnae that includes band directors around the country. This ap- Bart Marantz pianist Robert Glasper, saxophonists Grace proach was informed by Stone’s experience Kelly and Tia Fuller, trumpeter Ambrose Akin- in Los Angeles, where he started a non-profit, Miles Osland musire, flutist Elena Pinderhughes and drum- Success Through the Arts, that helped South Bob Parsons mer Obed Calvaire. Central kids. He was also inspired by the late From the beginning, the Vail Jazz Work- David Abell, a piano store owner whose gen- Dave Rivello shop was distinctive. For starters, students use erosity toward L.A. musicians was legendary, Albert Rivera no written music over their 10 days of study. and by L.A. high school band director Fernan- “Music is sound,” Clayton said. “Too many do Pullum, who taught Stone that “you can John Santos students are learning the same kinds of theo- only help kids that can help themselves.” Gregory Tardy ry and doing the same kinds of reading and Stone’s outreach has paid off. To date, Vail the same kinds of exercises.” has trained more than 250 students from 27 Roger Treece Vail’s ratio of six teachers to 12 students is states and Canada, attracting as many as 140 Ryan Truesdell also unusual. Each year, the program accepts nominations each year for its 12 slots. two sextets—rhythm section and three horns Soon after starting the workshop, Stone James Warrick (saxophone, trumpet and trombone). The instituted another jazz education program, David Weiss staff has been remarkably consistent. Clay- Jazz Goes to School, which brings jazz history ton, pianist Bill Cunliffe and trumpeter Terell and basic participatory instruction to all 11 ele- Stafford have been teaching since day one. mentary schools in surrounding Eagle County. Drummer Lewis Nash succeeded Carl Allen 17 Summers, Vail also offers Jammin’ Jazz Kids. In years ago; Dick Oatts recently followed John’s toto, the programs reach more than 1,500 kids brother Jeff Clayton into the saxophone chair; annually. and Wycliffe Gordon brought trombone into Stone, 74, says he will probably pass the the mix six years ago. baton in a few years, though he will hang on Work days are long and intense. Before to his position as artistic director of the festival. they even meet their instructors, students “What a second act for my life,” he said. “I rehearse and perform a tune by way of in- never thought this was possible.” troducing themselves. After that, it’s 12 to —Paul de Barros

132 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2017 JUDGING CRITERIA

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 1) Overall sound 2) Presence or authority 3) Proper interpretation of idiom 4) Improvisation or creativity 5) Technique 6) Intonation 7) Phrasing 8) Dynamics 9) Accurate rhythm/time 10) Material

ENGINEERING CRITERIA 1) Perspective: balance of channels; amount and type of reverb; blend (Do all sounds seem to have been performed at the same time and place? Do solos seem natural or do they stick out?). 2) Levels: saturation or other overload, under modulation resulting in excessive hiss, consistency of levels, left/right balance, etc. 3) Transparency and apparent transient response. 4) Special effects: Are they appropriate? Do they add or detract? 5) Extraneous noises, clicks, hum, etc. (for a non- live performance, any non-musical sound). 6) Professional etiquette.

AWARDS & PRIZES Plaques are awarded to the music department of each winning middle school, high school and college. Certificates are awarded to each winner (or Outstanding Performance honoree) and to the director of ensembles.

JUDGES Jim Anderson: Recording engineer, producer; former chair of the Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music at New York University. Darcy James Argue: , arranger and bandleader. Janice Borla: Vocalist; Director of Vocal Jazz, North Central College; vocal jazz camp founder. Don Braden: Saxophonist, flutist, composer, arranger; Music Director, Litchfield Jazz Camp. : Saxophonist, bandleader, composer, educator/clinician. John Daversa: Chair, Department of Studio Music and Jazz, Frost School of Music, University of Miami. Orbert Davis: Emmy Award-winning trumpeter, composer, educator; co-founder, conductor of Chicago Jazz Philharmonic. Les Hooper: Composer, arranger for film, TV, commercials, orchestra and recordings; clinician. Fred Irby III: Howard University coordinator of Instrumental Music, trumpet instructor and Director of the Howard University Jazz Ensemble. Kevin Mahogany: Vocalist, owner and educator. Bart Marantz: Legendary jazz educator whose bands have won 245 DownBeat Student Music Awards. Miles Osland: Saxophonist; Director of Jazz Studies, University of Kentucky. Bob Parsons: Saxophonist, arranger and composer. Dave Rivello: Eastman School of Music Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media, and Director, New Jazz Ensemble. Albert Rivera: Saxophonist, composer, educator; Director of Operations, Litchfield Jazz Camp. John Santos: Percussionist, clinician, label owner; U.S. Artists Fontanals Fellow; writer/historian. Gregory Tardy: Recording artist, Assistant Professor of Jazz Saxophone, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Roger Treece: Arranger/composer, UNC Jazz Press author and educator. Ryan Truesdell: Bandleader, composer, arranger, trombonist, clinician. James Warrick: Educator/clinician, former Director of Jazz Studies at New Trier High School. David Weiss: Trumpeter, composer, arranger, leader of the New Jazz Octet, Endangered Species and The Cookers.

JUNE 2017 DOWNBEAT 133