92 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2018 The Best Student Musicians of 2018

JUNE 2018 DOWNBEAT 93 Zack Shubert of Carlmont High School in Belmont, California, is the recipient of two Student Music Award honors. See page 100. (Photo: Jeff Bartee) 41 Student Music Awards

Pacific Standard Time from California State University, Long Beach

THE DOWNBEAT STUDENT MUSIC AWARDS Achievement award. honor the achievements of today’s top student Christine Helferich Guter, director of the musicians and their teachers. The results of vocal jazz program at the Bob Cole 100 | this year’s 41st edition, presented in the fol- Conservatory of Music at California State JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL SOLOIST lowing pages, show jazz education to be in a University, Long Beach since 2002, instills a 104 | SMALL JAZZ COMBO vibrant state at every stage from junior high sense of artistic honesty in her students. Her to grad school. program has been honored with close to 30 108 | LARGE JAZZ ENSEMBLE Motivated students are digesting more Student Music Awards since 2006. information and playing at higher levels than Cuauhtémoc “Moc” Escobedo has direct- 112 | LARGE VOCAL JAZZ ENSEMBLE ever before, thanks in large part to the dedicat- ed jazz and concert bands at Seattle’s Eckstein ed educators who set them up for success and Middle School since 1994. He takes an all-in- 116 | BLUES/POP/ROCK SOLOIST the schools that provide them with a proper clusive approach to leading student jazz learning environment. And, as previous edi- ensembles, one that has garnered 15 Student 128 | DOWNBEAT JAZZ EDUCATION tions of the Student Music Awards have prov- Music Award honors over the years. HALL OF FAME: en time and again, these students are going on The highest teaching honor this year goes to DAVEY S. YARBOROUGH to do great things. Indeed, the future of jazz Davey S. Yarborough, whom we welcome into finds itself in good hands as this next genera- the DownBeat Jazz Education Hall of Fame. We 130 | DOWNBEAT JAZZ EDUCATION tion makes its way through the halls of aca- celebrate his 32-year tenure as jazz studies direc- ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: demia and begins to emerge on the scene. tor and saxophone instructor at Washington CHRISTINE HELFERICH GUTER As we bestow honors upon our most D.C.’s Duke Ellington School of the Arts, where promising students, it’s important to acknowl- he has become a role model of consistency and 132 | DOWNBEAT JAZZ EDUCATION edge the contributions of exemplary educa- quality to students who have traveled to per- ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: tors who have devoted their lives to preparing form at prestigious jazz festivals. CUAUHTÉMOC “MOC” ESCOBEDO students for real-world work as musicians and Congratulations to all of this year’s Student music business professionals. This year, we Music Award honorees. We hope you find 96 | DOWNBEAT STUDENT MUSIC are proud to honor two distinguished music their stories inspiring, and we bet you’ll be AWARDS–COMPLETE RESULTS teachers with DownBeat’s Jazz Education hearing a lot more from them in the future. DB

94 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2018 JUNE 2018 DOWNBEAT 95 41 Student Music Awards

BYU Synthesis Big Band from Brigham Young University, Orem, UT

JAZZ SOLOIST Zane Smith Pat Donaher Undergraduate Piano Lexington, MA College Winners Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse Junior High School Winners Caleb Chapman Performing Arts Luca Mendoza Salt Lake City, UT High School Winner Henry Acker Piano Guitar High School Winner Gabe Rupe University of Southern California Duxbury Middle School Bass Thornton School of Music Jill Norenberg Zack Shubert Alan Pasqua Colorado Conservatory Los Angeles, CA Duxbury, MA Piano of the Arts Brandon Goldberg Carlmont High School Eric Gunnison Caleb Smith Piano Peter Horvath Denver, CO Trombone Belmont, CA Miami Arts Charter School Performing Arts Oberlin Conservatory Paul Posnak High School Outstanding Robin Eubanks High School Outstanding Oberlin, OH Miami, FL Performances Performance Junior High School Undergraduate College Esteban Castro Summer Camargo Outstanding Performances Piano Trumpet Outstanding Performances Bergen County Academies Dillard Center for the Arts Dylan Buckser-Schulz Phillip Kawin Jamael Dean Drums Christopher Dorsey Piano Hackensack, NJ Ft. Lauderdale, FL Lagond Music School University of the Pacific, Jerad Lippi Zaq Davis Brubeck Institute Elmsford, NY Trumpet Community College Patrick Langham Saint Ann’s School Outstanding Performance Stockton, CA Gabriel Severn Jon Heim Bass Brooklyn, NY Jacob Abinante Anthony Ferrara Loyalsock Township Piano Tenor Saxophone Middle School Eugene Kim El Camino College NYU Steinhardt Eddie Severn Piano Amy Bormet David Pietro Williamsport, PA Lexington High School Torrance, CA New York, NY

96 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2018 Sean Mason Piano University of North Carolina at Greensboro Ariel Pocock Greensboro, NC Eric Nakanishi Alto Saxophone Berklee College of Music Ralph Peterson Boston, MA Graduate College Winners Patrick Hogan Piano University of Nevada, Las Vegas David Loeb Las Vegas, NV Nathan Reising Alto Saxophone New England Conservatory Jazz Ensemble I from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, Jacksonville, FL Frank Carlberg Boston, MA High School Winners Josh Murray SMALL JAZZ COMBO Sacramento, CA Graduate College So Fly Zone Outstanding Performance Junior High School Ann Arbor Community High School Outstanding Performance High School Outstanding Performance Brandon Moore Jack Wagner Tenor Saxophone Jazz Combo Ann Arbor, MI The Frontiers Jazz Quartet University of North Texas Edna Brewer Middle School Montclair High School Richard DeRosa Zack Pitt-Smith The Mingus Trio James Wasko Denton, TX Oakland, CA Rio Americano High School Montclair, NJ

JUNE 2018 DOWNBEAT 97 Performing Arts Honors Ensemble Winner High School Winners Advanced High School Colburn Jazz Jazz Workshop I Workshop Thursday The Jazzschool at California Night Band Jazz Conservatory Colburn Community School of Michael Zilber Performing Arts Berkeley, CA Lee Secard Los Angeles, CA Honors Ensemble Colburn Jazz Outstanding Performance Workshop Monday SFJAZZ All-Stars Night Band Combo Colburn Community SFJAZZ School of Performing Arts Dann Zinn Lee Secard San Francisco, CA Frontiers Jazz Quartet from Montclair High School, Montclair, NJ Los Angeles, CA Community College Winner Performing Arts High School Outstanding IATA Jazz Quartet Performances Cuesta College Ron McCarley Hamilton ‘A’ Combo San Luis Obispo, CA Hamilton High School Academy of Music and Undergraduate College Winners Performing Arts Jim Foschia Kei Matsumaru Trio Los Angeles, CA Berklee College of Music Tiger Okoshi Impulse Boston, MA Denver School of the Arts Dave Hammond Jake Victor 5tet VCS Radio Jazz Ensemble from Vacaville Christian School, Vacaville, CA Denver, CO Conservatorium van Amsterdam

98 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2018 Student-led ensemble Amsterdam, Netherlands Undergraduate College Outstanding Performances Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet 2016–2017 University of the Pacific, Brubeck Institute Patrick Langham Stockton, CA José Valentino & Shawn Perkinson’s Jazz Artist Ensemble Lee University Dr. José Valentino Ruiz-Resto Cleveland, TN Graduate College Winner UNLV Honors Quartet University of Nevada, Las Vegas David Loeb Las Vegas, NV

LARGE JAZZ ENSEMBLE Junior High School Winners Little Big Band Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse Leyden High Schools Vocal Jazz Ensemble from Franklin Park, IL

JUNE 2018 DOWNBEAT 99 41 Student Music Awards

Zack Shubert Caleb Smith

Summer Camargo

The earliest and often most important swing music were the soundtrack. That plant- influence on young artists is their parents. ed the seed for her love of jazz, but she also Whether simply through support and encour- might have inherited some of her talent from agement or through hours of hands-on assis- her grandfather, an evangelist who accom- tance in the honing of playing techniques, a panied his preaching on guitar. His passing burgeoning musician is shaped first by their shortly before the competition deadline influ- family life. enced Camargo’s choice of material. For Zack Shubert, this year’s Jazz Instru- “I played [Benny Golson’s] ‘I Remember mental Soloist winner at the high school level, Clifford’ in memory of my grandpa,” she said. that meant having parents who recognized “I was thinking of him when I played and tried his natural inclinations and helped build upon to put as much emotion as I could into it.” them. Growing up in the Bay Area, Shubert A junior at the Dillard Center for the Arts was drawn to the piano, and he demonstrated in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Camargo intends Nathan Reising an innate ear for melody. to continue her studies at a music conserva- “I’ve always tinkered around on any piano I tory. Christopher Dorsey, Dillard’s director uate school. “I see myself playing my music,” could find,” Shubert said. “My parents realized of jazz studies and instrumental music, said, he said. “I’ve been getting into Indian classical that I kept picking little things up from what I “Summer will be a force in the future of jazz, music a lot recently, so maybe down the road I was listening to, and I started taking lessons at as well as in any style of music she decides to could try to insert the trombone voice into that 5 years old.” perform.” scene. I want to be able to expand upon any- Now a junior at Carlmont High School in Trombonist Caleb Smith, who studies with thing and everything.” Belmont, California, Shubert maintains an ac- Robin Eubanks at Oberlin Conservatory in Now in his final months in the master’s tive performance schedule while taking cours- Ohio, is a winner in the Undergraduate Col- program at New England Conservatory in es in a program called Middle College, through lege division of the Jazz Instrumental Soloist Boston, alto saxophonist Nathan Reising is a which he earns credit toward his high school category (along with Luca Mendoza, a pia- winner in the Graduate College division (along graduation, as well as college. While those ex- nist at the University of Southern California’s with pianist Patrick Hogan, of the University of periences undoubtedly would give him a leg Thornton School of Music). Smith first heard Nevada, Las Vegas). Reising began taking pi- up in a professional career in the Bay, visits to music attending church with his parents in ano lessons at age 4. One of the treasures in New York convinced the pianist that a move Cleveland, and he discovered jazz after pick- his father’s extensive record collection led him was in the cards. ing up the trombone as a 5th grader. He lat- to the saxophone a few years later: John Col- “I plan to go to college in New York,” he er created a successful GoFundMe campaign trane’s classic 1961 album My Favorite Things. said. “The first time I went there I couldn’t get to finance his trip to the Banff International Reising’s enthusiasm for instrumental jazz enough of it. I went to the Village Vanguard Workshop in Jazz & Creative Music in Canada, runs parallel to his love for singer-songwrit- and to one of the late-night jam sessions at where he studied with pianist Vijay Iyer and ers. He hopes to meld those two passions in Smalls.” drummer Andrew Cyrille. some way in his future career. “I think lyrics Trumpeter Summer Camargo—who re- Inspired by such influential compos- help music resonate with a lot of people,” he ceived an Outstanding Performance honor in er-performers as Ambrose Akinmusire, Herbie said. “It’s important that the music I make be the Performing Arts High School division—was Hancock and Wayne Shorter, Smith hopes to able to emotionally connect with listeners.” raised in a household where big band and follow in their footsteps after attending grad- —Shaun Brady

100 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2018 JUNE 2018 DOWNBEAT 101 Caleb Chapman High School Outstanding Salt Lake City, UT Performances Sutter Middle Jazz Band I School Jazz Band Harvard-Westlake School Sutter Middle School Shawn Costantino John Zimny Studio City, CA Folsom, CA Jazz Ensemble Junior High School Tarpon Springs High School Outstanding Performances Christopher De Leon Tarpon Springs, FL Folsom Middle VCS Radio Jazz Ensemble School Jazz Band Vacaville Christian School Folsom Middle School Ralph Martin John Zimny Vacaville, CA Jazz Ensemble I from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Folsom, CA Jane Addams Performing Arts Middle School High School Winners Jazz Band Jane Addams Middle School Colburn Jazz Deborah Schaaf Workshop Big Band Seattle, WA Colburn Community School of Performing Arts Lee Secard High School Winners Los Angeles, CA Jazz Band I Jazz Band Folsom High School Las Vegas Academy of the Arts Curtis Gaesser Patrick Bowen Folsom, CA Las Vegas, NV Jazz Ensemble Jazz Workshop Orchestra Downey High School Denver School of the Arts Corneliu Olariu Dave Hammond VJE1 from Indiana University, Jacobs School of Music, Bloomington, IN Downey, CA Denver, CO

102 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2018 Performing Arts High Undergraduate College School Outstanding Performances Outstanding Performances Ambassador Jazz Orchestra Jazz Ensemble I Orange County School of University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire the Arts Robert Baca Daniel St. Marseille Eau Claire, WI Santa Ana, CA BYU Synthesis Jazz Ensemble I Big Band Douglas Anderson School Brigham Young University of the Arts Ray Smith Don Zentz Orem, UT Jennifer Barnett from Jacksonville, FL Haslett High School, Haslett, MI Honors Ensemble Winners Crescent Super Band Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse Caleb Chapman Salt Lake City, UT SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Big Band SFJAZZ Paul Contos San Francisco, CA Time Check Jazz Orchestra Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse Caleb Chapman Salt Lake City, UT Honors Ensemble Outstanding Performances Jazz at Lincoln Center Youth Orchestra Jazz at Lincoln Center Ted Nash New York, NY Studio Band The Jazzschool at California Jazz Conservatory Dave Eshelman Berkeley, CA Community College Winner Jazz Ensemble Mt. San Antonio College Jeff Ellwood Walnut, CA Community College Outstanding Performances Oceanside Jazz Orchestra MiraCosta College Steve Torok Oceanside, CA Jazz Ensemble Riverside City College Charlie Richard Riverside, CA Undergraduate College Winner Jazz Ensemble Lawrence University Patricia Darling Appleton, WI

JUNE 2018 DOWNBEAT 103 41 Student Music Awards

UNLV Honors Quartet

Colburn Jazz Workshop Thursday Night Band

Colburn Jazz Workshop Monday Night Band Kei Matsumaru Trio

Strong original compositions and Netherlands) called the Jake Victor 5tet right away,” said David Loeb, director of jazz arrangements were a through-line for this Victor, a student at Lawrence University, studies at UNLV. “They’re intense and relaxed year’s winners in the Small Jazz Combo cate- is a classical percussion major who applied to at the same time—natural and very organic. gory. the Conservatorium van Amsterdam as a jazz They have a real synergy.” One of the submissions that alto saxo- pianist—a move that he jokingly referred to as “The quartet was definitely a mix of per- phonist and Berklee College of Music under- “the Chick Corea route.” spectives,” said UNLV pianist Patrick Hogan. “It graduate Kei Matsumaru submitted was of “Jake’s gone absolutely wild for jazz pia- was an interesting mix of experiences, and it his trio playing his intriguingly titled work “In no,” marveled Patricia Darling, Lawrence Uni- made for some good music.” The Wise Words Of Drunk Koya.” The com- versity’s jazz ensemble director. “He’s abso- In the Performing Arts High School divi- position was inspired by an episode in which lutely dedicated. I hear him practicing all the sion, the co-winners are both from the Colburn Matsumaru decided to make a recording of time.” Community School of Performing Arts in Los a roommate who had been out on the town: As luck would have it, Victor’s roommate, Angeles: the Colburn Jazz Workshop Monday “He was just saying some random things, and a guitarist, also was accepted in the Conser- Night Band and the Colburn Jazz Workshop I transcribed about 10 seconds of what he said vatorium. During their first jam session, the Thursday Night Band. to actual pitches,” Matsumaru explained. After pair met a bassist from Brussels and a Span- “We focus on composers the students are six months of experimenting, the saxophonist ish drummer, and the four instantly bonded. interested in,” said Lee Secard, chair of the was able to complete the piece for his trio. A tenor saxophonist from Estonia joined the Colburn Jazz Workshop. “But both of these But there were other inspirations. He drew jam session festivities the next night, and the groups are full of composers, so one of the on his time growing up in Papua New Guinea, Jake Victor 5tet was born. “While over there, I most important things is to do the music that where he heard traditional drumming; a jazz challenged myself to write an idea or full tune the students write.” icon served as a muse as well. every day for a month,” Victor said. For both Colburn’s Monday Night and “The compositional elements were inspired “Jake does some really nice writing,” Dar- Thursday Night bands, students write ar- by Ornette [Coleman],” Matsumaru said. “I was ling said. rangements, too. “We like to do Joe Henderson listening to a lot of Ornette at the time—almost The winner at the Graduate College level is tunes a lot, [plus] Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins,” exclusively.” the UNLV Honors Quartet (from the University Secard said. He added that young stars on the In the Undergraduate College division of of Nevada, Las Vegas). The group recorded all jazz scene today, such as trumpeter Ambrose this category, the co-winners are the Kei Mat- original compositions for its submission. Akinmusire and tenor saxophonist Walter sumaru Trio and a student-led ensemble (at “I played musical Cupid by putting these Smith III, also are influences on his students. the Conservatorium van Amsterdam in The four guys together, and the group congealed —Yoshi Kato

104 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2018 JUNE 2018 DOWNBEAT 105 Graduate College Winners VOCAL JAZZ SOLOIST All Angles Orchestra Junior High School Winner University of Northern Colorado Ava Preston David Caffey Hudson Middle School Greeley, CO Theron Brown Hudson, OH UNC Jazz Lab Band I Junior High University of Northern School Outstanding Colorado Performance Dana Landry Greeley, CO Tessa Korver Eckstein Middle School Graduate College Moc Escobedo Outstanding Performances Seattle, WA Eastman New Jazz High School Winners Ensemble Emma Hedrick Eastman School of Music Dave Rivello Carmel High School Rochester, NY Erin Benedict Carmel, IN Frost Studio Jazz Band Brooke Lambert University of Miami Roosevelt High School Frost School of Music Jean-Marie Kent Stephen Guerra Seattle, WA Coral Gables, FL High School Outstanding Jazz Orchestra Performances Manhattan School of Music Jim McNeely Jennifer Barnett New York, NY Haslett High School

106 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2018 Sunny Wilkinson Undergraduate College Haslett, MI Outstanding Performances Emma Lanford Morgan Pirtle Woods Charter School University of Illinois at Chicago Kate McGarry Chris Madsen Chapel Hill, NC Chicago, IL Lauren Smith Tama Shutts Sylvania Northview High School California State University, Jeremy Davis Long Beach Sylvania, OH Bob Cole Conservatory of Music Christine Helferich Guter Performing Arts Long Beach, CA High School Winner Graduate College Winner Francesca Winer Monica Pabelonio New England Conservatory Miami Arts Charter School Folsom Jazz Band I from Folsom High School, Folsom, CA Christine de la Rosa Dominique Eade Miami, FL Boston, MA Jazz Ensemble from Downey High School, Downey, CA Graduate College Performing Arts High School Outstanding Performance Outstanding Performance Jenna McLean Vania Junco University of Northern Colorado Miami Arts Studio Julia Dollison Ryan and Cindy Ellis Greeley, CO Miami, FL Undergraduate College Winner SMALL VOCAL JAZZ GROUP Allison Wheeler High School Winner University of Northern Colorado Julia Dollison Cary-Grove Jazz Choir Greeley, CO Cary-Grove High School

JUNE 2018 DOWNBEAT 107 41 Student Music Awards

Time Check Jazz Orchestra

UNC Jazz Lab Band I

Crescent Super Band All Angles Orchestra

In this year’s Large Jazz Ensemble Chapman said of his school’s other Honors jazz works,” said Patricia Darling, Lawrence category, two institutions won a pair of awards Ensemble winner. “There are no vocalists, and University’s jazz ensemble director. within the same division, illustrating that an the focus is on compositions from the past 10 “We’re a relatively young group,” said environment of top-notch instruction can yield years.” Lawrence sophomore Nathan Glaser, a trum- extraordinary results. Two groups from the University of North peter. “A lot of seniors graduated, so it gave Two of the three Honors Ensemble win- Colorado in Greeley were the winners in the our band a new start. It’s mostly dominated ners are from Caleb Chapman’s Sound- Graduate College division: the UNC Jazz Lab by sophomores, which I find crazy. We have a house. “The Crescent Super Band is our Band I and the All Angles Orchestra. The latter great drummer who’s a junior and a great pi- flagship group,” Chapman explained. “They is a woodwinds/brass/string quartet/rhythm ano player who’s a junior. The new bassist is a play a whole melting pot of styles: There’s 15 section group founded by composer, trombon- sophomore, and she does well.” instrumentalists, like a traditional big band, ist and UNC doctoral candidate Mike Conrad. In the High School division, the winners and they cover every style from the big band “What I love about jazz composition is that were both from California: Jazz Band I at Fol- era to Bruno Mars, Beyoncé and The Black you can really showcase the personalities of som High School and the Jazz Ensemble at Keys. the players, à la Duke Ellington,” Conrad said. Downey High School. “All of our other bands are themed,” “And that’s great in a school setting, where “Because we have three full jazz bands as Chapman continued, referring to the 19 oth- some of us have known each other and been classes, it’s mainly upperclassmen with a cou- er Soundhouse middle and upper school jazz playing together for three years.” ple of freshmen,” Folsom High School Music and pop groups. “We’re located about a half In the Undergraduate College division, Director Curtis Gaesser said, describing the hour south of Salt Lake City and have students the winner was Lawrence University’s Jazz members of Jazz Band I. “They are all totally coming from all over the state.” Some student Ensemble. into jazz. I spend a lot of time making sure that musicians have a three-and-a-half-hour drive Like the Time Check Orchestra, Lawrence’s I expose them to as much as possible, and each way. Jazz Ensemble emphasizes newer composi- they do the rest in terms of exploring what’s “The Time Check Jazz Orchestra focuses on tions. “They basically cover a lot of new mu- out there. My job is to stay one year ahead of contemporary instrumental big-band music,” sic—student compositions and contemporary them.” —Yoshi Kato

108 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2018 JUNE 2018 DOWNBEAT 109 Eugene Kim from Lexington High School, Lexington, MA

Patrick Whalen Cary, IL Community College Winner Vocal Jazz Ensemble American River College Dr. Art Lapierre Sacramento, CA Outstanding Soloist: Cody Quakenbush on “Joshua” Community College Outstanding Performance Frequency MiraCosta College Matt Falker Oceanside, CA Undergraduate College Outstanding Performances Kelly Schenk Quartet University of Miami Frost School of Music Kate Reid Coral Gables, FL Vox Now Sacramento State University Gaw Vang Williams Sacramento, CA Graduate College Winner VJE1 Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Dr. Jeremy Fox Bloomington, IN Outstanding Scat Soloist: Pascal Pahl on “Back Home Again In Indiana”

110 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2018 Jorge Machain of University of Nevada, Las Vegas Graduate College Outstanding Soloist Julian Cunningham Outstanding Soloist on “Just In Time” C-Sus Voices Sacramento State University Gaw Vang Williams Sacramento, CA

LARGE VOCAL JAZZ ENSEMBLE Junior High School Winner

Panache 8 Corte Madera School Juliet Green Portola Valley, CA Outstanding Soloist: Gigi Pistilli on “Doodlin’” Junior High School Outstanding Performances Eckstein Sr. Jazz Band Eckstein Middle School Moc Escobedo Seattle, WA Grass Valley Vocal Jazz Grass Valley Elementary Natalie Wilson Camas, WA High School Winners Jazz Choir I Folsom High School Curtis Gaesser Folsom, CA Outstanding Soloist: Nino Cayabyab on “What’d I Say”

JUNE 2018 DOWNBEAT 111 41 Student Music Awards

Northern Colorado Voices, UNC–Greeley Singcopation, Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut, CA

Among this year’s Large Vocal Jazz standing Soloist on a version of Ray Charles’ Ensemble winners are many students who “What’d I Say.” have extended a legacy of excellence at their “I’ve had Nino’s siblings, as well, and schools. they’re all amazing,” Gaesser said. “He’s prob- Kerry Marsh, artist faculty in residence for ably the shyest student I’ve ever had. But he the University of Northern Colorado’s Vocal came in to audition as a freshman, opened his Folsom High School Jazz Choir I, Folsom, CA Jazz program, has written the charts for many mouth and I almost fell out of my chair.” DownBeat Student Music Award honorees. Hutchinson Community College’s group His groups Vocal Lab and Northern Colorado Badinage was a winner in the Community Col- Voices were winners in the Graduate College lege division. Neal Allsup, Hutchinson’s direc- division this year. In the ensemble Vocal Lab, tor of choral activities, submitted his group for it was a junior who was recognized as an Out- the first time this year. “I never thought in my standing Soloist. wildest dreams that it could happen,” he said “Lauren Johnston is very clearly one of the of the group’s win. finest students—undergraduate or graduate— “In the whole state of Kansas, there might that I’ve ever had in terms of skills, ability, atti- be four or five high schools that do vocal jazz tude and motivation,” Marsh said. “Every day regularly,” Allsup explained. “So, my job is to she essentially writes her own recommenda- go out to find musicianship.” tion letter.” The other winner in the Community Col- Badinage, Hutchinson Community College,Hutchinson, KS Johnston’s award-winning solo is on a lege division is Singcopation, from Mt. San An- Marsh arrangement of the “future soul” group tonio College in Walnut, California. Singers at Booker T. Washington High School Hiatus Kaiyote’s song “Lace Skull.” “They’re one “This year was our 20th anniversary, so we for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas of my favorite bands, and I’ve leaned on their resurrected charts from the past and brought has been a frequent winner in the Performing music as a way of getting through some chal- back alumni,” said Bruce Rogers, Mt. San An- Arts High School division. “This year’s group lenging times,” Johnston said. “Every semester tonio College director of choral activities. “For consists of a pretty equal mix of seniors and Kerry likes to throw in a song that’s in a cut- the last 20 years, my current students [have juniors, along with a couple of sophomores,” ting-edge pop style. This time, it just happened known] who was there before them.” Ellingson said. “It is important to include to be one of my favorite songs.” Over the decades, the group has won nu- younger students in the overall mix. It’s the For the past 35 years, Folsom High School merous Student Music Award honors. Rogers best way to ensure continuous progress of the Music Director Curtis Gaesser has led both the noted that Singcopation alumni are “like roy- group over time. The group gets exposure to jazz band and choir. His Jazz Choir I was one alty” who “come in all the time and sit in on as many styles as possible—swing, ballad, Lat- of this year’s High School division winners, rehearsals.” in, and contemporary—that all fit within a jazz and Nino Cayabyab was honored as an Out- Similarly, educator Kent Ellingson’s Jazz framework.” —Yoshi Kato

112 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2018

Two ’n’ Four Valencia High School Christine Tavares-Mocha Valencia, CA Outstanding Soloist: Therese Masangcay on “Summertime” Opening Female Soloist: Natasha Monnett on “She” Performing Arts High School Winner BTWHSPVA Jazz Singers Booker T. Washington HSPVA Kent Ellingson Dallas, TX Honors Ensemble Winner Missouri All-State Vocal Jazz Ensemble Rosana Eckert, Guest Conductor University of North Texas Denton, TX Honors Ensemble Outstanding Soloist Alexandra Meli Outstanding Soloist on “Haven’t We Met” The New York All State Vocal Jazz Ensemble Christine Helferich Guter, Cary-Grove Jazz Choir from Cary-Grove High School, Cary, IL Guest Conductor

114 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2018 California State University, University of Adelaide, Long Beach he Elder Conservatorium Bob Cole Conservatory of Music Lauren Henderson Long Beach, CA Adelaide, South Australia Community College Winners Nick Nelson Outstanding Soloist on Badinage “In The Winelight” Hutchinson Community College Vocalese Neal Allsup University of Northern Colorado Hutchinson, KS Jenna McLean Greeley, CO Singcopation Mt. San Antonio College Graduate College Winners Bruce Rogers Walnut, CA Vocal Lab University of Northern Colorado Undergraduate College Winner Kerry Marsh Greeley, CO Pacific Standard Time Outstanding Soloist: The Mingus Trio from Rio Americano High School, Sacramento, CA California State University, Lauren Johnston on Long Beach “Lace Skull” Bob Cole Conservatory of Music Northern Colorado Christine Helferich Guter Voices Long Beach, CA University of Northern Colorado Outstanding Male Scat Soloist: Kerry Marsh Tama Shutts on “Shining Star” Greeley, CO Undergraduate College Graduate College Outstanding Soloists Outstanding Performances Ashleigh Jocks UNT Jazz Singers Outstanding Soloist on University of North Texas “Corner Pocket (Until I Met You)” Jennifer Barnes The Adelaide Connection Denton, TX SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Big Band from San Francisco, CA

JUNE 2018 DOWNBEAT 115 41 Student Music Awards

Hisako Ozawa Zach Paris

Drummer Zach Paris still remembers At the outset of her voice lessons with sing- the thrill of hearing his own music on the ra- er/educator Sunny Wilkinson, Barnett said, “I dio for the first time. But by the time a song knew what kind of music I liked and I knew by Righteous Vendetta, a metalcore band he what kind of music I definitely didn’t like. The toured and recorded with for two years in his similarities in the music that I did like were that native Wyoming, blasted out of his speakers, it all had these jazz voicings and progressions.” Paris was out of the band and pursuing an ad- Barnett’s songwriting blends pop sounds vanced degree at the University of Nebraska. with jazz harmonies. She accompanies herself “We were starting to get really serious into on guitar, ukulele and piano, and currently is touring,” Paris recalled. “My wife and I got auditioning for college music programs. back from our honeymoon, and I was only Ava Preston, 13, is already a performer in home a week-and-a-half before I left on tour the Cleveland area. She’s a self-described “old for 40 days. I realized right away that wasn’t a soul” whose tastes run from Alanis Morissette good way to have a family, so I started pursu- to Ella Fitzgerald, radio-friendly pop to Broad- ing higher education.” way show tunes. Preston is this year’s Junior Paris currently is completing his doctorate High winner in both the Blues/Pop/Rock Soloist at Arizona State University, where he’s stud- category and the Vocal Jazz Soloist category. ied with drummer Lewis Nash, and leads the Pianist Theron Brown—Preston’s teacher school’s steel band and percussion jazz ensem- at Hudson Middle School, as well as regular ble. He hopes to follow the lead of performer/ accompanist—said, “Ava has always been gift- educators like Nash, whose academic and ar- ed, and her love for music is filled with passion. tistic lives augment one another. More importantly, she understands how she The musical aggression that once pro- can connect with people through her music, pelled Righteous Vendetta helped net Paris which is a big deal at her age.” this year’s Blues/Pop/Rock Soloist award at the Guitarist Hisako Ozawa, who studies Graduate College level. He submitted a metal at Musicians Institute in L.A., moved to the song that showed off his powerhouse chops, States from her native Tokyo in 2011 and has as well as an open drum solo inspired by Bud- since been shredding on stages around the dy Rich. Such eclecticism, girded by a love of city. Ozawa won the Undergraduate College jazz, is key to several of this year’s winners. division by showing off her chops in both Vocalist Jennifer Barnett, a student at Southern rock and heavy metal, turning in Haslett High School in Michigan, not only won interpretations of songs that featured two of the Blues/Pop/Rock Soloist award at the High her favorite guitarists—Ed King on Lynyrd Sky- School level, but also earned an Outstanding nyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama,” and Michael Performance honor in the Vocal Jazz Soloist Schenker on UFO’s “Love To Love.” category. For the former, she submitted songs “I came here because many contemporary by The Beatles and Michael Jackson, and for musicians come out here to make a name for the latter, renditions of “Body And Soul,” themselves,” she said. “I wanted to be sur- “Long As You’re Living” and John Coltrane’s rounded by other people who are pursuing “Cousin Mary.” music as their profession.” —Shaun Brady

116 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2018 JUNE 2018 DOWNBEAT 117 Jazz Workshop Orchestra from Denver School of the Arts, Denver, CO

Frost Jazz Vocal 1 High School Winner University of Miami Frost School of Music Jennifer Barnett Kate Reid Vocalist Coral Gables, FL Haslett High School Sunny Wilkinson BLUES/POP/ROCK SOLOIST Haslett, MI High School Junior High School Winner Outstanding Performances Ava Preston Hailey Hyde Vocalist Vocalist Hudson Middle School Caleb Chapman’s Theron Brown Soundhouse Hudson, OH Caleb Chapman Salt Lake City, UT Junior High School Isabelle Johnson Outstanding Performances Vocalist Caleb Chapman’s Faith Winkler Soundhouse Vocalist Caleb Chapman Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse Salt Lake City, UT Evan Wharton Salt Lake City, UT Undergraduate College Winner Nathan Chen Guitar Hisako Ozawa Guitar Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse Musicians Institute Evan Wharton Lyman Medeiros Salt Lake City, UT Los Angeles, CA Easton Christiansen Guitar Graduate College Winner Mountain Ridge Junior High Richard Bateman Zach Paris Highland, UT Drums

118 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2018 Arizona State University Undergraduate College Winner Dr. J.B. Smith Tempe, AZ Frost Fusion Ensemble University of Miami Graduate College Frost School of Music Steve Rucker Outstanding Performances Coral Gables, FL Emiliano Sampaio Electric Guitar Unergraduate College University of Music and Performing Outstanding Performances Arts, Graz Ed Partyka Blues and Rock Ensemble I Graz, Austria Kutztown University Kevin Kjos Luca Mendoza from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Gabriel Dowdy-Terracciano Kutztown, PA Violin NYU Steinhardt David Schroeder New York, NY

BLUES/POP/ROCK GROUP Junior High School Winner Jukebox Antihero Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse Evan Wharton Salt Lake City, UT High School Outstanding Performance Leyden High Schools Vocal Jazz Ensemble Leyden High Schools Stacy Cunningham Franklin Park, IL Performing Arts High School Winner BTWHSPVA Fusion Ensemble Booker T. Washington HSPVA Patrick Kerl Dallas, TX Honors Ensemble Winner SpoBro Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Frankie Blue Los Angeles, CA Honors Ensemble Outstanding Performances Lo-Fi Riot Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse Evan Wharton Salt Lake City, UT The Inevitables Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse Evan Wharton Salt Lake City, UT Vicious Beat Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse Caleb Chapman Salt Lake City, UT

JUNE 2018 DOWNBEAT 119 BTWHSPVA Jazz Singers from Booker T. Washington HSPVA, Dallas, TX

Dr. José Valentino’s Artist Funk Ensemble LATIN GROUP Lee University Dr. José Valentino Ruiz-Resto High School Cleveland, TN Outstanding Performance It’s Butter Mac Jazz Ensemble Musicians Institute MacArthur High School Lyman Medeiros José Antonio Diaz Los Angeles, CA Houston, TX Graduate College Winner Honors Ensemble Lushh Outstanding Performance Western Michigan University La Onda Caribeña Keith Hall Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse Kalamazoo, MI Caleb Chapman Salt Lake City, UT Graduate College Outstanding Performances Undergraduate College Winner The Chris Foe Project University of Massachusetts, Brazilian Jazz Combo Amherst University of Massachusetts, Jeffrey W. Holmes Amherst Amherst, MA Felipe Salles Amherst, MA Yeojin Yun Electric Band Graduate College Winners University of Nevada, Las Vegas Afro-Cuban Jazz David Loeb Orchestra Las Vegas, NV Manhattan School of Music

120 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2018 Ava Preston of Hudson Middle School in Hudson, OH

Bobby Sanabria New York, NY Frost Salsa Orchestra University of Miami Frost School of Music Alberto De La Reguera Coral Gables, FL Graduate College Outstanding Performance UTA Latin Combo University of Texas at Arlington Stefan Karlsson Arlington, TX

ORIGINAL COMPOSITION – SMALL ENSEMBLE Junior High School Winner Gabriel Severn, “Canção Para Fina” Loyalsock Township Middle School Eddie Severn Williamsport, PA Junior High School Outstanding Composition Brandon Goldberg, “The Understream” Miami Arts Charter School Paul Posnak Miami, FL High School Winners Jett Lim, “Plan B” Albany High School

JUNE 2018 DOWNBEAT 121 Dann Zinn Lee Secard Albany, CA Los Angeles, CA Kate Williams, “Here’s The Thing” Performing Arts High School Vanden High School Outstanding Composition Brian Williams Fairfield, CA Gabe Rupe, “Dune” Colorado Conservatory High School for the Jazz Arts Outstanding Compositions Eric Gunnison Denver, CO Esteban Castro, “Swan Song” Undergraduate College Winner Bergen County Academies Phillip Kawin Jiwon Kwon, Frequency from MiraCosta College, Oceanside, CA Hackensack, NJ “The First Step” Erik Nelson, Berklee College of Music Matteo Sabattini from “This Is Not A Song” Scott Free University of Northern Boston, MA Colorado, Greeley, CO Albany High School Dann Zinn Albany, CA Undergraduate College Zack Shubert, Outstanding Compositions “The Way Of Life” Carlmont High School Michael Orenstein, Peter Horvath “Sharing The Mirror” Belmont, CA Oberlin Conservatory Dan Wall Performing Arts Oberlin, OH High School Winner Andrew Saliba, “Silent Minority” Will Brandt, “Abditory” Western Michigan University Colburn Community School of Andrew Rathbun Performing Arts Kalamazoo, MI

122 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2018 Matt Wong, “Emptyful” Manhattan School of Music Jim McNeely New York, NY Graduate College Winner Walter Gorra, “Bandwidth” William Paterson University Pete McGuinness Wayne, NJ Graduate College Outstanding Compositions Jonathan Fagan, “Legacy (For The Late Fred Sturm)” Eastman School of Music Harold Danko Rochester, NY Michael Spicer, “Patchwork” University of Nevada, Las Vegas David Loeb Las Vegas, NV Kom Wongsawat, “Smile Behind Your Lies” University of Miami Frost School of Music Chuck Bergeron Miami, FL Jane Addams Middle School Jazz Band from Seattle, WA

JUNE 2018 DOWNBEAT 123 Northwestern University ORIGINAL COMPOSITION – Victor Goines LARGE ENSEMBLE Evanston, IL High School Graduate College Winner Outstanding Composition Mike Conrad, “Out Of The Swamp, Into The Sky” Matthew Kuperberg, University of Northern Colorado “Zero Gravity” David Caffey Agoura High School Greeley, CO Chad Bloom Agoura Hills, CA Graduate College Performing Arts Outstanding Compositions High School Winner Demian Coca Guzman, SFJAZZ All-Stars Combo from San Francisco, CA “Raíces” Ethan Moffitt, Hochschule Luzern “Window Wonders” Ed Partyka Colburn Community School of Luzern, Switzerland Performing Arts Lee Secard Claudia Döffinger, Los Angeles, CA “Monochrome” University of Music and Undergraduate College Winner Performing Arts, Graz Kenta Shimakawa,“Glimpse” Ed Partyka The New School for Graz, Austria Jazz and Contemporary Music Keller Coker New York, NY JAZZ ARRANGEMENT Undergraduate College Junior High School Winner Outstanding Composition George Rogers, Sam Wolsk, “The Jody Grind” Jazz Ensemble from Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut, CA “Goodbye For Now” Stanley Middle School

124 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2018 Tama Shutts from California State University, Long Beach

Alex Murzyn Lafayette, CA High School Winner Kate Williams, “Eclipse” Vanden High School Brian Williams Fairfield, CA High School Outstanding Arrangement Saarthak Singhal, “Stablemates” Henry M. Gunn High School Dann Zinn Palo Alto, CA Performing Arts High School Winner Ari Chais, “Social Call” Colburn Community School of Performing Arts Lee Secard Los Angeles, CA Undergraduate College Winners Alex Berko, “Fool On The Hill” Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Jeremy Fox Bloomington, IN Kaiji Wang, “Voo Dos Urubus” Berklee College of Music Matthew Nicholl Boston, MA Undergraduate College Outstanding Arrangement Jorge Machain, “Fascinating Rhythm” University of Nevada, Las Vegas David Loeb Las Vegas, NV

JUNE 2018 DOWNBEAT 125 Jamael Dean from University of the Pacific–Brubeck Institute, Stockton, CA

Graduate College Winner Studio Orchestra Jon Rarick, “Embers” Eastman School of Music Bill Dobbins Rochester, NY Graduate College Outstanding Arrangements Studio Orchestra Mike Conrad, “What Is This Thing Called Love?” University of Northern Colorado David Caffey Greeley, CO Emiliano Sampaio, “How Insensitive” University of Music and Performing Arts, Graz Ed Partyka Graz, Austria Graduate College Winner Big Band Brandon Moore, “My Shining Hour” University of North Texas Richard DeRosa Denton, TX Graduate College Outstanding Arrangements Big Band George Darrah, “New Autumn” Eastman School of Music Dave Rivello Rochester, NY Michael Spicer, “Love For Sale” University of Nevada, Las Vegas

126 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2018 Yeojin Yun Electric Band from University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Dave Loeb Las Vegas, NV ENGINEERED STUDIO RECORDING Graduate College Winner Performing Arts High School Small Ensemble Outstanding Studio Recording Matteo Sabattini, Evan Martin & Aleah Hyers “Footprints” New Orleans Center for University of Northern Colorado Creative Arts David Caffey Joe Ceponis Greeley, CO New Orleans, LA Graduate College Outstanding Community College Winner Arrangements Small Ensemble Brady Rose Theresa Chen, Kansas City Kansas Community “Lonely Moments” College Eastman School of Music John Stafford II Bill Dobbins Kansas City, KS Rochester, NY Undergraduate College Winner Colleen Clark, “Bye-ya” University of North Texas Robert Acevedo Quincy Davis Lee University Denton, TX Dr. José Valentino Ruiz-Resto Cleveland, TN Jesse Crosson, “I Can’t Give You Undergraduate College Anything But Love” Sacramento State University Outstanding Recording Steve Roach Sacramento, CA Jake Richter University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music ENGINEERED LIVE RECORDING Kim Pensyl Cincinnati, OH Undergraduate College Graduate College Winner Outstanding Live Recording William Longo Robert Acevedo University of Miami Lee University Frost School of Music Dr. José Valentino Ruiz-Resto Gary Lindsay Cleveland, TN Coral Gables, FL

JUNE 2018 DOWNBEAT 127 41 Student Music Awards

DAVEY S. YARBOROUGH Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Washington, D.C.

This year’s DownBeat Jazz Education provide,” said Ellington School CEO Tia Pow- Hall of Fame inductee is Davey S. Yarborough, ell-Harris, who has observed Yarborough’s whose 32-year tenure as jazz studies direc- teaching mastery for more than two decades. tor and saxophone instructor at Washington “Davey not only cultivates the musical abilities D.C.’s exemplary Duke Ellington School of the of his passionate jazz students, but builds in Arts involved a rather circuitous journey. them strong character and a deep concern for He originally was hired at the now-renovat- humanity. Davey is what our students so des- ed arts specialty high school in tony George- perately need—a role model of quality.” town in May 1978 for a September position SHARON FARMER PHOTOGRAPHY Prominent Ellington grads since Yarbor- that was derailed by federal education bud- ough’s tenure began include pianist Marc get cuts. In the interim, Yarborough served at Cary, saxophonist Brian Settles, Showtime at such D.C. public schools as Wilson High School the Apollo music director Daniel Moore and a and H.D. Woodson High School. Perseverance raft of others currently contributing to D.C.’s paid off, and he rejoined the Ellington faculty remarkable community of resident jazz musi- in 1984—as the attendance counselor. In Sep- cians. tember 1986 he became band director. “Davey Yarbrough is the most consistent Yarborough’s original charge was saxo- teacher I have ever met,” Cary said. “Although phone instruction. When he started up the I chose not to take his class, he found a way to school’s big band, “they put me in a small teach me. He pushed me to be the best I could room, one-third the size of this current band be. I also realized a good teacher isn’t always room,” he said, gesturing at the impressive ex- Davey S. Yarborough who you, the student, think they should be. He panse wrought by recent renovation. “It had is proof that dedication to making others reach a couple of music stands, but no equipment. band, and I did for about five years. When I their full potential is a quality of a great person Another teacher said, ‘Well, the equipment got the Ellington job, Keter called, wanting me and teacher.” was here, but it sorta walked out.’ So, come my to come by his house,” Yarborough said. “We Owing much to Betts’ mentorship, D.C. is first class, I had my drummers play air drums. I sat in the kitchen, and he asked me about the definitely a bass town, which might account, in said, ‘You set up and act like this is your snare Duke Ellington School. I was already shocked part, for the remarkable run of high-class bass- drum, your floor tom.’ I got some music, and I that I got the job, because a whole lot of vet- ists who’ve matriculated through Yarborough’s had a little keyboard there, and the horn play- eran band directors wanted that job, and he program, including Eric Wheeler, Corcoran ers had their horns. Lo and behold, one day could see that there was a little bit of com- Holt, Ameen Saleem and Ben Williams. a CNN camera[person] walked in the room to munity tension behind that. So, Keter said, “To say that Davey Yarborough is com- film a news story, asking, ‘Where’s the drum- ‘What do you know about Duke?’ I told him mitted to music and jazz education would be set?’ The principal walked in, they turned the the little I knew. And he said, ‘Well, that’s not an understatement,” Williams exclaimed. “His cameras around to him, and a little while later, enough, because your job now is to enlighten dedication to teaching young people is a sig- I had a couple of drumsets.” those kids.’ So, he went down to his basement nificant part of the musical legacy that has Yarborough quickly got busy acquiring and pulled out a book called Ellingtonia and emerged from Washington, D.C.” equipment for his program, shortly securing showed me all the songs—everything—to the On the cusp of his retirement, Yarbor- major donations from Wynton Marsalis and point of overload. I said to myself, ‘How am I ough’s induction to the DownBeat Jazz Edu- Joe Williams, whom he’d played with as part of going to deal with this?’ That’s when Keter vol- cation Hall of Fame is quite timely. His future a D.C. band backing the mellifluous baritone unteered to come to Ellington before school.” plans include ramping up his performance in concert. “From then, I learned how to write Three decades later, thoroughly immersed career, including with his vocalist-wife Esther grants,” he said. “I wrote letters to airlines, any- in all things Ellington, and continuing as one Williams, and further developing their Wash- body I thought would donate. I got enough to of the D.C. area’s most potent saxophonists, ington Jazz Arts Institute program into a stu- do what I needed from that point on.” Yarborough can boast of a program whose dent mentoring unit. In the meantime, the D.C. native, Federal students have copped numerous trophies—a That certainly would reflect how he arrived City College and University of the District of fact made clear as he pointed to a huge cab- at this point, through mentoring from such Columbia graduate significantly upped his El- inet brimming with awards—and traveled to D.C. elders as Dr. Art Dawkins, Bobby Felder, lington quotient through the tutelage of one perform at prestigious jazz festivals. Calvin Jones, Frank Wess and Betts. No one of the district’s selfless jazz mentors, the great “I have watched him change the lives comes better equipped for the work ahead bassist Keter Betts. of countless children by introducing them than distinguished jazz educator Davey S. Yar- “Keter asked me to come play with his to the possibilities that a career in music can borough. —Willard Jenkins

128 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2018 JUNE 2018 DOWNBEAT 129 41 Student Music Awards

CHRISTINE HELFERICH GUTER Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University, Long Beach

When they arrive at university to study music, young people often feel there’s an expected level of proficiency they have to achieve. Not so in Christine Helferich Guter’s class at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at

California State University–Long Beach, where GIOVANNI CARDENAS she has directed the vocal jazz program since 2002. “There’s no bar,” said Guter. “I want stu- dents to develop ownership of the music and grow to their own level of expectations. My job is to assist them to become independent thinkers and critical listeners.” “Overall, she brings support, love and pos- itivity,” said Sean Fitzpatrick, who studied with Guter as an undergraduate before returning to join the Bob Cole faculty. “She has created Christine Helferich Guter a culture of relentlessly high musical, profes- sional and personal standards.” sity of Miami’s Frost School of Music with a With close to 30 DownBeat Student Music master’s in studio music and jazz. Her teaching Awards given to her students since 2006, it’s career began at a high school in Kalamazoo, obvious that Guter’s techniques are effective. Michigan, and continued after she relocated What she aims to do, she said, is to instill in to California. students the ability to be honest in their musi- “When I first moved to L.A., people said, cal expression. ‘You can’t have both an academic and per- “It’s not just about the technical,” she said. forming career,’” she recalled, “but I work at “I want them to feel. We walk around with so staying as active as I can be in the studios and much armor on that it’s difficult to really reach onstage. I think that really brings added value in and perform from our hearts.” to my students.” She recognizes that there’s a balance that Fitzpatrick said Guter’s consistently high must be struck between jazz vocalists going standards and thorough approach to rehears- for what’s “honest” and the danger of being als made a distinct impression on him. looked down upon by close-minded instru- “Christine’s teaching approach is focused mentalists who suspect that singers might not on preparing her students to be consummate have a deep knowledge of theory. professionals and top-notch musicians,” he “That still goes on,” Guter said, “and it’s said. “Rehearsal time is sacred and is used to disappointing and discouraging. As a singer focus on ensemble technique and music-mak- approaching any situation, you have to have ing. One of the biggest things that sets her done the work and have a professional de- apart is that she does not allow the students meanor. You have to be ready, and if you are, to sing and repeat material incorrectly. If any other musicians will recognize that.” moment of music is out of tune, not together, Outside the classroom, Guter has been not dynamic, or not in the spirit of the piece, the model of professionalism, developing a she will immediately stop them and correct it. lengthy resume, with appearances on the This way, the ensemble does not reinforce mis- soundtracks of films ranging from Happy Feet takes, but only correct singing and musicality.” in 2006 to Dead Pool 2 earlier this year. She’s Guter credits her early teachers, such as also performed extensively as the lead singer Sunny Wilkinson and Steve Zegree (1953– in the quintet Vocalogy, as well as with her 2015), for inspiring her devotion to craft. own ensemble, and recorded with artists as “They were role models to me, and I try to diverse as Herb Alpert and Neil Young. do the same,” she said. “I’m so grateful to get Guter earned a bachelor’s degree in music to play a little role in the lives of my students education from Western Michigan University and take just a few steps with them along their in 1993 and then graduated from the Univer- journey.” —James Hale

130 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2018 JUNE 2018 DOWNBEAT 131 41 Student Music Awards

CUAUHTÉMOC “MOC” ESCOBEDO Eckstein Middle School, Seattle, Washington

DownBeat would “How many in a saxophone section?“ like to thank our asked Cuauhtémoc “Moc” Escobedo, this world-class adjudicators year’s recipient of the Jazz Education Achieve- ment Award. “Five? We had 12. And we got the

for making the award.” JESSICA C. LEVINE 41st Annual Student The 55-year-old band director was sitting in the empty auditorium at Seattle’s Eckstein Music Awards Middle School, where he has taught since a success. 1994. The award he referred to is a recent win for outstanding sax section at the Next Gener- ation Jazz Festival in Monterey, California. Eckstein jazz bands are notoriously over- Jim Anderson stuffed. Escobedo believes everyone should Darcy James Argue get a chance to play—especially girls. “Most bands are male dominated,” he said. Janice Borla “The way to [increase the number of] young la- Cuauhtémoc “Moc” Escobedo has taught many award-winning students who went on Don Braden dies is to put in as many as are capable and let to have careers as professional musicians. them grow into it.” Jeff Coffin Escobedo’s inclusive approach is working, about the blues and Basie.” John Daversa as evidenced by 15 honors in the DownBeat That summer, Escobedo took lessons on Student Music Awards over the years. In 2017, jazz bass and drums, and went to every jazz Orbert Davis his students won five honors, and Eckstein stu- clinic he could find. Additionally, he devoured Les Hooper dents received two Outstanding Performance charts shared by colleagues Hal Sherman, of honors in this year’s SMAs. The walls of the Kent-Meridian High School, and Bob Knatt, Fred Irby III Eckstein band room are lined with trophies the now-retired director at Washington Middle Bart Marantz from the Lionel Hampton International Jazz School. Festival, the Reno Jazz Festival and others. With his duties at Eckstein including three Typhanie Monique Beyond the festival circuit, Escobedo re- jazz bands, three concert bands and two vocal Miles Osland ceived Washington State’s prestigious Golden jazz groups, it’s a wonder that Escobedo has Apple in 2006, for outstanding teaching. Ear- much spare time. His work ethic is legendary. Bob Parsons shot Jazz, which produces Seattle’s annual jazz “He’s here all summer,” explained col- Dave Rivello festival, gave him its Golden Ear award. league Brad Smith, Eckstein’s orchestra direc- Born in Mexico and raised there, and in tor. “He’s in the building on weekends, after Albert Rivera Texas, Escobedo played trombone in orchestra school. He teaches during his lunch hour. He’s John Santos and concert band in school, earning a bach- constantly working. If he worked any harder, elor’s in music education and a master’s in he would have to have a cot.” Gregory Tardy trombone performance from Texas Tech Uni- The results of all that work are apparent Roger Treece versity. But he had scant jazz background. on the national jazz scene. Eckstein alumni in- “I was shocked when they put me in the clude trumpeter and vocalist Jumaane Smith, Ryan Truesdell first jazz band [at Texas Tech],” he recalled. “All who tours with Michael Bublé and recorded James Warrick they would tell me was, ‘Lay back!’ What did with Rashied Ali (1933–2009); and trombonist that mean? When I took this job, I had to really Andy Clausen, of the innovative, New York- David Weiss come up with a way of describing what ‘laying based quartet The Westerlies. Acclaimed vo- back’ was. What is the triplet feel? Because it’s calist Sara Gazarek was a “Moc” student as not magic.” well, back in elementary school. Maybe not. But learning how to teach it But the real payoff isn’t famous protégés, 41 ANNUAL was a challenge, especially in Seattle, where Escobedo said. It’s performance. jazz education operates at a very high level. “Watching the kids when they’re jelling “I still remember that first jazz concert we and grooving, watching the audience, that’s had,” he remembered. “I heard [an ensemble what I love,” he explained. “I’m looking for- from] Washington Middle School, and I said, ward to our swing dance, here in this auditori- ‘OK, this is a different game!’ You don’t come um. Everybody will be dancing. That’s what it’s in here playing ‘Girl From Ipanema.’ This is all about.” —Paul de Barros

132 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2018 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: Multiple Grammy winner and professor at NYU’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. Darcy James Argue: Composer, 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. Jeff Coffin: 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. Bart Marantz: Legendary jazz educator whose bands have won 245 DownBeat Student Music Awards. Typhanie Monique: Recording artist, vocalist, educator/clinician, composer. 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 Composers Octet, Endangered Species and The Cookers.

JUNE 2018 DOWNBEAT 133