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Home , Brian Lynch (musician), Caleb Chapman, Chet Baker, David Baker (composer), DownBeat, Jazz education

94 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2019 42nd ANNUAL

JUNE 2019 DOWNBEAT 95 JeJenna McLean, from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, is the Graduate College Wininner in the Vocal Soloist category. She is also the recipient of an Outstanding honor. 42nd Student Awards WELCOME TO THE 42nd ANNUAL DOWNBEAT STUDENT MUSIC AWARDS

The UNT Jazz Singers from the University of North Texas in Denton are a winner in the Graduate College division of the Large Ensemble category.

WELCOME TO THE FUTURE. WE’RE PROUD after year. (The same is true for certain junior to present the results of the 42nd Annual high schools, high schools and after-school DownBeat Student Music Awards (SMAs). In programs.) Such sustained success cannot be this section of the magazine, you will read the attributed to the work of one visionary pro- 102 | JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL SOLOIST names and see the photos of some of the finest gram director or one great teacher. Ongoing young musicians on the planet. success on this scale results from the collec- 108 | LARGE JAZZ ENSEMBLE Some of these youngsters are on the path tive efforts of faculty members who perpetu- to becoming the jazz stars and/or jazz edu- ally nurture a culture of excellence. 116 | VOCAL JAZZ SOLOIST cators of tomorrow. (New music I’m cur- DownBeat reached out to Dana Landry, rently enjoying includes the 2019 albums by director of jazz studies at the University of 124 | /POP/ROCK GROUP , , Chris Potter and Northern Colorado, to inquire about the keys 132 | JAZZ ARRANGEMENT Kendrick Scott—all former SMA competitors.) to building an atmosphere of excellence. His In music, as in sports, it takes much more response is inspiring: “Early on, we committed 136 | DOWNBEAT than great talent to succeed. Talent must be to creating a nurturing environment where HALL OF FAME: JERRY COKER combined with hard work, rigorous practice students feel empowered to pursue their own and the support of caring, sensitive mentors. artistic paths. We decided to focus on groove, 138 | DOWNBEAT JAZZ EDUCATION On the following pages, the names of cer- sound, repertoire, imagination and the emo- ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: tain institutions recur: School of tional side of music. The expectations we set ALBERTO DE LA REGUERA Music in , Frost School of Music have been largely on process and progress, at the , Western Michigan keeping in mind that getting better is more 140 | DOWNBEAT JAZZ EDUCATION University in Kalamazoo, the University of important than getting good.” ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: North Texas in Denton, the University of Striving to get better is a notion that will JULIET GREEN Northern Colorado in Greeley and the Bob serve students well—regardless of the career Cole Conservatory of Music at California State path they choose. The drive to improve oneself 98 | DOWNBEAT STUDENT MUSIC University, Long Beach—just to name a few. is something that we can all support—whether AWARDS–COMPLETE RESULTS Those colleges, as well as many others, we’re looking into the eyes of a student or look- have tended to generate SMA winners year ing into a mirror. —Bobby Reed

96 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2019 JUNE 2019 DOWNBEAT 97 42nd Student Music Awards

COMPLETE RESULTS

Jazz Ensemble I from the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond

Gabriel Severn High School Winners Max Hubbard JAZZ SOLOIST Bass Alto Saxophone Loyalsock Township Ethan Avery Champaign Central Junior High School Winner Middle School Trumpet High School Jameson Mair Eddie Severn Crossroads School for the Arts John Currey Trumpet Williamsport, PA and Sciences Champaign, IL Evan Avery Prairie Trail Middle School Santa Monica, CA Jena McElwain Junior High School Honors High School Honors Winners Olathe, KS Outstanding Performances Robert Varon Henry Acker Guitar Dylan Buckser-Schulz Guitar Junior High School Pittsford Mendon High School Duxbury High School Drums Paul Maguda Outstanding Performance Lagond Music School Frank Vignola Pittsford, NY Duxbury, MA Jacquie Lee Jerad Lippi Violin Elmsford, NY High School Vittorio Stropoli Piano Glenfield Middle School Felipe Feldman Outstanding Performances Jon Ward Alto Saxophone The Masters School Eli Zukor-Zimmermann Jeremy Manasia (MSM Montclair, NJ Easterbrook Discovery School Tenor Saxophone Precollege program) Scott Barnhill Washburn High School New York, NY Junior High School San Jose, CA Honors Winners Tim Martin Nick Caldwell Minneapolis, MN High School Honors Brandon Goldberg Tenor Saxophone Jett Lim Outstanding Performances Piano Young Lions Jazz Trombone Pine Crest School Conservatory Albany High School Cole Palensky Paul Posnak Gilbert Castellanos Craig Bryant Tenor Saxophone Fort Lauderdale, FL San Diego, CA Albany, CA Papillion-La Vista South

98 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2019 SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Combo from SFJAZZ in San Francisco

High School Florida State University Darren Pettit Rodney Jordan Papillion, NE Tallahassee, FL Daiki Nakajima Tenor Saxophone Graduate College Winner SFJAZZ Nicholas Olynciw Dann Zinn Piano San Francisco, CA Western Michigan University Matthew Fries Community College Kalamazoo, MI Outstanding Performance Arek Gralnic Graduate College Guitar Outstanding Performances MiraCosta College Matteo Sabattini Steve Torok Alto and Soprano Oceanside, CA Saxophones University of Northern Undergraduate College Winner Colorado Varun Das Ludek Drizhal Drums Greeley, CO Manhattan School of Music Nathan Borton John Riley Guitar New York, NY Michigan State University Randy Napoleon Undergraduate College East Lansing, MI Outstanding Performances Dave Mosko SMALL JAZZ COMBO Trombone Rutgers University–New Junior High School Brunswick Honors Winner New Brunswick, NJ The Shea Welsh Institute of Jazz Middle School Elias Lucero All-Stars Guitar The Shea Welsh Institute Sacramento State University of Jazz Steve Roach Shea Welsh Sacramento, CA , CA Max Holm Piano High School Winners Harvard-Westlake Jazz Laszlo Gardony Explorers Boston, MA Harvard-Westlake School Mikailo Kasha Shawn Costantino Bass Studio City, CA

JUNE 2019 DOWNBEAT 99 DARIA HUXLEY

Grace Giebler from Gretna High School in Nebraska Brandon Goldberg from Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Mingus Legacy Octet Jack Wagner Jim Gasior Undergraduate College Winner Rio Americano High School Ann Arbor, MI Miami, FL Josh Murray and Max Kiesner Fusion Ensemble Sacramento, CA Performing Arts Honors Ensemble Winners Columbia College High School Winner Bill Boris High School Rialto Youth Jazz Chicago, IL Outstanding Performances Impulse Orchestra Honors Combo Denver School of the Arts Various Georgia High Schools Undergraduate College Combo A Dave Hammond Kevin Bales Outstanding Performances Downey High School Denver, CO Tucker, GA Corneliu Olariu Daniel “Sky” SFJAZZ High School Szczepanski Band Downey, CA Performing Arts High School All-Stars Combo Outstanding Performance Berklee College of Music Unified Field Theory SFJAZZ Tiger Okoshi Ann Arbor Community Jazz Combo Dann Zinn Boston, MA High School New World School of the Arts San Francisco, CA Outstanding Soloist on Trumpet: Daniel Szczepanski Honors Ensemble Outstanding Performances UNLV Honors Trio University of Nevada, Las Vegas Colburn Jazz Dave Loeb Workshop Monday Las Vegas, NV Night Band Outstanding Soloist on Piano: Colburn Community School of Patrick Hogan Performing Arts Lee Secard Graduate College Winner Los Angeles, CA Vanguard Combo MSM Precollege University of Northern Colorado Manasia Combo James White Manhattan School of Music Greeley, CO Precollege Jeremy Manasia Graduate College New York, NY Outstanding Performances Teen Town Marc Schwartz Octet Various Pennsylvania Schools University of Northern Colorado Eddie Severn Andrew Dahlke Williamsport, PA Greeley, CO Community College Winner Ursula Reicher Void Quintet Jazz Combo University of Music and Schenectady County Performing Arts, Graz Community College Ed Partyka Brian Patneaude Graz, Austria Schenectaday, NY Community College LARGE JAZZ ENSEMBLE Outstanding Performance Junior High School Winner RSS Trio Kansas City Kansas Jazz Ensemble Community College Farmington Junior High School Jim Mair Heath Wolf Kansas City, KS Farmington, UT

100 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2019 JUNE 2019 DOWNBEAT 101 42nd Student Music Awards

Ethan Avery

Jacquie Lee Nicholas Olynciw

Robert Varon Varun Das

conducted by Paquito D’Rivera and to study with John Riley.” Support Systems Pianist Nicholas Olynciw, this year’s Grad- uate College winner, was first attracted to jazz by listening to his older brother Pete play up- right bass. for Young Talent “Pete had a teacher who got him into old- er players like and Oscar Pet- THE JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL SOLOIST Crossroads School for the Arts and Sciences in tiford, and I just wanted to get on board and category clearly honors the ability of various Santa Monica, California, where Ethan is en- play jazz, too, by listening to . student musicians to express themselves at rolled. And, like his dad, Ethan plays trumpet. I’d been playing classical piano since I was 8, a high level on their chosen instruments. As “I had only been playing trumpet for a but by the time I was in seventh grade, I was five of this year’s honorees can attest, one couple years when I took my dad’s jazz pro- into jazz.” common denominator they share is a sup- gram at Crossroads School,” Avery said. “I Olynciw went on to attend the University port system that involves parents, siblings, found a real sense of community there with of North Texas, where he played in the pres- teachers and student peers. musicians my age who were also new to jazz. tigious One O’Clock Lab Band. After gradua- Jacquie Lee, a violinist who received an It was so amazing; that program made me fall tion, he attended Western Michigan Universi- Outstanding Performance honor in the Junior in love with trumpet and jazz.” ty, and earned his master’s degree this spring. High School division, has professional musi- Varun Das, a freshman at the Manhattan Robert Varon, a guitarist at Pittsford Men- cians as parents. Her father, Mike Lee, is a jazz School of Music and the winner in the Under- don High School near Rochester, New York, saxophonist based in the family’s hometown graduate College division, traces his desire is the other co-winner in the High School di- of Montclair, New Jersey, and her mother is a to become a drummer to an early childhood vision. According to Paul Maguda, Pittsford classical violinist. Her two older brothers, Ju- memory of seeing his father play drums. Central School District music director, Varon lian Lee and Matthew Lee, have won Down- “That memory inspired me to start play- benefits from the top-level instruction he Beat Student Music Awards. ing,” Das recalled, “and I’ve had great in- receives from Bob Sneider, senior instructor “I’m in eighth grade and I’ve been playing structors ever since. When I got into the high of jazz guitar at Eastman Community Music violin for 11 years,” Lee said. “When I went to a school jazz band, it made me want to dig School. jazz summer camp that my brothers had also deeper into it.” “We actually don’t teach guitar in our pro- attended, I really wanted to focus on jazz— Attending the Manhattan School of Mu- gram,” Maguda said. “So, Robert studies gui- like they did. And being a violinist in jazz is sic’s precollege program was also a key turn- tar with Bob, and we provide a program for rare, so I really want to continue my jazz ed- ing point for Das. him to push himself here at Mendon. ucation to do that.” “That really helped me develop my ears, “Robert has developed great ears and a Ethan Avery, a co-winner in the High my theory skills and, most importantly, my wide vocabulary,” Maguda continued. “He’s School division, has benefited from his fa- playing,” he explained. “I then enrolled at worked on developing solos over multiple ther’s musical guidance and experience as Manhattan after high school, and it’s really choruses, and it’s really a joy to let him loose a professional musician and educator. Evan opened my eyes and ears to new musical con- on a chart and see where he takes it.” Avery is the chair of Upper School Music at cepts. I feel fortunate to be in an ensemble —Terry Perkins

102 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2019 JUNE 2019 DOWNBEAT 103 Junior High School Caleb Chapman Outstanding Performances , UT Jazz Ensemble High School Winners Holmes Middle School Bryan Itzkowitz AM Jazz Ensemble Wheeling, IL Rio Americano High School Josh Murray Jazz Band Sacramento, CA Gulliver Academy Robert Keating Jazz Band I Coral Gables, FL Folsom High School Curtis Gaesser Jazz Band Folsom, CA Jane Addams Middle School Studio Jazz Ensemble Deborah Schaaf Agoura High School Combo A from Downey High School in California Seattle, WA Chad Bloom Agoura Hills, CA WCI Jazzers Walnut Creek Intermediate Waukee Jazz One School Waukee High School Rita Zigas-Brown Chris Strohmaier Walnut Creek, CA Waukee, IA Stanley Jazz Messengers High School Stanley Middle School Outstanding Performances Bob Athayde Jazz Band I Lafayette, CA Green Valley High School Cara Froelich Junior High School Henderson, NV Honors Winner Jazz Ensemble Little Downey High School Sarah Burkhart from Cornish College Caleb Chapman’s Corneliu Olariu of the Arts in Seattle, Washington Soundhouse Downey, CA

104 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2019 JUNE 2019 DOWNBEAT 105 Youth Orchestra Jazz at Lincoln Center Ted Nash and Tatum Greenblatt New York, NY Community College Winner Jazz Ensemble Columbia Basin College Collin Wilson Pasco, WA Community College Outstanding Performance RCC Jazz Ensemble Riverside City College Charles Richard Riverside, CA Undergraduate College Winners Briarcrest Soundscape from Briarcrest Christian School in Eads, Tennessee Blair Big Band Vanderbilt University Performing Arts Jazz Ensemble I Honors Ensemble Winners Ryan Middagh High School Winners A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts Nashville, TN Pedro Hernandez Colburn Jazz Workshop Big Band Jazz Ensemble Jazz Band Palm Beach, FL Colburn Community School Lawrence University Las Vegas Academy of the Arts of Performing Arts Patricia Darling Patrick Bowen Performing Arts High School Lee Secard Appleton, WI Las Vegas, NV Outstanding Performance Los Angeles, CA Jazz Ensemble I Jazz Ensemble A Crescent Super Band Undergraduate College Douglas Anderson School of Hamilton High School Academy Caleb Chapman’s Outstanding Performances the Arts of Music and Performing Arts Soundhouse Don Zentz Jim Foschia Caleb Chapman Fredonia New Jazz Ensemble Jacksonville, FL Los Angeles, CA Salt Lake City, UT State University of New York at

106 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2019 Fredonia Dave Loeb Nick Weiser Las Vegas, NV Fredonia, NY St. Olaf Jazz I VOCAL JAZZ SOLOIST St. Olaf College David Hagedorn Junior High School Honors Winner Northfield, MN Ava Preston Graduate College Winners Tri-C JazzFest Academy KU Jazz Ensemble I Dominick Farinacci , OH The University of Kansas Dan Gailey Lawrence, KS High School Winner USC Thornton Jazz Brooke Lambert Orchestra Roosevelt High School University of Southern California Jean-Marie Kent Thornton School of Music Seattle, WA Avenue C from the University of North Texas in Denton Los Angeles, CA High School Graduate College Outstanding Performance Outstanding Performances Tessa Korver Roosevelt High School Jazz Ensemble I Jean-Marie Kent University of Central Oklahoma Seattle, WA Brian Gorrell Edmond, OK Performing Arts High The Lamont Jazz School Winner Orchestra University of Denver Katherine Kortum Kinder High School for the Denver, CO Performing and Visual Arts Jazz Ensemble I Warren Sneed Harvard-Westlake Jazz Explorers from University of Nevada, Las Vegas Houston, TX Harvard-Westlake School in Studio City, California

JUNE 2019 DOWNBEAT 107 42nd Student Music Awards

Jazz Ensemble from Columbia Basin College Jazz Ensemble I from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts

Jazz Ensemble from Farmington Junior High KU Jazz Ensemble I from The University of Kansas Balance of Talent

AT EVERY EDUCATIONAL LEVEL, JAZZ September and also played the Lionel Hamp- DARIO GRIFFIN ensembles deal with student turnover. The ton Jazz Festival. challenge for educators is to build a strong “We’ll have a lot of graduates after this program that develops the musical profi- school year, and I’m looking forward to see ciency of incoming musicians as they replace what these kids will do as they move on.” graduating students. And when the right bal- Don Zentz—director of jazz studies at Bob Mintzer directs the USC Thornton Jazz ance of musical talent happens, the results Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jack- Orchestra from the University of Southern California can be very rewarding for the students in the sonville, Florida—regards his Jazz Ensemble dle on ensemble playing. We have some very ensemble—and their directors. I’s co-winner award (in the Performing Arts fine soloists and very competent ensemble Collin Wilson, assistant professor of music High School division) as a reflection of stu- players, so we’ve got it all covered. at Columbia Basin College in Pasco, Wash- dents’ musical growth over the years. “As director, my philosophy is to make ington, is especially proud of this year’s Jazz “I’ve been at Douglas for four years, and a nice sound; control the dynamics to make Ensemble, which topped the Large Jazz En- for the first two I directed Jazz Ensemble II a beautiful sound. Since I have to stand in semble category in the Community College before Ace Martin, who founded the music front of the band, if they’re blasting, I get a division. program here, retired,” Zentz said. “Twen- headache. So, we definitely want a pleasant, “This band is a bit of an older group that’s ty-one of the 24 students in Ensemble I this round sound.” grown stronger over the past three years,” year were ones I taught in Ensemble II. So, we The other co-winner in the Graduate Wilson said. “We’ve got quite a few strong were able to really solidify a lot of concepts School division was KU Jazz Ensemble I at the improvisers, so we aren’t limited in the music in our ensemble playing and fundamentals, University of Kansas in Lawrence. Under the we can perform. The first thing we achieved and grow and achieve together.” guidance of Dan Gailey, who is also director in 2018 was winning the college competition Mention Bob Mintzer’s name, and jazz of jazz studies, KU Jazz Ensemble I took home at the Jazz Festival—compet- fans immediately think of Yellowjackets, the DownBeat Student Music Awards honors in ing against four-year schools. I thought, ‘OK, chart-topping band that the saxophonist has 2015 and 2017. we need to record this band.’ We did a live been in for nearly 30 years. Mintzer also leads Ensemble participant Luis Matos, a sax- studio and got everyone on mics. It his own big band and quartet. ophonist, doesn’t fit the usual profile of a was strong enough to get a great recording.” But Mintzer has a respected career in jazz member of such an award-winning group. Heath Wolf, director of bands at Farm- education as well. He’s been on the faculty at “I’m a physics major and also a business ington Junior High School in , used the the University of Southern California’s Thorn- minor,” Matos said. “I’ve been playing sax phrase “a special group” to describe his Jazz ton School of Music for more than a decade. since seventh grade, and was in high school Ensemble, which won the Junior High divi- His responsibilities include directing the USC all-state bands. Here at KU, I realized music sion. Thornton Jazz Orchestra, which was a co-win- wouldn’t be my career, but I still love to play “We have a strong music program here,” ner in the Graduate School division. and wanted to be involved in the program. he said. “And this particular group of stu- “Since we’re in L.A., we tend to get stu- “I’ve been in Ensemble I for the last two dents worked their tails off and played at a dents who are already working or will soon years, and it’s been a great way to stay in- high level. We earned an invitation to the Ju- be working professionally,” Mintzer said. volved in jazz.” nior High category of the Midwest Clinic last “Consequently, they have a pretty good han- —Terry Perkins

108 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2019 JUNE 2019 DOWNBEAT 109 Jazz Ensemble A from Hamilton High School Academy of Music and Performing Arts

Mello Aires from Edmonds-Woodway High School in Edmonds, Washington Mingus Legacy Octet from Rio Americano High School in Sacramento, California Performing Arts High School Undergraduate College Winners Outstanding Performance Lauren Johnston Josephine Bianco University of Northern Talent Unlimited High School Colorado for the Performing Arts Julia Dollison Jayne Skoog Greeley, CO New York, NY Logan Smith University of Miami High School Honors Frost School of Music Outstanding Performance Kate Reid Grace Giebler Coral Gables, FL Metropolitan Area Youth Jazz Orchestra Undergraduate College Patrick Brown Outstanding Performances Omaha, NE Elizabeth Unpingco Nick Caldwell from Young Lions Jazz Conservatory in San Diego Community College Winner Sacramento State University Montreal, Quebec Melinda Rose Rodriguez Amanda Ross Gaw Vang Williams Canada University of Illinois at The School for Music Sacramento, CA Urbana-Champaign Vocations at Southwestern Grace McKay Graduate College Winner Chip McNeil Community College Champaign, IL Dr. Jeremy Fox University of Massachusetts, Jenna McLean Creston, IA Amherst University of Northern Colorado Catherine Jensen-Hole Julia Dollison SMALL VOCAL JAZZ GROUP Community College Amherst, MA Greeley, CO Outstanding Performance Jessica Brooks High School Winner Elmhurst College Graduate College Annie Kemble Doug Beach Outstanding Performances Leyden High The School for Music Vocations Elmhurst, IL Schools Vocal Jazz at Southwestern Community Julie Koenig Ensemble College Victoria Stevens University of Northern Colorado Leyden High Schools Dr. Jeremy Fox McGill University Julia Dollison Stacy Cunningham Creston, IA Bohdanna Novak Greeley, CO Franklin Park, IL

110 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2019 JUNE 2019 DOWNBEAT 111 High School LARGE VOCAL JAZZ ENSEMBLE Outstanding Performance Cary-Grove Jazz Choir Junior High School Winners Cary-Grove High School Grass Valley Vocal Jazz Patrick Whalen Cary, IL Grass Valley Elementary Natalie Wilson Camas, WA Community College Winners Outstanding Soloist: Finley JAZZ-ology Westover on “We Have Jazz” Contra Costa College Eckstein Sr. Jazz Band Dr. Stephanie Austin Eckstein Middle School San Pablo, CA Moc Escobedo Outstanding Scat Soloist: Seattle, WA Natasha Singer on “Lonely Outstanding Soloist: Lucia Woman” Nathan Borton from Michigan State University in East Lansing Chmielowski on “Luckiest” Vocal Jazz Ensemble American River College High School Winners Dr. Arthur LaPierre Mello-Aires Sacramento, CA Edmonds-Woodway Outstanding Soloist: High School Cody Quakenbush on “Caravan” Charlotte Reese Edmonds, WA Community College Outstanding Soloist for vocal Outstanding Performance and bass: Rodney Ocfemia on “Tutti For Cootie” First Take The School for Music Vocations Two N’ Four at Southwestern Valencia High School Community College Christine Tavares-Mocha Dr. Jeremy Fox Valencia, CA Creston, IA Outstanding Soloists: Outstanding Scat Soloist: Matthew Ahn on “The Writings Dylan Buckser-Schulz from the Lagond Music School in Elmsford, New York Charisma Carson on “Summertime” On The Wall”

112 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2019 JUNE 2019 DOWNBEAT 113 Eddie Codrington from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo

First Soloist Sophia Bellefeuille and Second Soloist Jaden Lewis on “Do You Wanna Know What I Want” High School Outstanding Performances Brearley B-Naturals The Brearley School Karyn Joaquino New York, NY Outstanding Soloist: Ginger Vogel on “Every Night At Seven” Jazz Choir Folsom High School Curtis Gaesser Folsom, CA Outstanding Soloist: Nino Cayabyab on “I Wish” Impressions Meadowdale High School Jeff Horenstein Lynnwood, WA Outstanding Soloist: Katie Dreessen on “Secret Love” Vocalese Valley High School Haley Gibbons West Des Moines, IA High School Outstanding Soloist Maggie Robertson Outstanding Opening Soloist on “Nature Boy” Progression

114 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2019 Royal High School Oklahoma All-State Bonnie Graeve High School Jazz Chorus Simi Valley, CA Various Oklahoma High Schools Christine Helferich Guter, Performing Arts High School Guest Conductor Outstanding Performance California State University, Long Beach Vocal Jazz Ensemble Bob Cole Convervatory of Music Milwaukee High School of Long Beach, CA the Arts Raymond Roberts Honors Ensemble Milwaukee, WI Outstanding Soloist Honors Ensemble Winner Georgia Victor Scat Soloist on “Beautiful Love” Illinois Music Educators Northwest ACDA Jazz Honor Association Honor Vocal Choir Jazz Ensemble Various High Schools Various Illinois High Schools Kerry Marsh, Guest Conductor Kerry Marsh, Guest Conductor Outstanding Soloist: Community College Winners Gabe Schonman on “Blue Light, Red Light (Someone’s There)” Bellevue College Jazz Singers Honors Ensemble Bellevue College Outstanding Performances Thomas Almli Bellevue, WA Southern California Vocal Association Vocal Jazz Singcopation and Contemporary Mt. San Antonio College A Cappella Honor Choir Bruce Rogers Various California High Schools Walnut, CA Kerry Marsh, Guest Conductor Outstanding Soloist/Improviser: Outstanding Soloist: Summer Greer on Sophia Bellefeuille on “Praying” “Love Wins” Takumi Kakimoto from Berklee College of Music in Boston

JUNE 2019 DOWNBEAT 115 42nd Student Music Awards

Lauren Johnston Amanda Ross Melinda Rose Rodriguez ©MCK

Logan Smith Ambitious Voices NO MATTER HOW FAR ALONG THEY ARE IN a woman who’s promiscuous or free-minded, their studies, this year’s honorees in the Vocal and Anita O’Day was known as ‘The Jezeb- Jazz Soloist category are all looking toward el of Jazz’ because she wasn’t this passive, the future. Perhaps that’s inevitable for stu- tame, ladylike gal,” Johnston said. “I decid- dents preparing themselves for what comes ed it was about time we had some dialogue Katherine Kortum next, but it seems particularly strong among about these things, so my vocalese is very these young musicians. feminist and digs into the nitty-gritty of wom- Iowa. A native of Santa Cruz, California, Ross That’s certainly the case for Logan Smith, en’s legacy in jazz.” started out on saxophone before becoming a a winner in the Undergraduate College divi- O’Day is also a favorite of Melinda Rose jazz vocal performance major. She hopes to sion. He’s studying jazz vocal performance, Rodriguez of the University of Illinois at Urba- balance the two disciplines; after completing political science and pre-law at the University na-Champaign, who earned an Outstanding the vocational program at Southwestern, she of Miami. A Denver native who came to jazz Performance honor in the Graduate College plans to transfer to a school where she can through classical voice and musical theater, division. from Miami, she spent a focus on saxophone and vocals. he hopes to enter politics one day while main- year at Boston’s New England Conservatory “Rhythmically, I think that having an in- taining some involvement in music. He feels before family issues necessitated a return strumental background has helped me a lot,” the two passions complement each other. home, where she finished her undergrad said Ross, who was introduced to jazz by her “My music is a reflection of my ideals work at Florida International University. She grandfather, a drummer. “I just want to per- as a political scientist,” he said, “and those now teaches at three Illinois universities while form as much as possible. Maybe I can get a thoughts and values are shaped by the work pursuing her master’s degree. gig on a cruise ship or something, but I defi- and discipline that are required of me as a “I really dig how free she was,” Rodriguez nitely want to perform for a living.” musician. At the end of the day, music is a said of O’Day. “It was amazing to me that you A senior at Houston’s Kinder High School statement of your values and situation, not could have that much control when there’s for the Performing and Visual Arts, Katherine only personally but also your social climate. absolute chaos underneath; some of the Kortum is this year’s Performing Arts High I think music should be political and have a hardest music ever played is and School winner. She already has performed voice regarding what’s going on in our world.” you’re just floating on top. That’s magic.” on the stage of the and Lauren Johnston, who is also an Under- While Rodriguez described her own mu- recently won a Jazz Voice award from the graduate College winner, has a similar view. sic as more playful and lighthearted, it’s clear National YoungArts Foundation. Kinder’s di- A senior at the University of Northern Colo- she has absorbed O’Day’s example. “I just rector of jazz studies, Warren Sneed, foresees rado, Johnston has joined fellow students in want to make the music I want to make and great things from Kortum. encouraging restaurants in the campus area sing it for whoever will listen, whether it’s four “I’m very proud of Kate,” Sneed said. “She to host live jazz. Among Johnston’s submis- people or 400,” she said. “I don’t want to be is immensely talented and has a bright future sions for the competition was a version of rich; I just want to do what I want to do.” ahead of her. She has a beautiful voice, ex- Gene Harris’ “Blues For Jezebel,” featuring a Another young artist driven to perform is cellent stage presence, swings hard, and at vocalese segment dedicated to her favorite Community College winner Amanda Ross, a the same time can sing in a variety of musical jazz singer, Anita O’Day (1919–2006). freshman at The School for Music Vocations at styles. She’s the real deal.” “‘Jezebel’ is a derogatory term to describe Southwestern Community College in Creston, —Shaun Brady

116 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2019 JUNE 2019 DOWNBEAT 117 Impressions from Meadowdale High School in Lynnwood, Washington

Community College Badinage Dr. Timothy Buchholz Graduate College Winners Outstanding Performance Hutchinson Community College Wausau, WI Neal Allsup UNT Jazz Singers The Standard Vocal Hutchinson, KS Undergraduate College Winner University of North Texas Jazz Ensemble Gabrielle Dodaro Advanced Vocal Jazz Jennifer Barnes Kansas City Kansas Denton, TX Community College Second Soloist on “Me And Julio Ensemble Outstanding Soloist: John Stafford II Down By The Schoolyard” Berklee College of Music Kansas City, KS Frequency Ned Rosenblatt Stephanie Hansen Outstanding Scat Soloist/ MiraCosta College Boston, MA Outstanding Scat Soloist: Guitarist: Michael Schley Matt Falker Kara Walton on on “Afro Blue” Oceanside, CA Undergraduate College “Spring Is Here” Outstanding Performance Community College Levi Ballenger Vocal Lab Outstanding Soloists Soloist on “Ain’t No Sunshine” Avenue C University of Northern Vocal Jazz Ensemble University of North Texas Colorado Bralen Martin University of Wisconson–Stevens Marion Powers Kerry Marsh Soloist on “Dream On” Point at Wausau Denton, TX Greeley, CO

118 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2019 JUNE 2019 DOWNBEAT 119 Xander Marsden from The Shea Welsh Institute of Jazz in Los Angeles

Graduate College Outstanding Performances Gold Company Western Michigan University Gregory Jasperse Kalamazoo, MI Pacific Standard Time California State University, Long Beach Bob Cole Conservatory of Music Christine Helferich Guter Long Beach, CA Outstanding Soloist: Terrence Taylor on “Fly”

BLUES/POP/ROCK SOLOIST Junior High School Honors Winner Xander Marsden Guitar The Shea Welsh Institute of Jazz Shea Welsh Los Angeles, CA Junior High School Honors Outstanding Performance Faith Winkler Vocalist Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse Evan Wharton Salt Lake City, UT High School Outstanding Performances Matthew Jazwinski Electric Bass Cary-Grove High School Patrick Whalen Cary, IL Grace Giebler Vocalist Gretna High School

120 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2019 Patrick Ribar Dana Landry Gretna, NE Greeley, CO Julian Cunningham Performing Arts Vocalist High School Winner Sacramento State University Damoyee Neroes Gaw Vang Williams Piano and Vocalist Sacramento, CA Booker T. Washington HSPVA Frederick Sanders Undergraduate College , TX Outstanding Performances Jennifer Barnett High School Honors Winner Vocalist Talon Cardon The New School for Jazz and Vocalist Contemporary Music RCC Jazz Ensemble from Riverside City College in California Caleb Chapman’s Amy London Soundhouse New York, NY Caleb Chapman Madison George Salt Lake City, UT Drums Western Michigan University Community College Winner Keith Hall Levi Ballenger Kalamazoo, MI Guitar and Vocalist Matt Twaddle University of Wisconson–Stevens Piano Point at Wausau University of Massachusetts, Dr. Timothy Buchholz Amherst Wausau, WI Jeffrey Holmes Amherst, MA Undergraduate College Winners Sarah Burkhart Spencer Zweifel Vocalist Keyboard Cornish College of the Arts University of Northern Johnaye Kendrick Colorado Seattle, WA Jazz Choir from Folsom High School in California

JUNE 2019 DOWNBEAT 121 Graduate College Winners High School Winner Andrew Saliba Cary-Grove Jazz Combo Guitar Cary-Grove High School Western Michigan University Patrick Whalen Andrew Rathbun Cary, IL Kalamazoo, MI Eddie Codrington High School Tenor Saxophone Outstanding Performance Western Michigan University Briarcrest SoundScape Andrew Rathbun Briarcrest Christian School Kalamazoo, MI Michael Parsons Graduate College Eads, TN Outstanding Performance High School Honors Grayson Nye Ensemble Winners Piano Kingston Winter Western Michigan University Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse Matthew Fries Evan Wharton Kalamazoo, MI Salt Lake City, UT Vicious Beat BLUES/POP/ROCK GROUP Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse Caleb Chapman Junior High School Salt Lake City, UT Honors Winner High School Honors Ensemble Jukebox Antihero Outstanding Performances Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse Evan Wharton The Inevitables UMASS Odd Meters Combo from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst Salt Lake City, UT Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse

122 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2019 Evan Wharton Caleb Chapman Salt Lake City, UT Salt Lake City, UT Soul Research Foundation Undergraduate College Outstanding Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse Performance Evan Wharton Salt Lake City, UT FAMU Latin Jazz Ensemble Florida A&M University Community College Winner Dr. Carlos Vega Tallahassee, FL Nashville State Band Nashville State Community College Graduate College Winner David Edgington Nashville, TN Mariela Versola Quartet Emiliano Sampaio from the University of William Paterson University Music and Performing Arts, Graz, in Austria Community College Outstanding Performance The Standard Vocal Jazz Ensemble Kansas City Kansas Community College John Stafford II Kansas City, KS Undergraduate College Winners Blues and Rock Ensemble I Kutztown University Kevin Kjos Kutztown, PA Frost Funk Ensemble University of Miami Frost School of Music Steve Rucker Coral Gables, FL Unergraduate College Outstanding Performance Bendita Musicians Institute Lyman Medeiros Los Angeles, CA Graduate College Winner Frost Fusion Ensemble University of Miami Frost School of Music Steve Rucker Coral Gables, FL Graduate College Outstanding Performances UMASS Odd Meters Combo University of Massachusetts, Amherst Fumi Tomita Amherst, MA Lushh Western Michigan University Keith Hall Kalamazoo, MI

LATIN GROUP High School Honors Ensemble Outstanding Performance La Onda Caribena Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse

JUNE 2019 DOWNBEAT 123 42nd Student Music Awards

Faculty member Steve Rucker (third from left) Blues and Rock Ensemble I from Kutztown University with the Frost Funk Ensemble from the University of Miami

Cary-Grove Jazz Combo from Cary-Grove High School

Nashville State Band from Nashville State Community College

Diverse Achievers Bendita from the Musicians Institute DIVERSITY IS A COMMON ELEMENT “This is a composers’ workshop,” Rucker Jazz Combo, winner in the High School divi- among the winners of this year’s DownBeat said. “Everybody writes and we only submit sion, also lets his students’ tastes dictate the Student Music Awards in the category Blues/ original material from the group [for the Stu- style that the group pursues. “We really try Pop/Rock Group. Diversity certainly is appar- dent Music Awards competition]. I generally to figure out what everybody’s voice is and ent in the musical tastes and influences on play to the strengths of the group. It’s a lit- what their influences are, and then we pick display, but in the case of Bendita—a quartet tle like basketball: If you don’t have a center, a direction based on that,” he said, regarding formed by students at Los Angeles’ Musicians you play small ball. If I’ve got guys who lean the student musicians at Cary-Grove High Institute—it also applies to the members’ more toward a rock or fusion or prog thing, School in Cary, Illinois. “If a student is into a nationalities. then we’ll go in that direction. But if they’re particular contemporary artist, I’ll try to find a “Our current lineup represents four differ- more into hip-hop and funk, we’ll lean more more established jazz artist who may be sim- ent countries,” explained bassist Abigail Mill- in that direction. So the groups change fairly ilar to what they like but might stretch them er of Bendita, the recipient of an Outstanding radically every semester.” a little bit further.” This year, that resulted in Performance honor in the Undergraduate The other Undergraduate College winner submissions of songs by , Randy College division. “Our guitar player is from is Blues and Rock Ensemble I at Pennsylva- Brecker and . Tahiti, our drummer’s from Japan, our sing- nia’s Kutztown University. Vocalist Brianna While bands from Cary-Grove, Kutztown er’s from Argentina and I’m from Chicago. We Parry has been a member of the group for and Frost previously have won honors in the all bring different cultures and styles, then we all three years of her tenure at Kutztown. In Blues/Pop/Rock Group category, this year’s create together and it becomes this mix of order to showcase the band’s diversity, she victory marks a new chapter for the Nash- r&b and neo-soul that sounds like us.” submitted three widely varied selections: the ville State Band, winner in the Community At every level in the category, it is im- heavy-duty funk of ’s “Hangin’ College division. David Edgington, Nashville portant for the ensembles to forge their own With My Baby,” the more subdued groove of State Community College’s director of music, identities. Steve Rucker—who earned under- “Home At Last” by Steely Dan and an acoustic invites a different artist to collaborate with the graduate and graduate degrees at the Uni- number, “The Eye,” by Brandi Carlile. ensemble each year. This year’s partnership versity of Miami’s Frost School of Music and is “I think it’s important to showcase that was with Dynamo, a local band whose eclectic now on faculty there—directs the Frost Funk we’re all versatile as musicians and we can style garners comparisons to Snarky Puppy. Ensemble. The band was a co-winner in the adapt to whatever kind of song we’re pre- “This was our first stab at taking on com- Undergraduate College division. Over the sented with,” said Parry, who feels the en- mercial or ,” Edgington said. “It years, depending on the group’s members, it semble is ideal preparation for a life in profes- brought a lot of excitement to the program, has emphasized different styles, alternating sional music or a teaching career. “Being in and the students had such a great time play- between funk and fusion—though Rucker this group, we’ve all grown as musicians to- ing it. We still treated it like a jazz project, admits that the distinction is a blurry one. He gether. The family feeling that we share pre- with opportunities to improvise, but instead meets with students at the beginning of the pares us for a future of interacting with other of a lot of swing and bossa it was more funk semester to assess their tastes and then takes musicians—or even a classroom of students.” grooves and contemporary sounds.” the ensemble in that direction. Patrick Whalen, director of the Cary-Grove —Shaun Brady

124 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2019 JUNE 2019 DOWNBEAT 125 Jalil Muhammad from Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee

David Demsey Wayne, NJ Graduate College Outstanding Performances Latin American Ensemble George Mason University Juan Megna Fairfax, VA WMU Jazz Composers Western Michigan University Matthew Fries Kalamazoo, MI

ORIGINAL COMPOSITION– SMALL ENSEMBLE Junior High School Honors Winner Brandon Goldberg, “McCoy” Pine Crest School Paul Posnak Fort Lauderdale, FL Junior High School Honors Outstanding Composition Gabriel Severn, “Kick Start” Loyalsock Township Middle School Eddie Severn Williamsport, PA High School Winner Kate Williams, “Unstuck In Time” Vanden High School Music Department Fairfield, CA

126 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2019 High School High School Honors Outstanding Composition Outstanding Compositions Ethan Furman, “Candela” Esteban Castro, Greens Farms Academy “Swan Song” Rex Cadwallader Bergen County Academies Westport, CT Phillip Kawin (MSM Precollege program) Performing Arts New York, NY High School Winner Jett Lim, “Y’All Play Fort Knight” Joshua Catania, SFJAZZ “Hintergedanken” Dann Zinn Kettle Moraine School for San Francisco, CA Arts and Performance Kevin Erickson Jonathan Paik, Wales, WI “Seoul Search” Colburn Community School of Performing Arts High School Performing Arts Lee Secard AM Jazz Ensemble from Rio Americano High School in Sacramento, California Outstanding Composition Los Angeles, CA Dario Bizio, “Overland” Undergraduate College Winner Hamilton High School Academy Adam Claussen, of Music and Performing Arts “Minor Conniption” Jim Foschia University of Miami Los Angeles, CA Frost School of Music Gary Keller High School Honors Winner Coral Gables, FL Dalton Hayse, “Temple Mount” Undergraduate College Colburn Community School of Outstanding Compositions Performing Arts Lee Secard Alexander Price, “Journey” Los Angeles, CA Arizona State University Latin American Ensemble from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia

JUNE 2019 DOWNBEAT 127 Waukee Jazz One from Waukee High School in Iowa

Leyden High Schools Vocal Jazz Ensemble from Franklin Park, Illinois

Michael Kocour University of Northern Colorado Tempe, AZ Dana Landry and Kerry Marsh Evan Abounassar, Greeley, CO “Message From A Dreamer” ORIGINAL COMPOSITION– University of the Pacific Patrick Langham LARGE ENSEMBLE Stockton, CA Takumi Kakimoto, High School Winner “Lead The Way” Amy Norton, “Ecuador” Berklee College of Music Hollis-Brookline High School Ayn Inserto Dave Umstead Boston, MA Hollis, NH Graduate College Winner Performing Arts Bryan Kennard,“Close High School Winner Enough To Far Away” University of Miami Summer Camargo, Frost School of Music “Leap Froggin’” Gary Lindsay Dillard Center for the Arts Coral Gables, FL Christopher Dorsey Fort Lauderdale, FL Graduate College Outstanding Composition Undergraduate College Winner Daniel Thompson and Jason Mountario, Julian Cary, “Love Is More “Princess Of Sahara” Thicker Than Forget” Berklee College of Music

128 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2019 JUNE 2019 DOWNBEAT 129 Las Vegas Academy of the Arts Jazz Band

MSM Precollege Manasia Combo from the Manhattan School of Music Precollege program in New York City

Bob Pilkington JAZZ ARRANGEMENT Boston, MA Undergraduate College Junior High School Winner Outstanding Composition Walter Serwin, “Mii Plaza” Kyle Myers, Stanley Middle School “Red Herring” Bob Athayde University of North Texas Lafayette, CA Richard DeRosa Denton, TX High School Winner Graduate College Winner Jackson Irvine, “Duke Greg Weis, Ellington’s Sound Of Love” “Subterranean Rio Americano High School Nuclear Garbage Fire” Josh Murray University of Northern Sacramento, CA Colorado Drew Zaremba High School Greeley, CO Outstanding Arrangement Graduate College Jason Obuobisa,“Wanderer” Outstanding Composition West Ranch High School Brian Leff Emiliano Sampaio, Stevenson Ranch, CA “Solo For Zagreb” University of Music and High School Honors Winner Performing Arts, Graz Ed Partyka Benny Conn, “Beatrice” Graz, Austria Colburn Community School of

130 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2019 Performing Arts Lee Secard Los Angeles, CA Undergraduate College Winners Jason Mountario,“Nardis” Berklee College of Music Bob Pilkington Boston, MA Matthew J. Epperson, “Stella By Starlight” Western Michigan University Scott Cowan Kalamazoo, MI Cary-Grove Jazz Choir from Cary-Grove High School in Cary, Illinois Undergraduate College Outstanding Arrangement Kyle Gabriel, “Leaving Again/In The Wee Small Hours” California State University, Long Beach Bob Cole Conservatory of Music Christine Helferich Guter Long Beach, CA Graduate College Winner– Small Ensemble Clint Bleil, “I’ll Remember April” University of Miami Frost School of Music Gary Lindsay Gold Company from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo Coral Gables, FL

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Mariela Versola

Alana Macpherson Clint Bleil

Jason Obuobisa

Jason Mountario

do a small-group arrangement, based on the collective’s instrumentation but with the ad- Distinctly Creative dition of a guitar,” Bleil explained. “I like odd meters and rhythmic syncopation, and I want- ed to create rhythmic complexity and irregu- Approaches larity for a tune that’s very recognizable.” Saxophonist Alana Macpherson is a win- WINNERS IN THE JAZZ ARRANGEMENT College of Music who is a winner in the Under- ner in the Graduate College division for a re- category reflect a wide array of creative graduate College division—hails from Indone- cording of “All Or Nothing At All” she made approaches to orchestrating and chart- sia and didn’t grow up listening to much jazz. with her nonet and a vocalist. Macpherson led ing compositions. Some of this year’s win- “I loved progressive rock,” he said, “but the Western Australia Youth Jazz Orchestra ning were influenced by world later I got into jazz and got a scholarship to saxophone section for several years before be- music, blues and progressive rock, while other Berklee’s summer program. When I enrolled coming the assistant music director. Macpher- works reflect the influence of notable jazz full-time, I took a chord-and-scale class, and son now attends the University of Music and arrangers from earlier generations. really got into arranging. My first arrange- Performing Arts in Graz, Austria, where she Mariela Versola—recipient of an Out- ment of ‘Nardis’ was my final assignment for studies with Ed Partyka, professor for jazz the- standing Arrangement honor in the Gradu- that class. I learned a lot more about arrang- ory, composition and arrangement. ate College Small Ensemble division—started ing and reworked it for my senior recital, and “Alana is not only an excellent saxophone playing alto saxophone in her middle school tried to bring something fresh stylistically to it, player, but she is finding her own unique jazz band before continuing her musical ed- while staying in the jazz tradition.” voice as a composer, arranger and band- ucation at the University of North Carolina Clint Bleil, winner in the Graduate College leader,” Partyka said. “She’s a big fan of Bob School of the Arts and then Michigan State Small Ensemble division, started playing saxo- ’s music, and you can hear a clear University. During her graduate studies at phone in sixth grade in his hometown of Pitts- continuation of his concepts in her writing.” William Paterson University, she submitted burgh, then attended Slippery Rock Univer- Jason Obuobisa, an Outstanding Arrange- her quartet arrangement of the South African sity and earned degrees in jazz performance ment honoree in the High School division, folk song “Shosholoza.” and music education. grew up playing drums and hearing plenty of “I wrote my thesis on South African tra- “I never had any professional training in gospel music in his home. “Both my parents ditional music,” she said. “And with this ar- arranging at that point,” he recalled, “but oth- are ministers, so I’ve always been a big fan of rangement, I tried to keep true to that tradi- er musicians asked me to do small-group ar- gospel music,” he said. “When I joined bands tion and begin by playing sax in a duet with rangements, and I wrote music for my senior in high school, I began to play a lot of jazz, and drums. It then evolves to a 12-bar blues with a recital. Then I decided to apply to the Univer- write and arrange for jazz combos. couple of different grooves, and then I take it sity of Miami for grad school with a major in “I heard [pianist] Hiromi’s recording of back to the duet with drums. I also wanted to studio jazz writing.” ‘Wanderer,’ and really liked the emotion she model the tune on the way that Hugh Mase- Bleil’s arrangement of jazz standard “I’ll created. I thought it would be interesting as a kela might have approached it.” Remember April” was inspired by his admi- big band piece. So I worked on it, and tried to Jason Mountario—a student at Berklee ration for the SFJAZZ Collective. “I wanted to make sure it had emotion, too.” —Terry Perkins

132 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2019 JUNE 2019 DOWNBEAT 133 Max Hubbard from Champaign Central High School in Illinois

Graduate College Outstanding Arrangements–Small Ensemble Jorge Machain-Vega, “I Hear A Rhapsody” University of Nevada, Las Vegas Dave Loeb Las Vegas, NV Mariela Versola, “Shosholoza” William Paterson University David Demsey Wayne, NJ Graduate College Outstanding Arrangement–Vocal with Rhythm Section Jenna McLean, “Lisa” University of Northern Colorado Kerry Marsh Greeley, CO Graduate College Winner–Vocal with Nonet Alana Macpherson, “All Or Nothing At All” University of Music and Performing Arts, Graz Ed Partyka Graz, Austria Graduate College Winner–Big Band Benjamin Knecht, “Survey With A Fridge On Top” Hochschule Luzern Ed Partyka Luzern, Switzerland Graduate College Outstanding Arrangements–Big Band Alex Annan, “Ima” The University of Kansas Dan Gailey Lawrence, KS

134 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2019 Jazz Band l from Folsom High School in California

Michael Beavers from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro

Greg Weis, Creative Arts “Bohemia After Dark” Joe Ceponis University of Northern , LA Colorado Drew Zaremba Community College Greeley, CO Outstanding Recording ENGINEERED LIVE RECORDING Brady Rose Kansas City Kansas Community College Undergraduate College Winner John Stafford II Jalil Muhammad Kansas City, KS Lee University José Valentino Undergraduate Cleveland, TN College Winner Graduate College Aaron Mutchler Outstanding Recordings University of Miami Frost School of Music Michael Beavers Brian Lynch Middle Tennessee State Coral Gables, FL University John Hill Undergraduate College Murfreesboro, TN Outstanding Recording Nathan Borton Michigan State University Nyreay Penn Randy Napoleon Lee University East Lansing, MI José Valentino Cleveland, TN ENGINEERED STUDIO REC0DING Graduate College Winner High School Honors Michael Beavers Outstanding Recording Middle Tennessee State University Evan Martin John Hill New Orleans Center for Murfreesboro, TN

JUNE 2019 DOWNBEAT 135 42nd Student Music Awards DOWNBEAT JAZZ EDUCATION HALL OF FAME JERRY COKER

By Monika Herzig Foundation Builder JAMEY AEBERSOLD, AND Jerry Coker (nicknamed the “ABCs of Jazz Education”) are often credited with demysti- fying the learning of jazz and facilitating the steady rise of collegiate jazz education pro-

grams beginning in the 1960s. The catalyst for DOWNBEAT ARCHIVES entering academia was their development of educational materials and curricula, as well as being master teachers and role models. In tra- ditional conservatories prior to the 1960s, the common rhetoric about jazz was the notion of an inferior music not suited for education- al settings. Some schools even punished stu- dents for playing jazz in practice rooms and discouraged any engagement with the music. Coker, 86, now joins his colleagues Aeber- sold and Baker (1931–2016) as an inductee in the DownBeat Jazz Education Hall of Fame. Growing up in South Bend, Indiana, Coker was an impressionable teenager when the era came along. The level of virtuosity in players like and Dizzy Gilles- pie pushed the boundaries of jazz into a new realm of improvisational theory and practice. Inspired by listening to his father’s gigs, ses- sions and rehearsals, Coker decided on a ca- reer in music and entered Indiana University in 1950. However, he abandoned his studies and joined the Orchestra in 1953, followed by stints with , and a period of freelancing on the West Coast. By 1955 he was ready to exchange life on the road for a more stationary career that kept him close to his new wife, jazz vocalist Patty Coker. Based in San Antonio, Texas, at the time, she referred a few students to him who were interested in learning jazz. While on the faculty at the University of Miami, Jerry Coker and his teaching assistant Dan Haerle “I was a little nervous and terrified because refined a curriculum that became the blueprint for college jazz programs worldwide. I did not want to be responsible for someone else’s learning—especially if I am going to have Then I went back over the list and started University in Huntsville, because the head of to invent all the stuff they are going to work crossing things off, eliminating things that the department there played a gig with two on,” Coker said in a 2014 article in the Journal I had learned, but not found meaningful or of these guys and saw how much they had of Jazz Studies. “So, after I got over that, I took useful. Then I put them into a logical order, a improved in a very short time. He decided about a week to prepare, and during that time sequence. I made an outline and wrote out a that the improvement was on the basis of I sat down and wrote down everything that I few starter-type patterns and things. So, the what I had taught them.” thought I had ever learned in my own quest lessons worked out well. In fact, they got me In fact, the long list became the frame- for playing. I ended up with a very long list. my first teaching gig at Sam Houston State work of Coker’s influential book Improvising

136 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2019 Jazz, first published in 1964 and the result of his master’s thesis research. Saxophonist Dave Liebman, who has put many of Coker’s teach- ings into practice, said, “Jerry Coker is the god- father of jazz education, if only for his ground- breaking and best-selling book Improvising Jazz, which established many of the terms we

use every day to describe the workings of jazz COURTESY JAMEY AEBERSOLD like II–V–I [chord progressions], CESH [contra- puntal elaboration of static harmony], etc.” Coker’s output of educational material during his teaching career grew to 17 published books and more co-author credits. His gift for breaking down skills and knowledge into logical sequences, as well as meticulously identifying essential curricular components, impressed Dean Bill Lee at the University of Miami, who hired Coker to design and create undergraduate and graduate pro- David Baker (left), Jerry Coker and Jamey Aebersold are grams in jazz studies in 1966. all inductees in the DownBeat Jazz Education Hall of Fame. During the next five years, Coker, together with his teaching assistant Dan Haerle, refined exchange what we’ve been doing, and new and were all enthralled when he picked up a curriculum that included a four-semester books we were working on, or looking at his horn and played. Every note had mean- sequence of improvisation courses, as well as compositions—whatever it might be.” ing and intensity, so we knew we were in ensemble playing in various styles and set- By 1973, Coker had moved on to ap- the presence of someone special. He also tings, jazz composition/arranging, jazz theory/ pointments at Pembroke State University brought the best out of the band, since he ear-training and history, and jazz keyboard and before implementing instinctively knew how to get to the root fundamentals. It became the blueprint for col- his curriculum at the University of Tennes- of any problems that developed—whether lege jazz programs worldwide. see in 1975. There he rose to the rank of it was some section phrasing, or balance, “It worked, and we knew it worked,” Coker distinguished professor by the time of his or something in someone’s soloing. He al- said during a 2008 interview. “And we wait- retirement in 1997. For several years he ways knew what to say at the right time to ed for five years, asking the students every ran a small summer jazz camp in his cab- make things better, but encourage us at year what went wrong. Was there anything in in North Carolina. Former students and the same time.” that was needed? Anything missing? And for colleagues all rave about the high level of Fellow Aebersold Workshop faculty almost five years, there were things. And we musicianship that enabled him to model his member Rick Simerly fondly remembers the had to change them. Then we’d talk with the teaching concepts at any time. level of musicianship at the annual faculty faculty and the grad assistant and ask them “Watching Jerry teach a combo was in it- . “Outside of Jerry’s office, I can re- the same questions. At the end of five years, self a lesson as he dissected the improvising member hearing him practice ‘’ I posed that question at the meeting: What process, slowing things down to a crawl, al- in all 12 keys and shredding every key,” he needs to be changed? What’s wrong? Noth- lowing everyone to ‘catch up’ with the usual recalled. “Jerry is an absolute gentleman ing. No one had anything. And then I asked very fast flow of ideas and concerns that are who has a curious and analytical mind. His the faculty the same question. The same thing a by-product of spontaneous improvising,” musicianship is on the highest level imag- happened—nothing. In other words, we knew Liebman said. “With Jerry, the intellect and inable. Playing with him at the Aebersold we had it then.” soul were one. He never forgot the magic of camps was an honor.” Feedback and inspiration throughout this what it is we do—but always with the prem- Confirming details about his friend’s process also came from two Indiana friends ise being, you have to practice the details pedagogical gift, Aebersold said, “Jerry simultaneously developing various learning and be forthcoming when assessing your could hear anything, and that allowed him tools and curriculum guides. Aebersold—hail- strengths and weaknesses.” to center in when listening to students play ing from New Albany, Indiana—refined his University of Miami colleague and for him. His comments were always exactly concept of play-along recordings and invited co-author Gary Campbell said, “Jerry Coker what the student needed. Jerry could say a Coker and Haerle to be on the faculty of his made me feel that he recognized my desire particular student needed this or that, and summer workshops. On Coker’s recommen- and need to play, and he embodied these the student would thank him for seeing the dation, Wilfred Bain, dean of the Indiana Uni- feelings and energy in his life and work. holes in the student’s soloing.” versity School of Music, hired Baker (an Indi- This is more important than any curriculum Shelly Berg, dean of the Frost School anapolis native) in 1966. By 1968, Baker had or academic pedagogy. This is human. This of Music at the University of Miami, noted created a degree program in jazz studies, writ- confirms the reality of a life playing jazz or that Coker essentially laid the foundation ing his own method books on improvisation, any other music. Welcome: You belong to of contemporary jazz pedagogy. “I think arranging, pedagogy, ear-training and more. something that really exists. [Coker and Jerry Coker’s legacy in our department is in The Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Work- Baker] were like fathers, with passion and the foundational knowledge and skills that shops at the University of Louisville served as devotion for playing music.” our faculty insist everyone has,” Berg said. the incubator of modern jazz pedagogy when was a student at Indiana “For instance, the jazz keyboard program Aebersold, Baker, Coker and Haerle exchanged University and a member of Coker’s jazz for non-piano majors is rigorous, and based their newest strategies, materials and ideas. ensemble, traveling to the Middle East and in clear pedagogies to ensure lifelong, us- “When we came in the summer, we knew Asia during their 16-week State Department able capabilities. Frost jazz alums tend to that time was precious and that there were Tour in 1966. “[Coker] brought a new lev- be successful because their artistry is un- going to be two weeks, three weeks, maybe el of expertise to the jazz ensemble, since derpinned by know-how. To me, this idea four in the old days, when we would be to- he was a player, composer and arranger,” goes back to Jerry Coker and how the pro- gether,” Coker said in 2008. “So, we tended to Brecker said. “We played some of his charts gram was founded.” DB

JUNE 2019 DOWNBEAT 137 42nd Student Music Awards

Spreading Joy Through Music

FOR A SELF-PROCLAIMED “LATE BLOOMER” and realized that he could communicate his with no formal training, Alberto De La Reguera musical ideas without having mastered read- has left an enormous mark at the University ing or writing formal notation. It’s an approach of Miami’s Frost School of Music, where he led that has carried over to his teaching career. the Latin Jazz Orchestra for 25 years. “I don’t have a philosophy of teaching,” De “Alberto has been a staple of our commu- La Reguera said. “I’m very laid-back, but I like nity for decades,” said John Daversa, chair of to push students outside their comfort zone; Frost’s jazz program. “His dedication and pas- that’s how you learn.” sion make the world a better place.” “It’s very important for music students The big band that De La Reguera founded to be exposed to a variety of approaches to in the early-’90s—initially called the Frost Sal- teaching and coaching, to reflect what they sa Orchestra—continues to thrive under the will be encountering in the real world,” said directorship of drummer , and is trumpeter Brian Lynch, who directs several one of Frost’s premier ensembles. of Frost’s jazz ensembles. “Alberto’s approach Born in Cuba, the son of one of the coun- may not be academic, but it’s consistent and try’s best-known journalists, De La Reguera rigorous. His teaching style makes his students grew up in Puerto Rico from the age of 9, and dig deeper and research the roots of the music first was introduced to jazz three years after they’re performing.” relocating. “Alberto’s passion for music and music “When I was 12,” De La Reguera recalled, education is evident within every breath and “I heard an early record, and I action,” Daversa added. “His method comes thought it was very nice. Then, the next thing I directly from his own life experience.” Alberto De La Reguera considers heard was ’ . I thought, De La Reguera’s success with growing Lat- himself a “fearless recruiter” of talent. ‘What the hell happened in between?’ I had to in music studies at Frost is the prime example. find out.” “When I came here, there were some peo- progressive salsa, mixing in more jazz in- While he knew he wanted to compose, he ple who didn’t feel that Latin music had a fluences and other composers, like Lalo didn’t get serious about music until his early place in the curriculum,” De La Reguera said. Schifrin.” twenties, and even then, he didn’t follow a tra- “They didn’t take it seriously, but attitudes Lynch, who has been a featured soloist ditional route to organizing a band or teach- have changed a lot.” with De La Reguera’s ensemble, said his ing. He attributes the change to a combination colleague’s positive attitude plays a huge “Everything I do, I do by ear,” De La Reg- of tenacity and willingness to explore beyond role. uera said. “It’s very natural to me.” traditional boundaries. “Alberto’s joy in making and shaping In Puerto Rico, he began writing and ar- “I’m a pretty fearless recruiter,” De La Reg- music is infectious,” Lynch said. “It rubs ranging for Teatro Del Sesenta, one of the uera said, “and I’ve found that people were off on his students, inspiring them to great country’s most popular theater companies, more receptive when I began creating more performances and transformative experi- ences.” Now that he’s passed on leadership of the Latin orchestra to Prieto, De La Reg- uera has more time to focus on his other passion: radio. He has been involved with Miami’s WDNA–FM for 35 years, in a variety of capacities, including recording student ensembles and organizing live broadcasts. “My father, Manolo, was famous for broadcasting the first World Series game in Cuba,” De La Reguera said, “so radio was a natural thing for me. It’s a lot of fun and gives the students great experience.” Like everything else in his career, De La Reguera said he has one goal: “Bring a smile to people’s faces.” —James Hale

138 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2019 JUNE 2019 DOWNBEAT 139 42nd Student Music Awards

THANK Tireless, Dedicated Mentor YOU! EVERYONE REMEMBERS AT LEAST ONE teacher who made a big impact on their edu- cational development. For scores of students DownBeat who have passed through Juliet Green’s would music classes in the Portola Valley section of like to thank our San Mateo County, California, since 1991, she is undoubtedly one of those teachers. world-class adjudicators “Juliet teaches every class with a smile,” for making the said Kristen Shima, assistant principal at 42nd Annual Student Corte Madera School, where Green teach- es general music, band and the DownBeat Music Awards Award-winning Panache vocal jazz ensem- ble. “She is able to shift her teaching style a success. to meet the needs of a beginning-level band student in fourth grade to an advanced-level Juliet Green views music as choir student in eighth grade.” “a real haven” for students. Jim Anderson A singer with a background in jazz and musical theater, Green graduated with a students interact and learn. Darcy James Argue bachelor’s of music degree from California’s “Composition is much more accessible Janice Borla University of the Pacific in Stockton, before for them now,” Green said. “They have fun launching her teaching career. While she has playing with the possibilities of those tools, Don Braden released four albums—three under her own and we can create a digital portfolio of their Jeff Coffin name and one with the a cappella group work.” +4db—and performed frequently, Green For her older jazz choir students, tech- Claire Daly said that teaching provides the biggest re- nology provides an important means to help John Daversa ward. perfect their parts. However, Green said that “I get to see kids develop so much over she continues to interact with students in Orbert Davis five years,” Green said. “Music is such a pow- the classroom as she always has, and every Les Hooper erful thing; everybody has some connection student presents a new opportunity. to it in their lives. For young students, music “I’ve never taught a lesson the same way Fred Irby III provides a real haven.” twice,” Green said. “The curriculum shifts Bart Marantz In every grade, Green strives to demon- with each new group of students, depend- strate that improvisation teaches resiliency, ing on what they need and what they want Kitty Margolis and that the ability to think creatively is an to get out of music.” Miles Osland important life skill. “She makes great connections with her “Kids want to be right, and they don’t kids,” Shima said, “and even continues on Bob Parsons want to be seen making mistakes,” Green with them at the local high school, where Dave Rivello explained. “I show them that it’s OK to be she helps run and support the musicals.” weird, to fail—to find ways to be creative Along with helping her fourth graders Albert Rivera with your mistakes. I model that for them, record an album of blues music and taking John Santos and they grow from that.” Panache to perform at the Santa Cruz Jazz Her approach to creativity begins with Festival, Green volunteers with Living Jazz percussion circles and other rhythm-cen- (a nonprofit music program in Oakland). De- Roger Treece tered activities for fourth graders. spite her full plate, Green is hoping to find “Rhythm reveals a lot of things, and stu- time to get back to writing her own music. Ryan Truesdell dents respond really well to things like rhyth- “I feel so lucky to work in a community James Warrick mic naming exercises and other play-based that supports the arts,” Green said. “I’m in- approaches,” Green said. credibly fortunate. As I’ve grown older, I’ve Shima added: “Juliet’s classes are inno- come to value relationships and good mu- vative and fun, and she incorporates tech- sic-making more and more.” 42ndANNUAL nology like GarageBand [music production “She is a true asset and gift to our com- software] into her lessons, which the stu- munity and has instilled a love of music in dents love.” many of our students,” Shima said. “We Being located near the heart of Silicon have a robust music program—choir, band Valley, Green said the evolution of technol- and musical theater at our school—because ogy has significantly changed the way her of Juliet.” —James Hale

140 DOWNBEAT JUNE 2019 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. : Saxophonist, bandleader, composer, educator/clinician. Claire Daly: Baritone saxophonist, recording artist, 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. Kitty Margolis: Vocalist, bandleader, , arranger, clinician; Mad-Kat Records co-owner. 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, , 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.

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