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Monterey Jazz Festival Hosts Top Young Jazz Musicians
The Monterey Jazz Festival, a nonprofit leader in jazz education
since its inception in 1958 and JazzTimes Readers’ Poll multi-year
winner for world’s Best Jazz Festival, is proud to announce the 6th
Annual Next Generation Festival, April 9-11, in downtown Monterey.
The weekend event, devoted to the future of jazz, includes the Next
Generation Festival Jazz Competition with Big Bands, Combos, Vocal
Ensembles and individual musicians vying for a spot on the stages of
the 53rd Annual Monterey Jazz Festival presented by Verizon.
A three-year grant from the Surdna Foundation supports the Next
Generation Festival and the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra’s international
tours. The Surdna Foundation’s Arts Program is national in
scope and supports the artistic advancement of teens, ages 12-18.
Attracting musicians from some of the most prestigious educational
programs in the United States, over 2000 students will participate
in this year’s Next Generation Festival, representing the largest
gathering of young jazz talent on the Monterey Peninsula outside of
the Monterey Jazz Festival itself.
In 2010, sixty-three groups from thirteen states, (including
Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Montana,
Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Texas and the state of Washington) will
participate in the Next Generation Festival, the largest selection of
groups from the widest variety of states to come to Monterey in the
forty-year history of the event – more than double the amount of
represented states from 2009.
All Next Generation Festival competition events – from the Kick-
Off Concert on Friday, April 9 (featuring internationally renowned
jazz artists who act as judges of the Next Generation Festival) – to the
exuberant and electric Big Band, Vocal Ensemble and Combo
Competition on Saturday, April 10 and the College Big Band Vocal
Jazz Ensemble competition on Sunday, April 11, will be open to the
public, free of charge.
The Festival will also conduct clinics, workshops, jam sessions,
and auditions in the heart of the historic Monterey, with music to be
performed at the Monterey Conference Center, the host Portola Plaza
Hotel, at Fisherman’s Wharf and Cannery Row.
For a complete schedule of activities and competition times, visit
www.montereyjazzfestival.org.
The Next Generation Festival will officially start with the annual
Kick-Off Concert at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 9 at the Monterey Conference
Center. The opening night’s activities will feature the festival’s
annual Salute to Jazz Education with performances by the internationally-renowned
competition judges, including pianist Alan
Pasqua, drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, saxophonists Billy Harper,
Paul Contos, Mary Fettig and Aaron Lington; trumpeter Ambrose
Akinmusire; bassist Ray Drummond and vocalists Matt Falker,
Jennifer Barnes and Michele Weir. Entry to the Salute to Jazz Education
and Kick-Off Concert is open to the public, free of charge. Also
featured during the evening concert will be the Monterey Jazz
Festival Artist-In-Residence, 4-time Grammy winning vocalist,
Dianne Reeves.
MJF’s Next Generation Festival Jazz Competition starts at 9 a.m.
on Saturday, April 10 in downtown Monterey’s Conference Center,
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with high-energy big bands, combos and vocal ensembles creating an
atmosphere of anticipation and excitement.
Throughout the day, participants in the High School Big Band,
Vocal and Combo divisions will put on their best performances
before the judges, who will determine the top groups and
outstanding soloists. The top groups of the day in the High School
Vocal, Combo and Big Band divisions will be announced at 6:15 p.m.
Saturday evening from the Conference Center’s Serra Ballroom stage.
At 8 p.m. Saturday night, the top vocal ensembles, combo and Big
Band finalists will take the stage in the Next Generation Festival’s
Showcase Concert – a preview of the groups performing at MJF/53.
The Next Generation Festival will also host a variety of educational
clinics on Saturday, April 9, including presentations by MJF
Artist-In-Residence, Dianne Reeves.
The Next Generation Festival continues through Sunday, April
11, with the country’s top middle school, college, conglomerate big
bands and combos, and college vocal ensembles performing in the
Conference Center’s Serra Ballroom and Steinbeck Forum. The top
college big band, college vocal ensemble and conglomerate big band
(to be announced during the day) will also earn a performance slot at
MJF/52. New for 2010 will be the Open Combo Division, another
expansion of performance opportunities at the Next Generation
Festival.
Auditions will also be held throughout the Next Generation
Festival weekend for the Jimmy Lyons Scholarship to Berklee College
of Music, and for the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, MJF’s national
all-star high school band.
The Next Generation Festival is continuing two new partnership
elements introduced last year: an Instrument Showcase and College
Fair. The Instrument Showcase will allow musicians an opportunity
to play various instruments from participating partners. The College
Fair will allow students an opportunity to visit with several colleges
offering jazz and other music programs. Both activities will be offered
throughout the Next Generation Festival weekend.
More information on all Next Generation Festival activities and
events is available on the MJF website, www.montereyjazzfestival.org
and by phone at (831) 373-3366.
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