The energy was high and the jazz unstoppable the weekend of March 30 – April 1, in Monterey, during the Next Generation Jazz Festival, a 41-year-old tradition of presenting the finest young musicians in the country. Jazz students from both Los Alamitos High School and Oak Middle School were participants.
For the second year in a row, Los Alamitos High School Jazz 1, under the direction of John Rush, was one of only 12 high school big bands selected, and, for the first time, Oak Middle School Jazz Band, under the direction of Justin Padilla, was one of only six middle school bands chosen to compete in this prestigious jazz festival. The groups that compete in the Next Generation Jazz Festival are chosen by “blind audition” by a panel of adjudicators from the Berklee School of Music.
During this educational and fun-filled weekend, the 20 students who make up Los Alamitos High School Jazz 1 had the opportunity to present four incredible charts during the competition phase, jam with fellow musicians, attend clinics, and perform in the Museum of Monterey. In fact, one of the highlights of the festival was having museum audience members request “one more song.” Another highlight was listening to and cheering for Oak Middle School Jazz Band during their stellar performance Sunday morning.
Oak Middle School Jazz Band performed Saturday at Gilbert’s Red Snapper Restaurant on Old Fisherman’s Wharf, and, despite the rainy weather, the students enjoyed playing in the unique venue. On Sunday morning, Oak Middle School Jazz Band performed in Steinbeck Forum, and this outstanding band of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders received best section awards for both its saxophone and rhythm sections.
Los Alamitos High School Jazz 1 and Jazz II, under the direction of John Rush, and McAuliffe Middle School Jazz Band, under the direction of Chuck Wackerman, will be competing in the 50th Annual Reno Jazz Festival held at the University of Nevada, Reno, the end of this month.