The Jazzschool will kick off two annual events next month—a festival and a jazz and blues camp—highlighting the accomplishments and aspirations of women in jazz. “Our goal is to provide visibility for the large community of wonderful women jazz instrumentalists in the Bay Area," says trumpeter Ellen Seeling, who is co-producing both events with saxophonist Jean Fineberg. “The festival dates coincide with International Women's Day on 3/8—a reminder of the tradition of women's solidarity in working toward full equality and recognition in all endeavors."
The 1st Annual Women's Jazz Festival will consist of two concerts, “The Young Lionesses" on Saturday 3/10 at 8:00 pm, and “Jazzwomen Veterans" on Sunday 3/11 at 4:30 pm, and will be held at the Jazzschool, 2087 Addison Street, Berkeley. The young Bay Area jazzwomen performing on Saturday are graduates of top-notch jazz programs at Berklee College of Music, Oberlin College, and Cal State Northridge who have already sold out clubs like Yoshi's Oakland and the Jazzschool with their own ensembles. The hard-swinging all-star combo includes Kasey Knudsen, alto saxophone; Ariel Vento, trumpet; Mariel Austin, trombone; Erika Oba, piano; Liana Miles, bass; and Camille Dyhr, drums.
The veterans scheduled to appear on Sunday—bandleaders, composers, recording artists, featured soloists, highly sought-after educators, and general heavy hitters—have performed locally, regionally, and nationally for years. This festival concert will mark their first performance as part of an all-star ensemble that will feature Mad Duran, alto sax; Jean Fineberg, tenor sax; Ellen Seeling, trumpet; Sarah Cline, trombone; Susan Muscarella, piano; Carla Kaufman, bass; and Kelly Fasman, drums.
The 1st Annual Women's Jazz & Blues Camp, which will take place Monday 3/26 through Friday 3/30 at the Jazzschool, is open to women instrumentalists and vocalists at all levels. The camp picks up on the success over the last three years of the Jazzschool Girls' Jazz & Blues Camp, which serves 6th- through 12th-graders. “We've been thrilled at the response to the girls' camp from students, parents, and educators," says co-director Jean Fineberg. “Enrollment has increased every year, and the girls have called it a life-changing experience for them. They get to relax and feel supported; many of them have claimed that it's the most fun musical week they spend every year. As far as I know," Fineberg adds, “this is the only camp of its kind in the world—all girls in attendance, all-female faculty."
The new Women's camp is open to instrumentalists and vocalists, and will feature an all-women faculty from the Montclair Women's Big Band.
“Women instrumentalists continue to face challenges," says Seeling. “From my perspective there has been some improvement, but there's a lot of work still to be done. I see more students, and more pros, but what I don't see is more women on college faculties, and I don't see them represented at many major festivals. Our intention is to help make that change."
Tuition for the camp is $475; some financial aid is available. Complete information about schedules, auditions, prerequisites, and registration is at http://jazzschool.org/html/classes_womens_jazz.html. For additional info, email Jean Fineberg ([email protected]) or phone 510-758-2200.
Tickets for the Young Lionesses concert on 3/10 are $15/$12; for the Jazzwomen Veterans concert 3/11, $20/$15. Purchase online (www.jazzschool.org) or call 510-843-5373.
The 1st Annual Women's Jazz Festival will consist of two concerts, “The Young Lionesses" on Saturday 3/10 at 8:00 pm, and “Jazzwomen Veterans" on Sunday 3/11 at 4:30 pm, and will be held at the Jazzschool, 2087 Addison Street, Berkeley. The young Bay Area jazzwomen performing on Saturday are graduates of top-notch jazz programs at Berklee College of Music, Oberlin College, and Cal State Northridge who have already sold out clubs like Yoshi's Oakland and the Jazzschool with their own ensembles. The hard-swinging all-star combo includes Kasey Knudsen, alto saxophone; Ariel Vento, trumpet; Mariel Austin, trombone; Erika Oba, piano; Liana Miles, bass; and Camille Dyhr, drums.
The veterans scheduled to appear on Sunday—bandleaders, composers, recording artists, featured soloists, highly sought-after educators, and general heavy hitters—have performed locally, regionally, and nationally for years. This festival concert will mark their first performance as part of an all-star ensemble that will feature Mad Duran, alto sax; Jean Fineberg, tenor sax; Ellen Seeling, trumpet; Sarah Cline, trombone; Susan Muscarella, piano; Carla Kaufman, bass; and Kelly Fasman, drums.
The 1st Annual Women's Jazz & Blues Camp, which will take place Monday 3/26 through Friday 3/30 at the Jazzschool, is open to women instrumentalists and vocalists at all levels. The camp picks up on the success over the last three years of the Jazzschool Girls' Jazz & Blues Camp, which serves 6th- through 12th-graders. “We've been thrilled at the response to the girls' camp from students, parents, and educators," says co-director Jean Fineberg. “Enrollment has increased every year, and the girls have called it a life-changing experience for them. They get to relax and feel supported; many of them have claimed that it's the most fun musical week they spend every year. As far as I know," Fineberg adds, “this is the only camp of its kind in the world—all girls in attendance, all-female faculty."
The new Women's camp is open to instrumentalists and vocalists, and will feature an all-women faculty from the Montclair Women's Big Band.
“Women instrumentalists continue to face challenges," says Seeling. “From my perspective there has been some improvement, but there's a lot of work still to be done. I see more students, and more pros, but what I don't see is more women on college faculties, and I don't see them represented at many major festivals. Our intention is to help make that change."
Tuition for the camp is $475; some financial aid is available. Complete information about schedules, auditions, prerequisites, and registration is at http://jazzschool.org/html/classes_womens_jazz.html. For additional info, email Jean Fineberg ([email protected]) or phone 510-758-2200.
Tickets for the Young Lionesses concert on 3/10 are $15/$12; for the Jazzwomen Veterans concert 3/11, $20/$15. Purchase online (www.jazzschool.org) or call 510-843-5373.
For more information contact Terri Hinte Publicity.
