Blue Skies, Smilin' at Me...

Jack Bowers

Senior Contributor since 1997

A former newspaper writer / editor who has been writing about big-band Jazz for more than fifteen years.

Recent articles (1,749 total)

Published: October 2, 2005

Next January 11-14, the International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE, as mentioned earlier) will host its thirty-third annual Conference at the Hilton and Sheraton hotels in New York City. As always, the event will include concerts, workshops, research papers, teacher training sessions, a Jazz industry track, and a mammoth music industry exposition. No information yet on who'll be appearing this year, but there are sure to be a number of stellar performers from big band to small group and beyond. We do know that Jazz Masters Awards will be presented by the National Endowment for the Arts, with other awards saluting the Hall of Fame, Jazz Humanitarian and Jazz Ambassador. The ASCAP / IAJE and Gil Evans awards will be presented to outstanding composers, while younger talent will be showcased via the Clifford Brown / Stan Getz All-Stars, IAJE Community College All-Stars, and the AAJC / HBCU Student All-Star Big Band.

Looking further down the road... Next March 9-11, the University of South Florida is sponsoring the first International Jazz Composers' Symposium showcasing the talents of three celebrated composers—Bob Brookmeyer, John Clayton and Dave Douglas—with the university's resident Jazz orchestra, Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge. The symposium will encompass two days and three nights of concerts, master classes, panel discussions, lectures / chats and research presentations. As a bonus, composers may apply to have their works performed in a concert setting with the guest composers present. For information, phone 813-974-4285.

And on March 31-April 2, the University of North Texas hosts the annual UNT Jazz Festival at the Hotel Inter-Continental in Addison (just north of Dallas). As always, there'll be plenty of big bands performing, although the names aren't yet available. But they will include the North Texas One O'Clock and Two O'Clock Bands, as well as the UNT Jazz Faculty Combo and UNT Jazz Singers. That's more than enough to whet the appetite. There'll be competitions in a number of areas with judges to include Ron McCurdy and Sunny Wilkinson (vocal groups), Lou Fischer and Howie Smith (combos), Steve Houghton and Marvin Stamm (big bands). Those interested in performing should notify education director Bob Morgan of their intention to apply no later than November 1. E-mail rmorgan@unt.edu.

That's it for now. Until next time, keep swingin'...!

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