IAJE Set For 29th Annual Conference - World's Largest Jazz Gathering Returns To West Coast

The International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE) will hold its 29th Annual Conference in Long Beach, California, USA, January 9 -12, 2002. The Long Beach Convention Center and Hyatt Regency Hotel will host the world's largest jazz gathering, with over 7,000 educators, musicians, and industry representatives from 35 countries expected to attend. As a follow-up to the success of the 2001 Conference held this past January in New York City, the IAJE Conference in Long Beach will offer a record number of concerts, seminars, showcases, and exhibits.

Over 150 artists and clinicians will participate in the conference program including James Moody, Dave Brubeck, Gary Burton and Makoto Ozone, Freddie Hubbard, Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra with Dee Dee Bridgewater, Kenny Werner, George Duke, Kirk Whalum, Tiger Okoshi Quartet, Danish Radio Big Band, Al Dimeola, Billy Childs Chamber Sextet, Alex Acuna, Masters of Groove, Winard Harper Sextet, Don Braden, Steve Wilson Quartet, Bob Florence Limited Edition Big Band, Joey DeFrancesco Trio, JoAnn Brackeen, Richie Cole Alto Madness, Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, Steve Houghton, Ruben Alvarez, Poncho Sanchez, Marc Cary, Alex Acuna and Justo Almario, Kim Richmond Concert Jazz Orchestra, Shelly Berg/Frank Potenza Duo, The Either/Orchestra, Rodney Jones, Pete Escovedo Band with Sheila E, Joe Chambers, Ann Collins, Peter Erskine, Alan Pasqua, Dave Carpenter, Gregg Field, Victor Mendoza, Bob Mintzer, Airto Moreira, Lewis Nash, Ed Neumeister, Ellen Rowe, Randy Sabien, Bob Sheppard, Bobby Shew, Billy Taylor, Tierney Sutton, and Mike Tomaro.

The Almaty Youth Jazz Orchestra from Kazaksan and the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra from California are among the 40 outstanding student groups scheduled to perform at the conference from around the world.

The European Jazz Festivals Organization and the IAJE have partnered to create a new award to recognize international artists who have contributed significantly to the evolution of jazz. The inaugural award, which includes a $20,000 honorarium, will be presented to Austrian keyboardist, bandleader, and composer Joe Zawinul.

A special tribute concert honoring Joe will be presented on Saturday, January 12, by the WDR German Radio Big Band under the direction of multiple GRAMMY winner Vince Mendoza. The concert will also feature guests artists who have played with Joe during his extensive career.

On Friday, January 12, the IAJE Conference will host the National Endowment for the Arts American Jazz Masters Awards for the 12th consecutive year. Hosted by Dr. Billy Taylor, each honoree will receive a $20,000 fellowship during ceremonies at that evening's concert from the NEA Chairman. The 2002 award recipients will be Frank Foster, Percy Heath, and McCoy Tyner.

The 2nd Annual IAJE Gala Dinner will be held on Wednesday, January 9th. Hosted by Nancy Wilson, proceeds from the Gala will benefit the IAJE Global Outreach Fund. The IAJE Presidents Award, which honors an individual for their extraordinary contributions to the field of jazz education, will be presented to Quincy Jones during the dinner. Also benefiting the IAJE Global Outreach Fund is the IAJE Benefit Golf Tournament. Scheduled for January 8 at the El Dorado Park Golf Course in Long Beach, the tournament provides an opportunity for leading jazz artists to join with other IAJE members to support the cause of jazz education. Past participants have included Branford Marsalis, Joe Lovano, Harvey Mason, and Ray Brown.

The IAJE Conference industry track has expanded to more than 30 sessions for 2002. These insightful and often times controversial panels and workshops are geared to members of the jazz recording, presenting, performing, retail, media and radio industry. With sponsorship and support from JazzTimes, BET on Jazz, Jazziz, Down Beat, NARAS, the Jazz Journalists Association and DL Media, the industry track will provide an opportunity for industry members to interact with jazz educators and musicians in a series of sessions that encourage honest exchange of ideas and strategies for the new century. Designed “by the industry for the industry", a panel of 25 leaders from all segments of the jazz business community convened in Long Beach on July 28th to program the 2002 industry track.

Additionally, National Public Radio (NPR) is producing a full-day radio symposium on Wednesday, January 9, with panels on issues of interest to jazz radio professionals. NPR will also construct a command broadcast booth in the lobby of the Long Beach Convention Center, with daily live bi-coastal feeds to KLON-FM (Long Beach, CA) and WBGO-FM (Newark, NJ).

Other conference highlights will include performances by the BET on Jazz Sisters in Jazz Collegiate All-Stars, the winner of the Montreux Jazz Festival Jas Hennessy Piano Competition, and the Clifford Brown/Stan Getz Fellowship Recipients (supported in part by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts). The world premiere of the Herb Albert Jazz Endowment Fund Gil Evans Commission and the ASCAP/IAJE Commissions (honoring Billy Taylor), will also be presented during the conference.

A 60,000 sq. ft. music industry exposition will round out the conference with upwards of 300 exhibits representing a diverse mix of companies including festivals, publishers, manufacturers, agencies, schools, and record companies.

Full conference early bird registration is $250, which includes a one-year IAJE membership. Registration after November 16 is $280. Current IAJE members can deduct $55. For more information or to register for the conference, call IAJE at (785) 776-8744, fax (785) 776-6190, email [email protected] or log on to www.iaje.org.

For IAJE Gala Dinner and Benefit Golf Tournament Sponsorship Information, contact Sherri Franklin with S.L. Franklin & Associates at (213) 712-9906 or email [email protected].