Students will live and learn in a renovated 19th century country house on a working farm. All meals are served fresh from the farm. Students will also explore the rich culture and history of Sicily through excursions around the island.
About Summer Jazz Sicily
Summer Jazz Sicily is centrally located in the heart of the Madonie mountain region in Polizzi Generoso, about a two hour drive from the capital city of Palermo.
Students will stay in a 19th century renovated country house on a working farm (two beds to a room, though some three person suites may be available).
All meals are served fresh from the farm with some additions from local producers as well. Interested students may have an opportunity to learn to cook Sicilian style as well!
Each morning, students will have individual instruction with their instrumental teacher centering on theory, technique, and improvisation. Special sessions will also include composition and arranging, rhythm for non-drummers, and jazz styles and analysis. After lunch, small group combos will gather to further develop skills they have learned in their individual lessons. Between late afternoon and dinner, students have free time to explore the farm, join an excursion into town, or relax by the pool. Following dinner, the combos and teachers alike will come together to jam and to perform for their peers.
Two days of the eight-day workshop will be dedicated to exploring the historical and cultural delights of the island.
Registration Information
Summer Jazz Sicily will run from July 18-26, 2010 in Polizzi Generoso, Sicily.
Transportation: Students are required to provide their own transportation to Sicily. There will be one scheduled pick-up from the Punta Raisi airport in Palermo, Sicily at 2:30pm on Sunday, July 18th. Students who wish to arrive at the farm on their own must be there no later than 6:00pm on July 18th.
Cost and Refund Policy: The total cost of the program is $1,600 divided into two payments. The first payment of $800 is due upon acceptance into the program; the second payment of $800 is due by May 1, 2010.
The program cost includes: tuition, accommodations in a double room, all meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), and transportation throughout Sicily; it does not include airfare, medical insurance, or instrument insurance.
If the student decides to withdraw from the program, the following refund schedule will apply:
Withdrawal before April 15, 2010: Student receives 100% refund of all tuition paid. Withdrawal after April 15, 2010: Student forfeits 50% of full tuition. If the student has not yet paid the full tuition, his/her first payment of $800 will be forfeited.
Summer Jazz Sicily LLC
PO Box 403
Mt. Vernon, NY 10552
914-664-0757
[email protected]
Applications are due by April 15, 2010.
Instructors
Scott Latzky, Music Director: Scott studied with Jazz great Joe Morello while still in high school. He went on to receive a degree in Jazz Studies at Indiana University under acclaimed professor and bandleader David Baker. Currently, Scott lives in New York City where he is a sought after sideman in a wide range of genres and has been around the world both as a player and a clinician. He has had the pleasure to play and/or record with many great musicians including Tito Puente, Lionel Hampton, Brad Mehldau, John Patitucci, Larry Goldings, Herb Ellis, Bob Mintzer, and Randy Brecker. He considers teaching a vital part of his career, and has been on the faculty at the Ethical Culture Fieldston School in NYC since 1992. Other recent projects include composing and music directing a percussion/comedy show in Hershey Park, PA, and recording and producing his own singer/songwriter music and videos in styles ranging from Rap, Hip-Hop, Dance, Pop, and Indie Rock.
Dave Ambrosio, Bass Instructor: David Ambrosio, originally from the New York area, currently resides in NYC where he works as a freelance musician and educator. He is the co-leader of two collaborative bands, Grupo Los Santos and Neo Tradition, as well as being a part of many groups including George Schuller's Circle Wide, the Matt Renzi Trio, Eri Yamamoto Trio, Vinnie Sperrazza Trio, Deanna Witkowski Quartet, Eric Rasmussen's School of Tristano, Adriano Santos Quintet, Clay Giberson Trio, the Schumacher/Sanford Sound Assembly and the BMI/New York Jazz Orchestra led by Jim McNeely and Michael Abene. He has also performed with such jazz greats as pianist Kenny Werner, legendary vibraphone/clarinet duo Terry Gibbs and Buddy DrFranco, George Garzone, Joseph Jarmon and Ralph Alessi. David is currently on faculty at the Queens College Center for Preparatory Studies in Music where he teaches young developing artists in both Jazz and Classical genres.
Matt Renzi, Reed Instructor: Multi-reedist Matt Renzi has been performing professionally for the past 20 years at international jazz festivals and music venues worldwide. For the past decade, he has been recognized multiple times by jazz organizations in Italy, Spain, Belgium, India and Israel as well as in the United States. He holds a Bachelor's in Music (Performance) from the Berklee College of Music and Master's in Arts (Classical Composition) from San Francisco State University. Some of his teachers include George Garzone, Joe Henderson and South Indian Vocalist R.A. Ramamani. Matt has been leading his NY based trio for over 13 years now and continues to use this formation to push the limits of group improvisation and composition. As a sideman, Matt has performed and recorded with Marc Johnson, Michael Formanek, Eddie Marshall, Herbie Lewis, Ben Monder, Eberhard Weber, and Bobo Stenson.
Tony Romano, Guitar Instructor: Tony Romano has been active in the New York music scene for many years as a guitarist, music director, and teacher. With a wide range of tastes and playing styles, Mr. Romano has performed around the world with diverse artists such as Cleve Douglass at the Blue Note in Japan, and has toured throughout South America and Europe with Latin legend Joe Bataan. In demand as a sideman, Mr. Romano has performed with Randy Brecker, Stanley Jordan, Debbie Gibson, Alex Gemignani, Chuck Cooper, Frank Wright, Dave Valentine, Yomo Toro, Thomas Chapin, Antonio Hart, and the Flying Neutrinos. Tony is adjunct faculty at Five Towns College and Long Island University, as well as a Teaching Artist for the Kupferberg Center at Queens College. He has an MA in Jazz Performance from the Aaron Copeland School of Music at Queens College, CUNY.
