2008 NMU Jazz Festival Sizzles and Swings in Marquette!
The Northern Michigan University Jazz Festival is a vital part of the musical landscape here in the Upper Peninsula. Not only is it important to the community, but the students at NMU and the U.P. high school participants always look forward to this event with great anticipation.
Last year, they were not at all disappointed.
The festival began on the evening of April 17 in the Reynolds Recital Hall with the NMU Faculty and Friends Jazz Combo (Steve Leuthold on tenor saxophone, Steve Grugin on trombone, Mark Flaherty on trumpet, Jerry Kippola on guitar, Dave Ziegner on bass, and James A. Strain on drums). This concert also featured a number of guest artists and festival clinicians, including Mike Irish (guitar) and Bob Moore (trumpet). As usual, the opening concert was a crowd pleaser!
On Saturday, more than 20 high school groups (big bands, combos and string ensembles) from all over the region performed and took part in various clinics and activities. This included ensembles from Marquette, Westwood, Iron Mountain, Kingsford, Norway, Harbor Springs, Republic-Michigamme, Negaunee, Roscommon, Gwinn, Rogers City, the Copper Country, Escanaba and Cheboygan. At the conclusion of the day’s performances, the adjudicators chose Harbor Springs High School as the “Outstanding High School Jazz Band” to open the concert that night at Kaufman Auditorium. In addition, NMU Friends of Jazz presented more than 30 “Outstanding Musicianship Awards” to deserving students.
The primary guest artists at the 2008 festival were violinist Randy Sabien and trombonist/composer Dean Sorenson. Both Sorenson and Sabien presented clinics for students during the day and also performed with the NMU Jazz Band and the NMU Jazz Combo during the evening concert in Kaufman Auditorium. Highlights of this concert included the world premier of Dean Sorenson’s Cool City (written especially for the NMU Jazz Band) and Randy Sabien’s performance with local string players, such as Janis Peterson, Jenna Geueke, and NMU faculty member Barbara Rhyneer.
The NMU Jazz Festival has experienced significant growth in recent years. In April, we hope to have even more schools in attendance. The 2009 NMU Jazz Festival is scheduled for Friday, April 17, and the features guest artists composer/arranger Fred Sturm and pianist Bill Carrothers.
Detailed information and application materials are available online at http://faculty.nmu.edu/mflahert/NMU%20Jazz%20Festival.htm. We hope to see you there!
