Jazz musicians perform at festival

Three groups of Sisters students presented programs at the 2010 Oregon Jazz Festival, held on the campuses of the University of Oregon and Lane Community College.

More than 40 students from the Sisters High School Jazz Band, Sisters High School Quartet, and Sisters Middle School Jazz Band took in all the festival had to offer and also gave back all they could through their performances.

The focus of the Oregon Jazz Festival is to provide feedback and performance advice to students from top jazz educators and performers brought in from around the country to work as adjudicators at the event.

The High School Jazz Band students worked with saxophonist/composer James Miley, Director of Jazz Studies at Willamette University, who expressed admiration for their performance.

"I can really sense and enjoy the vibe of this group," he said. "You have a really wonderful sound, and it's great to hear a group today play with such control."

He was further able to assist with details of the students' most challenging selection, allowing them to approach playing it with more awareness.

The High School Quartet and Middle School Jazz Band also performed and worked with two additional adjudicators: Dave Glenn, trombonist/composer and Director of Jazz Studies at Whitman College; and Mike Denny, guitarist/composer who instructs through the University of Oregon and Lane College.

Both offered well- received conceptual ideas and analogies to the students about stylistic elements of their music.

While the Oregon Jazz Festival does not use a competitive ranking format, outstanding individuals are recognized. Four of less than ten total "Outstanding Musician" awards went to Sisters High School students Blake Henderson, Trevor Ford, Brett Pray and Tanner Smith. Sisters students also earned awards for the Outstanding High School Rhythm Section, as well as the Outstanding Middle School Rhythm Section.

Three Sisters High School students also received full tuition scholarships to the University of Oregon Summer Music Camp.

The High School Jazz Quartet was proudly chosen as Outstanding Festival Band, one of a selected two from over 30 student bands participating.

Two outstanding student bands are featured on a headliner guest artist concert, which closes the festival. The concert in past years has brought the likes of Marian McPartland, John Faddis, James Moody, Bob Mintzer, Mike Stern, and dozens more top musicians to the stage.

This year the concert featured trumpeter Thomas Marriot and his quintet, including drummer Alan Jones. This closing concert proved engaging for all students, who gave rigorous applause from the middle of the first solo, to a roaring standing ovation at the end of the concert.