Jazz Fest XLII unites schools across state

UW-Green Bay will host Jazz Fest XLII Jan. 28 at the Weidner Center. The festival will feature Tom Garling as its guest artist, along with UWGB jazz and vocal ensembles and high school jazz bands.

John Salerno, associate professor of music, said Lovell Ives, founder of UWGB's jazz program, started Jazz Fest in 1971. At the time, UWGB and UW-Eau Claire were the only universities to have jazz festivals, but the idea quickly caught on and now almost every university in the state has one.

Salerno became involved with Jazz Fest in 1991 when he was hired to teach at UWGB. Since then, he has been a part of Jazz Fest every year and said all of the festivals have gotten positive feedback, but the 2009 festival stands out most to him so far.

 "Our guest star was Lovell Ives, and we had him direct a band of alumni from when the program started," Salerno said. "That is the most memorable and heartwarming experience for me."

Production for Jazz Fest XLII started last summer when Salerno chose Garling as the guest artist.

"Adam Gaines suggested we choose Tom Garling, and I thought it was a great idea, so we did it," Salerno said. "We choose someone who's done this sort of thing before because a main component of this festival is education. The education component is as important as someone who can really play jazz, which is the other requirement."

Salerno and Garling then discussed what pieces would be played. In October, high schools were invited to participate in Jazz Fest. UWGB's jazz band began to work on the pieces after the concert in December and over winter break, since the band only has a week of class before the festival.

Salerno said the jazz band will perform "After You," featuring guitarist Michael Fowler, and "Bradley's Bop House," featuring a number of UWGB students, including Sam Stranz and Julio Reyes, without Garling.

With Garling, the band will perform "Then One Day I Had the Blues" and "And Another Thing." Salerno said the band will also perform a few other songs suggested by Garling.

At Jazz Fest, each high school band will play and then be critiqued. Salerno said generally 15 to 20 bands come, totaling 300 to 400 students.

Salerno said the schools are usually from the Northeastern Wisconsin area, but schools have come from across the state and Michigan.

After each high school band performance, the panel of experts make suggestions and then select two bands to perform at the afternoon concert. Salerno said this year's panel includes people from the University of Florida, UW-Oshkosh and Wausau.

High school students also have the opportunity to participate in educational jazz clinics throughout the day. Salerno said clinics usually are divided up by instrument and taught by a specialist. Other clinics focus on improvisation, sound and technique as well.

The two best high school performers will receive full tuition to UWGB's Jazz on the Bay camp.

"It's a high school camp where students spend a week doing jazz activities," Salerno said. "They are placed in a band according to their abilities, and then we do a concert at the end for the public."

Salerno said the two students are selected based on their enthusiasm for jazz music, stylistic correctness and interpretations of jazz.

The afternoon concert featuring the two best high school bands, Garling and UWGB's jazz band and vocal jazz ensemble are open to the public and anyone can attend.

"In the early years of this festival, there were a lot of college students who would come," Salerno said. "We don't see as many students come anymore, but we encourage everyone to come out and see what we're doing over here in the music department."

Tickets are available at the University Ticketing Center for $12 in advance or can be purchased at the door for $15.