UAB Jazz Summit 2015February 2-3, 2015

Featuring Legendary Saxophonist Branford

Marsalis!

Coordinator: Dr. Steve RobertsEmail: jazztpt@uab.eduPhone: (205) 934-6154Fax: (205) 975-1931

Event Dates:The 2015 UAB Jazz Summit will begin with registration on Monday, February 2 nd at 3:00pm in the Hulsey Center. Students will audition for placement in big bands and combos according to their skill and experience, and will be mixed in with UAB jazz students in their various ensembles. The final concert will take place on Tuesday, February 3rd at 5:00 p.m.

Eligibility:All students grades 9-12 will be eligible to participate in the Jazz Summit. Students of all levels are encouraged to apply and will be placed in classes and ensemble situations at a variety of levels determined by audition and band director recommendation.

Band Director Recommendations:Please use the enclosed form to submit your nominations for this event. We ask that you recommend students with experience or at least a heavy interest in jazz music and who are proficient on their instruments. After the student has completed the top half of their application, they are instructed to pass the form on to their band director. Please use the bottom half for a confidential evaluation and comments on the applicant. These band director recommendations are very important to the selection process. Please place these recommendations in order of your ranking by instrument.

Applications:Applications can be returned in the following ways:

1. By mail received no later than January 28th, 2015 at 5pm to:

UAB Department of MusicUAB Jazz Summit 2013231 Hulsey Center950 13th Street SouthBirmingham, AL 35294-1260

2. By Fax to 205-975-1931

3. Hand-delivered to the UAB Music Office (Room 231 in the Hulsey Center)

Applications hand-delivered or faxed must be received by 5:00 p.m. on January 28 th, 2015 in order to be considered.

Important Information:Notification of selection will happen on a rolling basis and will conclude with mailings on January 29th, 2015. Upon notification, there is a $65 non-refundable participation fee, which must be sent to reserve a spot. Please go on our website to pay through our touchnet payment system, or make checks out to the UAB Department of Music. All participating students will receive a UAB Jazz Summit T-shirt, dinner Monday night (2/2) and lunch on Tuesday (2/3). For an additional $15, students may purchase a reduced-price ticket to the Branford Marsalis concert. This $15 ticket price is only available to UAB Jazz Summit participants. Those interested in extra tickets, please contact Dr. Roberts at jazztpt@uab.edu and he will assist you.

Audition Materials:

Trumpet, Saxophone, Trombone, Piano, Guitar, Vibraphones1. Major scales up to 4 sharps and flats, and arpeggios plus the F and Bb blues scales.2. The all-state jazz excerpts appropriate for each instrument found on the AMEA

website at http://www.alabamamea.org/bandmasters/all-state%20jazz%20band/All-State%20Jazz%20Band%20Senior%20High.htm

3. An improvised two-chorus Bb or F blues solo or jazz standard.

Drums, piano, guitar, and bass will be expected to comp and play grooves/bass lines over standard Latin, swing, and funk charts, as well as prepare the all-state jazz material found on the AMEA website listed above.

Schedule:

Monday, February 2

3:00 Registration in Hulsey Center Lobby and auditions in assigned rooms5:00 Dinner (provided) 6:00 Rehearsals with ensembles9:00 Dismissed for the day

Tuesday, February 3

Breakfast on your own9:00 Rehearsals

10:30 Masterclasses on each instrument 12:00 Lunch (provided)

1:00 Rehearsals3:00 Masterclass with Branford Marsalis5:00 Participant Concert 7:00 Branford Marsalis Concert

CliniciansBranford Marsalis, Saxophone

Growing up in the rich environment of New Orleans as the oldest son of pianist and educator Ellis Marsalis, Branford was drawn to music along with siblings Wynton, Delfeayo and Jason. His first instrument, the clarinet, gave way to the alto and then the tenor and soprano saxophones when the teenage Branford began working in local bands. A growing fascination with jazz as he entered college gave him the basic tools to obtain his first major jobs, with trumpet legend Clark Terry and alongside Wynton in Art Blakey’s legendary Jazz Messengers. When the brothers left to form the Wynton Marsalis Quintet, the world of uncompromising acoustic jazz was invigorated. Branford formed his own quartet in 1986 and, with a few minor interruptions in the early years, has sustained the unit as his primary means of expression. Known for the telepathic communication among its uncommonly consistent personnel, its deep book of original music replete with expressive melodies and provocative forms, and an unrivaled spirit in both live and recorded performances, the Branford Marsalis Quartet has long been recognized as the standard to which other ensembles of its kind must be measured. Its most recent recording, Four MFs Playin’ Tunes, was named Best Instrumental Jazz Album in 2012 by iTunes.

Branford has not confined his music to the quartet context. In addition to guest turns with a legion of giants including Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock and Sonny Rollins, he has excelled in duets with several major pianists, including his boyhood friend Harry Connick, Jr. and the longtime pianist in his quartet, Joey Calderazzo. Branford’s first solo concert, at San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral, is documented on his latest recording, In My Solitude. Branford formed the Marsalis Music label in 2002, and under his direction it has documented his own music, talented new stars such as Miguel Zenon, and neglected older masters including one of Branford’s teachers, the late Alvin Batiste. Branford has also shared his knowledge as an educator, forming extended teaching relationships at Michigan State, San Francisco State and North Carolina Central Universities and conducting workshops at sites throughout the United States and the world.

Classical music inhabits a growing portion of Branford’s musical universe. With a repertoire including works by Copland, Debussy, Glazunov, Ibert, Mahler, Milhaud, Rorem, Vaughn Williams, Villa Lobos and Sally Beamish (who reconceived a work in progress,‐ “Under the Wing of the Rock,” to feature Branford’s saxophone after hearing him perform one of her earlier pieces), Branford is frequently heard with leading symphony orchestras including those in Chicago, Detroit, Dusseldorf and North Carolina as well as the New York Philharmonic. He also served as Creative Director for the Cincinnati Symphony’s Ascent series in 2012‐13.

Broadway has also welcomed Branford’s contributions. His initial effort, original music for a revival of August Wilson’s Fences, garnered a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music in a Play and a Tony nomination for Best Original Score Written for the Theater. Branford also provided music for The Mountaintop, starring Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett, and served as musical curator for the 2014 revival of A Raisin in the Sun. Branford’s screen

credits include the original music for Mo’ Better Blues and acting roles in School Daze and Throw Momma from the Train.

As for other public stages, Branford spent a period touring with Sting, collaborated with the Grateful Dead and Bruce Hornsby, served as Musical Director of The Tonight Show Starring Jay Leno and hosted National Public Radio’s widely syndicated Jazz Set. The range and quality of these diverse activities established Branford as a familiar presence beyond the worlds of jazz and classical music, while his efforts to help heal and rebuild New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina mark him as an artist with an uncommonly effective social vision. Together with Harry Connick, Jr. and New Orleans Habitat for Humanity, Branford conceived and helped to realize The Musicians Village, a community in the Upper Ninth Ward that provides homes to the displaced families of musicians and other local residents. At the heart of The Musicians Village stands the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music, a community center dedicated to preserving the rich New Orleans musical legacy containing state of the art spaces for performance, instruction and recording. ‐ ‐

Some might gauge Branford Marsalis’s success by his numerous awards, including three Grammys and (together with his father and brothers) his citation as a Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts. To Branford, however, these are only way stations along what continues to be one of the most fascinating and rewarding journeys in the world of music.Dr. Steven Roberts, Trumpet

Dr. Steven Roberts is associate professor of jazz studies and trumpet at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Previously, he was assistant professor of trumpet and jazz at Mars Hill College after holding a similar position at Iowa State University. He is an active teacher and freelance musician and has performed Jon Faddis, Allen Vizzutti, Cecil and Deedee Bridgewater, Chip McNeill, Jim Pugh, and Charo and many others. His group “The Roberts Jazz Project” recently released their album Let’s Fall in Love.  This album features Roberts on both trumpet and keyboard. Roberts has premiered arrangements for trumpet ensemble at two International Trumpet Guild conferences, and in October 2012 premiered an original brass quintet arrangement on an Eastern European quintet tour.  This summer Roberts toured Europe for a month splitting time with the UAB Faculty Brass Quintet, the rock band “Downright”, and completing the tour with his group “The Roberts Jazz Project.” In the spring of 2011, Roberts presented with Dr. Andrew Wolvin (University of Maryland, College Park) at the International Listening Association Conference on a panel entitled “Musical Listening.”  The project sought to explain the effect of musical techniques on speech. In the summer of 2013, Roberts was the scholar for the Birmingham Library film/discussion series “America's Music: A Film History of Our Popular Music from Blues to Bluegrass to Broadway.”Along with jazz experience as a member of “the Roberts Jazz Project” , “Steve Roberts Jazz Quartet”, “Birmingham Seven”, and various jazz ensembles aboard Holland America and Royal Caribbean cruise ships, Roberts has also had extensive classical ensemble experience performing with the UAB faculty Brass, the Mountain Empire Brass Quintet, the Johnson City Symphony, the Champaign-Urbana Symphony and Sinfonia da Camera.Dr. Roberts received his Bachelors in Music in 1999 from Oberlin Conservatory of Music where he studied classical music from members of the Cleveland Orchestra and Detroit Symphony Al Couch and Bill Lucas respectively, and studied jazz from Kenny Davis, Robin

Eubanks, Wendall Logan and Neal Creque, freelance musicians from Cleveland and New York.Dr. Roberts received his Doctorate of Musical Arts in trumpet performance and jazz at the University of Illinois (U.C.) in 2005, where he also received his Masters degree in 2001. He was a soloist with the University of Illinois Wind Symphony, served as principal of the University Orchestra, and filled the jazz chair in the top jazz band. At Illinois he studied trumpet from Ray Sasaki, Michael Ewald, and Ronald Romm, and jazz from Chip McNeill, Vern Sielert, Ron Bridgewater and Thomas Wirtel.

Chad Fisher, Trombone

Professional slide trombonist Chad Fisher – a native of Marbury, Alabama – is one of the newest members of the Tuscaloosa Horns. Chad currently teaches private lessons in the Birmingham area and he is completing a music performance degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. While attending school at UAB, he has had the good fortune of studying with ASO principal trombonist Jay Evans and the great Joe Alessi. In addition to perpetually attending school, Chad has played in a wide variety of settings, including performances with many local and national acts such as The Temptations, The Four Tops, The O'Jays, Dennis Edwards, Lee Greenwood, Blood Sweat and Tears alumni Lew Soloff and Lou Marini, jazz drummers Steve Ellington and Jackie Mills, bassist Cleve Eaton, saxophonist Chris Vadala, The Tommy/Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, The Guy Lombardo Orchestra, The Peter Duchin Orchestra, Christian artist David Phelps, The Southeastern Symphony Orchestra, and many other regional groups and musical productions. Chad has also served as guest soloist with high school bands in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia.

Chad has a great love for soulful jazz and improvised music and a few of his many influences include the music of trombonists J.J. Johnson, Urbie Green, and Fred Wesley, Medeski Martin and Wood, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Herbie Hancock, Chris Whitley, Bob Marley, and way too many more to list. His love of music has led him to jam sessions with greats like Wynton Marsalis and also inspired him to lead his own group, The Chad Fisher Group.

Carlos Pino, Guitar

Carlos Pino received his Bachelor of Arts in Music Technology from UAB and a Masters in Music in Jazz Studies from Rutgers University. He has studied guitar with Tom Wolfe, Vic Juris, and Brian Lutterbie. He is a well sought after guitarist in the Birmingham area music scene and a regular in musical productions such as Summerfest Musical Theater, the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, and the Rubicon Theater Company in Ventura, California. In addition to performing, Pino has been teaching private guitar lessons for nearly a decade.

Brandon Peeples, Bass

Brandon Peeples has been playing music since the age of 9. Starting out on Alto Saxophone, his talents developed quickly, and after only two years on the instrument, Brandon was selected to play with the Denver Youth Wind Symphony while living in Colorado. At the age of 13 Brandon began playing bass here in Birmingham. By 16 he was playing professionally in local clubs. Upon graduating from high school, Brandon received a music scholarship to UAB, but soon was getting calls to go on national and international tours with various groups. From 2002-2006 Brandon toured the U.S., Europe, and the Caribbean extensively, and recorded several albums with the swing band Band the Buzz. In 2006 he settled back to Birmingham where he has toured regionally with Frankie Velvet and The Mighty Veltones, as well as several different local bands. Starting 2010 Brandon has been touring nationally with American Idol Season 5 winner Taylor Hicks. Brandon has performed with Willie Nelson, John Fogarty, The Little River Band, Silverchair, Derek St. Holmes, Jeff Carlisi of .38 Special, Yonrico Scott, Tommy Talton from the Greg Allman Band and Cowboy, Georgia Music Hall of Fame member Jimmy Hall of Wet Willie, Rolling Stones keyboardist Chuck Leavell, and many other local and regional legends. While not on the road, Brandon can be found recording in Birmingham at Sound of Birmingham Studios, Boutwell Studios, and Gintown Studios, as well as playing live five nights a week. He is currently endorsed with Euphonic Audio Amps, Lakland Basses, and Thomastik-Infeld Strings. He teaches as an adjunct instructor for the UAB Department of Music in Applied Bass.

Gary Wheat, Saxophone

Gary Wheat has been performing and teaching professionally in Birmingham for 15 years. After studying with Dr. Jonathan Noffsinger at the University of Alabama and earning his Jazz Studies Bachelor’s degree, Mr. Wheat moved to Birmingham to play with his first band, Meteorite, and to travel across the country to play with national touring musical acts such as the Temptations, the Four Tops, the O’Jays, Percy Sledge, and Frankie Valli. At home, he has logged countless hours at gigs and jam sessions with local jazz names like Cleve Eaton, Bo Berry, Chad Fisher, and Tommy Stewart. Mr. Wheat has taught saxophone and jazz in private and in class settings since August 2000, building relationships with band directors at most Birmingham metro area public middle and high schools. He also has years of college-level teaching experience at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Michael Glaser, Drum Set

Michael Glaser plays the drums for some of Birmingham, Alabama’s finest sounds in many styles: original modern jazz, ‘30s-‘40s swing, classic rock and pop arranged for a string quartet, Jewish folk music, New Orleans sounds, drums for African dance, and more. He is also a bandleader, transcribing, arranging, and performing the music of his favorite jazz composers and performers. He has played in major music festivals in New York City and Lucerne, Switzerland, and did a six-city tour of Colombia with a UAB Jazz faculty group in November 2014. He has worked as a sideman with nationally and internationally-known artists like John P. Strohm (Blake Babies, Lemonheads), Johnny O’Neal (Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, Ray Brown, Lionel Hampton), Ron McCurdy (The Langston Hughes Project), musician & spoken word artist Malcolm-Jamal Warner, and Guinean dance master

Youssouf Koumbassa. Michael is a graduate of Davidson College (B.A.). He enjoys teaching drumset lessons in the jazz program at UAB, and teaches drummers of all ages in Birmingham. Visit www.MichaelGlaserMusic.com.

Matt Wiley, Piano

Matt Wiley has been studying music for 30 years and playing piano/keyboard professionally for over 20 years. He holds a B.M. in Jazz Studies & Performance from the University of Alabama. Matt has been teaching piano privately for over 20 years and is the Jazz Piano instructor at both the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama in Birmingham. He has studied privately with Amanda Penick (University of Alabama), Patty Kirkley (Birmingham-Southern College), Tom Wolfe (University of Alabama), William Devan (Birmingham-Southern College), Bruce Dudley (MTSU/Belmont University) and world-renowned Jazz educator, Jerry Coker (University of Miami/University of Tennessee).

Matt has performed all over the globe, sharing the stage/studio with artists such as The New South Jazz Orchestra, The Black Jacket Symphony, Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Tom Wolfe, Dr. Henry Panion, UAB Jazz Faculty, Alabama Jazz Ensemble, Birmingham 7, Ryan Kinder, The Night Flight Big Band, Eric Essix and many others. He has entertained governors, senators and heads of state, including a presidential performance at The White House. Although he continues to travel and perform, his passion is sharing his gift of music with others.

201 5 UAB Jazz Summit Application/Recommendation FormApplication Deadline: January 29th

Student Name

Instrument

Grade

Home Address

C/S/Z

Home Phone ( )

E-Mail

School

Please circle Y for yes and N for no.Played in School Jazz Band? Y NHighest Chair in School Concert Band? _____Been selected to All-State Jazz Band? Y N

Please list any other jazz experience you have.

1.

2.

3.

Band Director Portion

1. Of students I have taught in the past, this student is in the (check one)___TOP 5% ___TOP 10% ___TOP 20% ___TOP 50% ___BOTTOM 50%

2. At the UAB Jazz Summit, this student should be (check one)____Lead in the Big Band ____A Section player in the Big Band____Jazz Chair in the Big Band ____In a Jazz Combo ____Should not be accepted

Band Director Signature Date

231 Hulsey Center950 13th Street SouthBirmingham, AL 35294Phone: 205-934-7376Fax: 205-975-1931