Jazz Residency Showcase Schedule now available

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Tonight’s Jazz Residency Showcase is going to be great! You can find out the performance venues and approximate times by clicking here to download a PDF of the Showcase Schedule. The Schedule does not include actual performance start times, but it does include the performance order for each venue. Using the order number next to each performer’s name, you can figure out the approximate performance start time using the following timing information.

Performances in all venues begin at 7:15 p.m. this evening.

All the performances in Dinkelspiel and CoHo will be combos, and will last approximately 10 minutes each.

All the performances in Braun Rehearsal Hall will be vocalists and piano trios, which will last approximately 5 minutes each.

The performances in Campbell Recital Hall are a mixture of combos and piano trios, so estimate between 5 and 10 minutes for each performance.

Jazz Camp Week 2 Showcase schedule now available

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Tonight’s the night! The Jazz Camp Week 2 Showcase will feature 230 rising stars of jazz performing on four stages. How do you find out who is performing on which stage at which time? Download the Jazz Camp Showcase schedule below.

Here’s how the schedule is organized:

  • Jazz Camp participants are listed alphabetically by last name
  • The center column indicates combos that rehearse in the early afternoon, which are known as “early combos”
  • The right column indicates combos that rehearse in the late afternoon, which are known as “late combos”

The numbers indicate the order in which the combos perform on a particular stage:

  • If your combo is indicated as “05”, that means the combo will be the fifth combo to perform.
  • Performances begin at 7 p.m. on Dinkelspiel, Campbell, and Braun Rehearsal Hall; performances on the Outdoor Stage begin at 6 p.m.
  • Each performance takes approximately 10 minutes, so a combo slated to perform fifth on the Dinkelspiel stage would begin at 7:50 p.m.
  • A combo slated to perform eighth on the Outdoor stage would begin at  7:10 p.m.

Click here to download tonight’s Showcase schedule in PDF format.

Stanford Jazz creates Bobby Hutcherson Scholarship

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Following an electrifying performance that had his longtime fans ranking it among the best they’d seen from him in some time, Bobby Hutcherson was honored by Stanford Jazz Workshop Founder and Artistic and Executive Director Jim Nadel with the announcement of the Bobby Hutcherson Scholarship. The great vibraphonist and composer — joined in his Stanford Jazz Festival performance by legendary organist Joey DeFrancesco, guitarist Paul Bollenback, and Bobby’s son, Barry Hutcherson, on drums — was visibly moved by the presentation of an award commemorating the creation of the scholarship, and spoke to the audience about the importance of encouraging young jazz artists, as well as the role that the audience itself plays in the creation of a jazz performance.

The Bobby Hutcherson Scholarship will be awarded to selected, deserving young jazz musicians to enable them to attend the Stanford Jazz Camp or Jazz Residency, held on the campus of Stanford University each summer.

For more information about the Stanford Jazz Camp and Jazz Residency,please click here. 

SJW for mobile now online!

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Connect with SJW with your mobile device! Point your gizmo to stanfordjazz.org, and our site turns into a mobile-optimized experience, designed to help you get tickets to the Stanford Jazz Festival and to get updates about Jazz Camp and Jazz Residency.

Coming soon: The Stanford Jazz Workshop app for iOS and Android devices! Stay tuned.

Khalil Shaheed, 1949-2012, a tribute by John Santos

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I cannot begin to express my sadness around the passing of Brother Khalil Shaheed so soon. It leaves a gaping hole in our extended Oakland community, as well as in my heart. He was a wonderful friend, colleague, father, mentor, and human being — a grand soul. Khalil Shaheed (born Tommy Hall on 1/19/49) came to the Bay Area from Chicago in the mid-’70s. I met him shortly thereafter when he was a member of a spankin’ funk group called Kingfish. Tommy, as he was known back then, was a solid trumpeter with jazz and blues roots, and played a vibrant and integral part in solidifying the San Francisco Bay Area musical scene that cut across several genres, particularly funk, soul, and Latin.

He converted to Islam and changed his name in the ’80s. This was the major force in his rebirth, and he dedicated himself wholly to his art, his understanding of the world, and to community service. It instilled in him a contagious joy and enthusiastic attitude that he kept to the end. He was a peaceful man on a mission and was exemplary for all of us in his focus on his spirituality, his family, his music, and band — and last but not least, the kids in Oakland.

In 1994, Khalil founded the Oaktown Jazz Workshop with the intention of giving the youth of Oakland the opportunity to know and celebrate jazz, and draw from its history and wisdom in their own creative ways. He also understood that jazz is essential to teach life skills, not only in Black and working class communities, but anywhere in this country. He frequently brought in jazz greats to teach and play with the kids, such as Branford Marsalis, Ellis Marsalis, Jason Marsalis, Gene Harris, Art Farmer, Terrence Blanchard, Nicholas Payton, Arturo Sanduval, Joe Zawinul, and Michael Brecker, to name just a few. Many of his kids have gone on to become professional musicians, teachers and stars in their own right. It was a constant struggle, but he saw it through, eventually convincing all doubters and procuring sponsorship from many sources.

He was a tireless warrior for jazz and for our kids, bringing jazz to schools throughout Oakland, the greater San Francisco Bay Area, and Northern California. The city finally gave Oaktown Jazz a beautiful space in Jack London Square across from Yoshi’s in 2010. I hope it can flourish as it deserves to — the way Khalil dreamed. Before Oaktown Jazz got its own space, he’d bring many of us in to work with the kids at the Church on International Blvd., and give them a well-rounded perspective of where the music is coming from and how to participate, appreciate, and honor it. This is the neighborhood in which I live and I can tell you beyond the shadow of a doubt that his work is directly related to what sanity still exists between the shootings that happen here every day or two. In that regard, Khalil was a great blessing and saviour for countless kids and their families — truly a local treasure.

I last saw him a few weeks ago, and he looked tired and swollen from the chemo, and was obviously in pain. But his warm smile showed through just the same. His hug was weak, but his heart was irrepressible.

I know of few others who are as loved and respected by their peers and as well as community members of all ages. Khalil was fearless and spoke up in any setting on behalf of all of us — a real giant in our village. He was seriously funny with a wicked sense of humor, but also dead serious about his business. My family and I love that man and will forever be grateful for having him in our lives as a positive force and inspiration. I know that many of us will continue to carry him in all we do, as we attempt to honor his legacy of generosity, love, and goodwill. Much love and strength to the beautiful family he leaves behind. Much gratitude and light to your spirit good brother Khalil — asalam malecum.

John Santos, March 24, 2012, Oakland, California

Photo by Chuck Gee.

Jazz Residency: New video shows you what it’s like

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Been wondering what our adult jazz immersion camp is like? Jazz Residency offers a week-long intensive interaction with jazz legends, top professionals, gifted educators, and motivated students from around the world. The curriculum includes master classes, small ensemble playing, and performance opportunities, as well as theory, musicianship, arranging, Afro-Latin jazz and jazz history instruction. Jazz Residency is ideal for jazz students at all levels; musicians from other musical genres looking to gain insight and experience in jazz; music educators seeking to hone their jazz skills in teaching and performance; and adults looking to reconnect with music or get started in jazz. For adult jazz camps, you can’t beat it.

Find out about all aspects of the Jazz Residency program—including our special songwriting, vocal, and piano trio programs—by clicking here to watch our new Jazz Residency Overview video! 

Jazz Camp registration now open

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Sign up now for 2012 Stanford Jazz Workshop summer jazz immersion programs and evening classes!

  • Jazz Camp is for musicians aged 12 – 17, and provides a fun, encouraging environment in which to explore jazz improvisation and to make lots of new friends. Week 1: July 15 – July 20. Week 2: July 22 – 27.
  • Jazz Residency is for adults, and gives emerging professionals a chance to work with the greatest jazz artists of our time. Week 3: July 20 – August 3.
  • Evening Summer Classes provide a fun and relaxing way to improve your chops and increase your knowledge of jazz. June 18 – July 13.

Click on the links above to find out more, and click on the Register button above to sign up immediately.

SJW alumni at the GRAMMIES®

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We’re thrilled to learn that several alumni of Stanford Jazz Camp and Jazz Residency have been selected to participate in this year’s Grammy® Camp Jazz Session ensembles. During the week-long program, participants will perform at events related to the 54th annual Grammy® Awards in Los Angeles, under the direction of Justin DiCioccio of the Manhattan School of Music, Dr. Ron McCurdy of the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, and Dr. Leila Heil of the University of Colorado, Boulder. Read more about it here, and congratulations to these great SJW alumni who’ve been selected to participate:

Max Boiko (trumpet)
Lucas Del Calvo (guitar)
Ryan DeWeese (trumpet)
David Leon (saxophone)
Connor Schultze (bass)
Laila Smith (vocals)
Christina Takayama (vocals)
MIchael Wang (trombone)

2012 Camp & Classes dates now set

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Mark your calendars, the dates for the 2012 Jazz Camp, Jazz Residency, and Evening Summer Classes have been announced:

  • Evening Summer Classes: June 18 – July 13
  • Jazz Camp, Week 1: July 15 – July 20
  • Jazz Camp, Week 2: July 22 – July 27
  • Jazz Residency, Week 3: July 29 – August 3

Online registration will open the second week of December; stay tuned for an email at that time, announcing that registration has begun. Find out more about our jazz immersion programs by clicking on links above.

Bird with Strings airs this Sunday on KCSM

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One of the highlights of the 2011 Stanford Jazz Festival wasBird with Strings on July 16, which featured SJW faculty member Andrew Speight on alto saxophone, the Alexander String Quartet with guests, and a killin’ rhythm section. They performed arrangements written for Charlie Parker and strings by the best arrangers in jazz; performing these arrangements was pretty much the focus of Charlie Parker’s life in early 1950s, so their significance can’t be overstated. But if you attended Jazz Camp or Jazz Residency, this concert happened before you arrived at Stanford, so you couldn’t catch this prime opportunity to hear this great music played by Andrew at his bebop best.

You and anyone else who missed the original performance of this amazing show are in luck! KCSM Jazz 91.1 FM will broadcast the performance this Sunday evening, September 25, at 8:00 p.m. Pacific time! Hosted by Jim Bennett on his In The Moment show, the performance was not only historic — many of the arrangements have not been heard since Charlie Parker himself performed them — but it was also music of the highest caliber.

This Sunday evening, September 25, at 8:00 p.m., you can tune in via radio or the internet to hear the concert: visit KCSM’s web site for more information by clicking here.

For more info about Jim Bennett and the In The Moment show, click here.

You can read the program notes from the original concert by downloading a PDF file here, and see the original event information on the Stanford Jazz Festival web site here.

Lee Hildebrand wrote an excellent article on Andrew Speight for the San Francisco Chronicle just prior to the performance of Bird with Strings; you can read it here.

See photos of the original performance by clicking here.

For more information on Andrew Speight, visit his own website here, and see his page on the San Francisco State University web site here.

Don’t forget to tune in this Sunday!