Several of Western Washington’s finest high school jazz bands and jazz professionals are showcased on KPLU School of Jazz-Volume 8, the station’s latest CD release which is the culmination of this year’s mentoring project.

In 2005, as part of its continuing support of music education in the schools, KPLU developed a mentoring program involving bands from 10 high schools and one middle school, and the participation of 11 local jazz professionals.  The fruits of this partnership yielded the first KPLU School of Jazz CD release.

Beginning with Volume 2 (2006), the project has included only high school jazz bands.  Each year, a core group of bands from the inaugural group is featured on the project along with one or two new participating school jazz bands and guest artists.

The complete list of participants on KPLU School of Jazz – Volume 8 (2012): Stadium High School (Tacoma), North Thurston High School (Olympia), Jackson High School (Mill Creek), Bellevue High School (Bellevue), Mount Si High School (Snoqualmie), Mercer Island High School (Mercer Island), Roosevelt High School (Seattle), Mountlake Terrace High School (Mountlake Terrace), Edmonds Woodway High School (Edmonds), Mount Vernon High School (Mount Vernon), Kentwood High School (Kent) and the advanced ensemble from Seattle JazzED under the direction of Clarence Acox.

Guests artists included on KPLU School of Jazz – Volume 8: Mark Taylor, Anton Schwartz, Matso Limtiaco, Jeff Hay, Greta Matassa, Stuart MacDonald, Syd Potter, Dawn Clement, Tracy Knoop, Jim Sisko and Steve Treseler. All proceeds benefit Western Washington school music programs.

 KPLU School of Jazz – Volume 8 includes songs by Joey Calderazzo, Radiohead, Fred Sturm, Cole Porter, John Green, Neal Hefti, Astor Piazzolla and Matso Limtiaco.

KPLU School of Jazz – Volume 8 will be available for purchase beginning May 29 right here!

Only available online – purchase here

Several of Western Washington’s finest high school jazz bands and jazz professionals are showcased on KPLU School of Jazz – Volume 7, the station’s latest CD release which is the culmination of this year’s mentoring project.

In 2005, as part of its continuing support of music education in the schools, KPLU developed a mentoring program involving bands from 10 high schools and one middle school, and the participation of 11 local jazz professionals. The fruits of this partnership yielded the first KPLU School of Jazz CD release.  Volumes 2 through 6 have featured a core group of bands from the inaugural group along with one or two new participating jazz bands and guest artists.

In addition to 11 area high school jazz bands, KPLU School of Jazz – Volume 7 includes the advanced ensemble from Seattle JazzED, a non-profit organization that offers the highest level of jazz education and performance to the youth of the Seattle metropolitan area.

The complete list of participants on KPLU School of Jazz – Volume 7: Stadium High School (Tacoma), North Thurston High School (Olympia), Jackson High School (Mill Creek), Squalicum High School (Bellingham), Mercer Island High School, Shorewood High School (Shoreline), Mountlake Terrace High School, Edmonds-Woodway High School, Kentridge High School (Kent), Bellevue High School, Mt. Vernon High School, and the advanced ensemble from Seattle JazzED.

Guests artists included on KPLU School of Jazz – Volume 7: David Marriott, Chad McCullough, Jay Thomas, Maria Joyner, Thomas Marriott, Jim Sisko, Tom Varner, Josh Cook, Ken French, Gary Shutes, and Andy Omdahl.  All proceeds benefit Western Washington school music programs.

KPLU School of Jazz – Volume 7 includes songs by Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Bobby Timmons, Dusko Goykovich, Arturo Sandoval, and Radiohead.

This year’s project is made possible through the generous support of BECU, Chaplins Subaru, Fischer Plumbing, and Cornish College of the Arts.

KPLU School of Jazz - Volume 7 will be available beginning June 7, 2011!

88.5 KPLU has received the Service to America Award from the National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation (NABEF) for its School of Jazz program. 

The award recognizes outstanding community service by local broadcasters.  Winners will be honored at the Celebration of Service to America Awards dinner on Monday, June 6, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

KPLU created the School of Jazz project in 2005 to engage jazz professionals with public high school jazz bands in Western Washington in a mentorship program, culminating in the production of a CD.

In phase one of the mentoring program, each jazz musician practices with, and coaches a high school jazz band in preparation for phase two, which brings the jazz musicians and high school bands together into the studio to record songs for a CD.  Sales from each year’s CD benefit local school music programs; over $50,000 has been raised since the program’s inception. 

We will release KPLU School of Jazz – Volume 7 on June 7, 2011. 

“This is a terrific honor, and the timing of the award is especially significant because we’re about to release the next volume of our School of Jazz CD,” said Brenda Goldstein-Young, KPLU Marketing/Promotion Director and KPLU School of Jazz project manager.

“We’re all so proud of the amazing talent displayed by the jazz students every year.  The kids’ experience working with the mentors and recording the CD is an important part of their musical education and their appreciation of jazz.”

The NAB Education Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to reinforcing the future of broadcasting through a commitment to education and to advancing excellence in the diversity and community service efforts of our industry.

More award winners

Oscar-winning actor Jeff Bridges will receive the 2011 Service to America Leadership Award, NABEF’s highest honor, for his dedication to ending childhood hunger in America.  Target Corp. will receive the Corporate Leadership Award for their extraordinary focus on community service and corporate social responsibility.  In addition to KPLU winning the Service to Community Award for Radio; NABEF will also present a Service to Community Award for Television to WHTM in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, as well as the Service to America Television Award and Service to Children Awards.

Several of Western Washington’s finest high school jazz bands and jazz professionals are showcased on KPLU School of Jazz-Volume 6, the station’s latest CD release which is the culmination of this year’s mentoring project.

In 2005, as part of its continuing support of music education in the schools, KPLU developed a mentoring program involving bands from 10 high schools and one middle school, and the participation of 11 local jazz professionals. The fruits of this partnership yielded the first KPLU School of Jazz CD release.

Beginning with Volume 2 (2006), the project has included only high school jazz bands. Each year, a core group of bands from the inaugural group is featured on the project along with one or two new participating school jazz bands and guest artists.

The complete list of participants on KPLU School of Jazz – Volume 6 (2010): Stadium High School (Tacoma), North Thurston High School (Olympia), Jackson High School (Mill Creek), Roosevelt High School (Seattle), Squalicum High School (Bellingham), Mercer Island High School (Mercer Island), Shorewood High School (Shoreline), Mountlake Terrace High School (Mountlake Terrace), Edmonds Woodway High School (Edmonds), Garfield High School (Seattle), and Kentridge High School (Kent).

Guests artists included on KPLU School of Jazz – Volume 6: Lance Buller, David Marriott, Mark Taylor, Mike Allen, Chad McCullough, Tracy Knoop, Randy Halberstadt, Jay Thomas, Bill Ramsay, Jovino Santos Neto, and Maria Joyner. All proceeds benefit Western Washington school music programs.

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