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.
KPLU School of Jazz – Volume 6 includes songs by Sonny Rollins, Lennon/McCartney, Jim Knapp, Charles Mingus, Joe Henderson, and Elmer Bernstein.
You can purchase a copy online, or the CD is also available for purchase at Sonic Boom Records, Easy Street Records, and Silver Platters locations.
This year’s project is made possible through the generous support of BECU, Chaplins Subaru, KCTS9 and Cornish College of the Arts.
