Several of Western Washington’s finest high school jazz programs and jazz professionals are showcased on KPLU School of Jazz-Volume 9, the station’s latest CD release, which is the culmination of this year’s mentoring project.  Since its inception, KPLU School of Jazz has raised over $70,000 for Western Washington school music programs.

Participating high school jazz programs on KPLU School of Jazz–Volume 9: Ballard High School (Seattle), Graham-Kapowsin High School (Graham), Jackson High School (Mill Creek), Lakewood High School Jazz Choir (Arlington) Lynnwood High School (Bothell), Mercer Island High School (Mercer Island), Mountlake Terrace High School (Mountlake Terrace), Newport High School (Bellevue), Roosevelt High School (Seattle), South Whidbey High School (Whidbey Island), W.F. West High School (Chehalis) and the advanced ensemble from Seattle JazzED under the direction of Clarence Acox.

Guests artists included on KPLU School of Jazz–Volume 9: Travis Ranney, Thomas Marriott, Tracy Knoop, Dan Wager, Greta Matassa, Neil Welch, Steve Treseler, Jay Thomas, Andy Omdahl, Brad Boal and Jon Hamar.

KPLU School of Jazz–Volume 9 includes songs by Thomas Marriott, Roy Hargrove, Gordon Goodwin, Jim Knapp, Cole Porter, Louie Bellson and Jon Hamar.  See complete track information below.

Thanks to BECU, Titan Outdoor, Beacon Plumbing and Chaplins Bellevue Subaru for their support.

Also, Volumes 1 and 8 are sold out.  Volumes 2-7 are still available.  Please contact KPLU Listener Services at info@kplu.org or 800-677-5758.

KPLU School of Jazz-Volume 9 tracks:

1. Out of Nowhere (E. Heyman, J. Green, arr. Bill Holman) – Roosevelt High School Jazz Band directed by Scott Brown with guest Travis Ranney, tenor saxophone
2. Little Frances (Thomas Marriott, arr. David Marriott, Jr.) – Ballard High School Jazz Band directed by Michael James with guest Thomas Marriott, trumpet
3. Old Folks (W. Robison, D. Hill; arr. J. Townsend) – Graham-Kapowsin High School Jazz Ensemble directed by Paul Bain with guest Tracy Knoop, alto saxophone
4. Mueva Los Huesos/Shake Your Bones (Gordon Goodwin) – Jackson High School Jazz 1 directed by Lesley Moffat with guest Dan Wager, tenor saxophone
5. Echoes of Harlem (Duke Ellington) – Seattle JazzED Advanced Ensemble directed by Clarence Acox
6. Get Out of Town (Cole Porter, arr. Jennifer Barnes) – Swingbeat Jazz Choir/Lakewood High School directed by Katy Trapp with guest vocalist Greta Matassa
7. Song for Gabe (Evan Weiss) – South Whidbey High School Jazz Ensemble directed by Chris Harshman with guest Neil Welch, tenor saxohone
8. Combos in Indiana (Jim Knapp) – Mercer Island High School Jazz Ensemble I directed by David Bentley with guest Steve Treseler, tenor saxophone
9. Strasbourg/St. Denis (Roy Hargrove) – Newport High School Jazz 1 directed by Cory Edwards with guest Jay Thomas, trumpet
10. Bradley’s Time (Jeff Harvis) – W.F. West High School Jazz Ensemble directed by Gary Riler with guest Andy Omdahl, trumpet
11. Brush Taps (Louie Bellson, arr. Mark Taylor) – Lynnwood High School Jazz Ensemble 1 directed by Phil Onishi with guest Brad Boal, drums
12. The Big Fat Hen (Jon Hamar, arr. Jim Knapp) – Mountlake Terrace Jazz Ensemble 1 directed by Darin Faul with guest Jon Hamar, bass

KPLU School of Jazz aims to strengthen local music education by pairing professional jazz musicians with high school jazz bands.  The mentoring culminates in a professional recording session; the end product is a CD which schools sell as a fundraiser.  The CD is also sold online at www.kplu.org.  KPLU plays several songs on-air from each School of Jazz release.

KPLU features 12 high school jazz band programs on each year’s School of Jazz CD, which includes a mix of core bands and a handful of new bands.  Each band can request to work with a specific local jazz artist as its mentor, or KPLU will help the band find a mentor.

KPLU is now accepting applications for 2012 / 2013 from schools that have not already participated in the School of Jazz program.

Baseline criteria for school participation:

• School is located in Western Washington or Southern British Columbia.
• Band is interested in mentorship and willing to work with its assigned professional mentor a minimum of three times.
• Band wants the experience of recording a CD.
• Can be big band or a smaller ensemble, and either vocal or instrumental.
• Band’s willingness to travel to recording session at its own expense.
• Band’s willingness to sell CD’s to raise funds for its school.

KPLU School of Jazz timeline for 2012 / 2013 (Volume 9):

• October 2012 – soliciting new schools to participate in the program
• November 2012  – final selection of schools and mentors
• Any time between December 2012 and February 2013 – on-site mentoring
• Early March 2013 – CD recording
• May 2013 – CD release

KPLU is currently accepting requests for participation in the 2012/2013 KPLU School of Jazz program.  To apply, please e-mail Brenda Goldstein-Young, KPLU Promotions Director and School of Jazz project manager: bgoldstein@kplu.org. Please include the following:

1) Your school’s name/address/phone number.

2) Your direct phone number and email.

3) A brief description of the size and experience of your group.

4) A short explanation as to why you want to participate.

5) One song limited to eight minutes or less (a link to a video or an mp3; you may also mail us a CD).

Deadline for receipt is October 31, 2012.

SORRY – KPLU School of Jazz – Volume 8 is SOLD OUT!

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.

Thanks to BECU and Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley for their support.

SORRY – KPLU School of Jazz – Volume 8 is SOLD OUT!

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.

• Mercer Island – Jay Thomas
• Shorewood - Chad McCullough
• Squalicum - Tom Varner
• Edmonds-Woodway: Jim Sisko
• Stadium: Gary Schutes
• Bellevue: Ken French
• Mt. Vernon: Josh Cook
• North Thurston: Andy Omdahl
• Jackson: David Marriott
• Kentridge: Maria Joyner

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.