Since 1997, Cityfolk’s Jazz Artist-in-Residence
program has brought internationally known Jazz musicians who
are know for their skill as clinicians into regional schools
and colleges for in-depth demonstrations and hands-on interactive
workshops.
Jazz saxophonist Miguel Zenon and pianist Luis Perdomo have conducted a series of workshops with local students which took place February 8 - 10, 2006. This three-day residency was culminated by a public performance at the Cityfolk Jazz Series on Friday, February 10 by Zenon's quartet.
In early 2005, trombonist Conrad
Herwig and trumpeter Brian Lynch
led a series of educational workshops at area schools such
as Stivers School for the Arts. The workshops took place on
January 24, 25 and 26 following their performance of “The
Latin Side of Miles Davis” as part of the Cityfolk Jazz
Series on January 22 at Gilly's. Herwig and Lynch are two
of jazz music's finest musicians and have a reputation as
peerless clinicians.
Ray Vega worked with students
from Lincoln Elementary School for the Arts, one of the premier
arts magnet schools in the Dayton City School system, during
the October 2003 residency week. Joy Jones leads the school's
Jazz Ensemble. Ray returned in March with his sextet to work
with these students again and to perform an assembly program
for the entire school. He also returned in July, 2004, to
perform on the main stage at the Cityfolk Festival with students
from the Stivers Jazz Ensemble.
One of New York's most gifted young musicians,
Steve Wilson -- who excels on alto and soprano
saxophone and flute -- led three weeks of master classes,
band rehearsals, assembly programs, public concerts and other
activities in 2002-2003. A new work was commissioned and created
during the residency, then performed by Wilson's band at their
concert at Gilly's at the end of the third week.
Terell Stafford, a seasoned
educator and one of the finest trumpeters in all of jazz,
conducted three weeks of residency in Dayton-area schools
in 2001-2002. During the third week he was joined by the members
of his working quintet for in-school performances, demonstrations,
instruction and a final Jazz Series concert.
In 2000-2001, pianist Mulgrew Miller
worked with students from Stivers School for the Arts, the
University of Dayton, Centerville High School, Central State
University, Antioch College and The College Conservatory of
Music in Cincinnati. His Jazz Series concert performance was
opened by the jazz band from Stivers School for the Arts accompanied
by Miller; they played a set to thunderous applause.
Pianist Michael Weiss came
to town in 2000 with saxophonist Eric Alexander,
bassist John Webber and drummer Joe
Farnsworth as CITYFOLK's jazz artists-in-residence.
They traveled the Miami Valley, meeting with grade-school
and college-age music students and teaching them on their
respective instruments.
In the spring of 1999, Poncho Sanchez
and His Latin Jazz Band actively engaged students
at many area schools. Music students were able to study with
instrumental artists who had expertise in percussion and horns.
In addition, Sanchez was adept at explaining the different
Latin rhythms and how they combined together to form musical
variation. At a workshop at Stivers School for the Arts, the
band combined with jazz students from Stivers to perform to
an auditorium packed with students dancing in the aisles.
The residency program concluded with a sold-out concert at
the Dayton Art Institute Gothic Cloister.
The residency with jazz quintet TanaReid
in 1997 reached music students from around the Miami Valley.
Students from Stivers School for the Arts (Dayton Public Schools),
Central State University, the University of Dayton, Miami
Valley School, Antioch College, the College Conservatory of
Music at the University of Cincinnati and the Miami Valley
Jazz Labs learned from these masters. Akira Tana (drums) and
Rufus Reid (bass) were accompanied by John Stetch (piano),
Craig Bailey (sax and flute) and Mark Turner (sax).
Other Educational
Activities
In April 2006, French-Canadian group Le
Vent du Nord will be in Dayton for a two-day residency
that will culminate with their public concert on Friday, April
21. The band will be featured at an evening dance with the
Miami Valley Folk Dancers and perform two lecture-demonstrations
at Pathways School of Discovery.
In April of 2001, Matapat
took their high-energy French-Canadian music and dance to
Miami Valley School, where they both performed lecture-demonstrations
and held a Quebecois Square Dance. At the end of their stay,
Matapat performed on the Celtic Series.
During the Brave Old World
residency in January, 1998, preschool and grade school children
met with the members of Brave Old World. They learned new
dances and new songs and expanded their knowledge of this
traditional Jewish music form. Adults and seniors also met
with the band, shared memories of klezmer music from synagogues
or the old country, danced and sang. The week-long residency
program ended with a sold-out concert at the Dayton Art Institute
Renaissance Auditorium.
For information
on potential workshop availabilities, music that is available
to school bands, and to discuss how your school can be a part
of this region-wide educational initiative, call Dave Barber
at CITYFOLK at 937-223-3655, ext. 3015.
