General Info
All general information
History
Objectives & Description
The Beavercreek Weekend of Jazz, “Where the Future of Jazz Meets the Legends of Jazz!”, is an annual jazz festival organized and presented by the Beavercreek Music Parents Association and held the first weekend in March. The primary objective of the Weekend of Jazz is to expose the youth of Beavercreek, Ohio along with Dayton, and the entire Miami Valley, to new and exciting forms of jazz music and provide them opportunities to learn about careers in music directly from professional jazz musicians.
Celebrating the life of world renowned musicians
The Weekend of Jazz remembers Jazz Legends
Acclaimed jazz drummer Louis Bellson dies at 84 [ Associate Press ]
Members of Chuck Mangione's band killed in Continental crash [ CBC News ]
The Woody Herman Orchestra
It's Now And Ever!
Critics universally agree that The Woody Herman Orchestra lives up to the legend of the Herman name that has been synonymous for energy and swing for more than half a century.The Orchestra remains a soloist-oriented jazz ensemble which is not content to relive the glories of the past. Instead, the influence of Woody Herman encourages the young jazz musicians to express themselves using the band's original unique style as the basis for that expression.
To please any audience, The Thundering Herd travels with a book of some 100 arrangements. And it continues to play to cheering, appreciative audiences across the globe.
Sylvan Street Artists' Biographies
Jay Rees, bass, is an accomplished musician in jazz performance, having appeared throughout the U.S., Canada and Japan. A composer of original music for jazz, wind ensemble, concert and athletic bands, Rees’ diverse works are commissioned and performed by major universities and high schools across the country. As bassist and musical director, he toured with the international recording act The Lettermen and is featured on their 1991 album release Now and Then. Rees is currently a full professor at The University of Arizona School of Music, bringing his wealth of experience as conductor, composer, arranger, and performer. He conducts the UA Wind Symphony and is Director of the UA Pride of Arizona marching and pep bands. Rees is also a featured performer at Southern Arizona’s annual AZ Jazz Concert Series.
WOJ 2009 Lineup
March 5th thru 7th, 2009, the Beavercreek Music Parents Association (BMPA) in conjunction with Beavercreek High School (BHS) will be hosting the 9th annual Weekend of Jazz (WOJ). This not-for-profit community cultural event brings Beavercreek schools’ jazz ensembles together with 12 -15 other area High School jazz bands and two professional headliner bands for a truly exciting jazz-filled weekend. Please visit our web site, www.WeekendOfJazz.org, for more information about this year’s Weekend of Jazz.
Taps, as performed at Maynard Ferguson's Funeral
Maynard Ferguson Tribute,
In Memory of Maynard Ferguson 1928-2006
The Weekend of Jazz was honored to have Maynard Ferguson and his Big Bop Nouveau Band perform on Saturday March 4th, 2006.
Maynard Ferguson, Trumpet Player, bandleader
Originally printed in "Contemporary Musicians, Volume 7"
Jazz legend Maynard Ferguson far surpasses the title "trumpet player"; he is an internationally famous big-band leader, one of the world's great brass players, and instrument designer, record producer, composer, arranger, producer of film soundtracks, and dedicated teacher. He is also a three-time Grammy Award nominee and Down Beat magazine award winner. The prolific bandleader has recorded over 60 albums in his lifetime.