Guest Artists:
Paul McKee, trombone
Vaughan Ambrose, tenor sax
Adam Larabee, guitar
Jon Mele, drums

 Guest Artists Information

Trombonist Paul McKee holds degrees from the University of Northern Iowa and the University of Texas at Austin. Since 1984 he has been a member of Woody Herman's Thundering Herd and has performed on several recordings with the band. In addition to making frequent appearances as a guest artist and clinician, Paul has served on the jazz faculty at DePaul University, Northern Illinois University and Youngstown State University. His charts have been performed and recorded by big bands worldwide, and he has performed and recorded with many artists in the Chicago area including Frank Mantooth and Brad Goode. His new CD on the Hallway Records label, entitled Gallery, features Paul and special guests Carl Fontana, Bobby Shew, Tim Ries and Ron Stout.

Fretted string whiz Adam Larrabee has an amazing depth as a performer, composer and accompanist. His hard-swinging duo with pianist Dave Zoffer has been called "reminiscient of the masterful Bill Evans and Jim hall duets in it's level of musicianship and interplay" by drum guru Bob Moses, and their album of original "chamber-jazz", "Courage in Closeness: Live in Boston", was voted one of the year's topten albums in 2000 by the Tucson Citizen. In the eclectic, award-winning quartet "Andromeda" he plays Eastern European and tango influenced chamber-jazz on guitar, banjo and mandolin and in the "Enigmatica" Classical mandolin Septet he plays the mandocello and arranges works by Bach and Shostakovich. He has appeared as a sideman on Bruce Hornsby's album "Spirit Trail" and continues to involve himself in a wide variety of projects from original theater productions to theory publications. "Adam's talent's boggle the mind in their range" jazz trumpet player Peter Kenagy. "Fat tone and killer chops ... a feel that is truly amazing" - John Heidt, Vintage Guitar magazine. Most recently Adam has been playing banjo in the neo-bluegrass group "Joy Kills Sorrow" and mandolin and guitar in "Le Bon Vent" a group celebrating the music of France and other music touched by french culture. HIs enormous stylistic range extends to his composing career, which has included every different ensemble texture from classical chamber music to jazz big band. He has been commissioned to write works for The New England Conservatory's Contemporary Music Festival, The Milton Academy Chamber Orchestra, The Virginia Commonwealth Classical Guitar Ensemble, and many others. His music has been premiered at Julliard, Arizona State University, Oberlin, Roger Williams University, and the Notre Dame Jazz Festival. In 2006, he won an Independent Music Award for his composition "Norwegian Slip" in the world/fusion category. Adam taught jazz theory, composition and arranging at The New England Conservatory in Boston for nine years and currently lives in Charlottesville, Virginia and teaches classical and jazz guitar at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond and banjo at the University of Virginia. During the summers he is faculty at the AMGuSS(American Guitar & Mandolin Summer School) and Eastern Washington University's, Jazz Dialogue Camp in addition to giving workshops and clinics throughout the U.S.

Jonathan Mele is a New York City based drummer/percussionist/composer/engineer.  Since moving to New York City in 1996, Jon has performed with many well-known artists including: Steve Swallow, Carla Bley, Sheila Jordan, Van Morrison, Ronan Guilfoyle, Hugh Buckley, Richie Buckley, and Adam Kolker.  In addition, Jon writes for and performs with Nicholas Leichter Dance, while also working with other dance companies in New York. Jon has performed around the world on stage, TV, radio, and in recording studios, including: The Guinness Jazz Festival, Bray Jazz Festival, NYC's River to River festival, Summerstage, RTE (Ireland), Iowa City Jazz Festival, The Windmill Lane Studios, etc. He's also presented numerous clinics in the US and Europe. He owns Tunnel Street Studio, in which he writes and records drum and percussion tracks for singers, songwriters, producers, and other musicians, utilizing computers and the collaborative possibilities of the internet. Recently, BandMateLoops.com released a package of Jonathan's jazz loops that were performed and recorded at Tunnel Street studio.  Another package of percussion loops is slated for a 2008 release.

Jonathan is a Yamaha performing artist and endorses Sabian Cymbals, Evans drumheads, Vic Firth Drumsticks, and Grover Pro Percussion. For more information, please visit: www.JonathanMele.com 
www.TunnelStreetStudio.com 
www.ProfessionalDrumTrax.com

Payment information

The cost for the festival is $175.00 per ensemble if received by March
28, 2008; $200.00 per ensemble after March 28.  Checks can be made out
to JMU Jazz; contact Chuck Dotas if your school requires a receipt.  
Please mail your payment to this address:

Chuck Dotas
JMU School of Music, MSC 7301
800 South Main St.
Harrisonburg, VA  22807

 

Forms

Repertoire, Staging, and Ensemble Personnel Forms can be downloaded by clicking on the following links:

Repertoire Form

Staging Chart Form

Ensemble Personnel Form

 

Registration

 To register your ensemble(s), simply email Chuck Dotas (dotascj@jmu.edu) to reserve a spot in the schedule (time preferences should be indicated in the email).  Performance slots are allotted on a first-come, first-served basis; the schedule usually fills up by early March, so reserve early! 

 

Public School Ensemble Performance Details 

All ages and ability levels are welcome; both combos and big bands are eligible to perform.

Ensembles have the option of performing competitively or for comments only.

Each school performs for 20 minutes and is critiqued by two adjudicators.

All students are eligible for the following Outstanding Performance Awards.

Each school receives a 40 minute clinic by one of our guest artists immediately following the ensemble’s performance.

All ensembles will receive a compact disk recording of their performance and taped adjudicator comments.

 

Equipment

A drum kit and bass and guitar amps will be available in the performance room (108), though most schools choose to move their own equipment from the warm-up room to 108 for their performance. All other equipment and instrument cases should be left in the warm-up room during the performance.

If there is a problem bringing your own rhythm section equipment, contact me and I will take care of it.  Also, if any extra equipment (vibes, auxiliary percussion) is needed, let me know ahead of time (email is best) and we will arrange to have that in 108 for your performance.

Awards

The following categories will be recognized at the concluding awards ceremony:

    Ensemble Competition

    Class I Best Ensemble (combos; all ages)

    Class II Best Ensemble (elementary/middle school/junior high division)

    Class III Best Ensemble (high school: 1400 or fewer students)

    Class IV Best Ensemble (high school: more than 1400 students)

 

    Outstanding Performance Awards

    Outstanding Performance: saxophone (any age)

    Outstanding Performance: trumpet (any age)

    Outstanding Performance: trombone (any class)

    Outstanding Performance: rhythm section (any age)

    Outstanding Performance (instrument not specified; this award will recognize an outstanding performer that does not fall into any of the above categories. In the past, this award has been given to flutists, vocalists, student composers, etc)

    All-Star Band Selection (honorary; any class):

2 alto saxophones, 2 tenor saxophones,1 baritone saxophone
4 trumpets, 4 trombones
piano
guitar
bass
drums
(1 vocal, vibes, or other instrument at the discretion of the adjudicators)

Unfortunately, time constraints do not facilitate a performance by the All Star Band.

 

Food

Pizza, snacks, and soda will be available for purchase from 11:30 am until the end of the day in the lobby of the music building (on a cash or check basis).  On-campus dining services will also be available on a cash basis.  Several fast food outlets are within one or two miles of the music building, but are not within walking distance. 

Complimentary breakfast items and coffee for all directors will be available in the School of Music conference room (located in the Music Office, Room 123).

Other Information

Driving directions, warm-up room information, and exact schedules will be posted on this web site in early April.  In the meantime, please feel free to contact the Festival Coordinator, Chuck Dotas (dotascj@jmu.edu; 540-568-6180) if you need further details.