Saturday, October 30th, 2021, Jazz Outreach Initiative hosted its first live in-person masterclass in more than 18 months. And a welcome back to live classes doesn't get any better than legendary multi-GRAMMY winning saxophonist, composer, educator, and band leader, BRANFORD MARSALIS!
Credit goes to JOI co-founder and Artistic Dir., Kenny Rampton, who has an unbelievable contact list on speed dial he can call at any time. Kenny called Branford and set the wheels in motion for us to work with his management team to put this all together.
Branford’s approach was a strait forward, tell it like it is lesson on style, listening, being true to your unique artistry, handling egos, jazz language, and more. He hung around to visit with the 60+ students and professionals in attendance and autographed posters we had made courtesy of artwork by Brittany Thompson of Brittany Anne Photography.
After the morning session, some of the attendees enjoyed Branford's evening concerts at Myron's at The Smith Center where his artistry rendered his audience awestruck. A long day, but so incredibly rewarding.
Thank you to our Board Members (Curt Miller, Clint Holmes and his guest Myron Martin, Juliana McRae, Dave Clark and wife Linda Marvin) who helped with transportation, handing out materials, greeting guests, and tons more. Thank you to Dave Loeb & Adam Schroeder at UNLV School of Music, Division of Jazz and Commercial Music for helping spread the word, and to Arianna Beasley for taking photos (we’ll post those later). Thank you to Pastor Ben Bergren and his outstanding and generous team at Community Lutheran Church, and a huge thank you to Gary Cordell our co-founder & Director of Programming who ensured the entire event from sound to green room was flawless.
Please consider a donation to Jazz Outreach Initiative to enable us to continue connecting the language of music to the language of life for youth throughout our community. www.joi-lv.org/fundraising