Jazz Outreach Initiative launched its newest offering, "Jammin' With JOI" on Wednesday June 1, 2022. Students from middle through high school joined UNLV Director of the Division of Jazz and Commercial Music, Dave Loeb, UNLV drummer and graduate Amy Crosley, and newly minted Doctor, bassist Molly Redfield to study jazz language and play with them and other students from across Southern Nevada in a fun, relaxed, and supportive atmosphere.
Students do not have to register, can come any time, and are welcome to bring friends. They do not have to be members of Jazz Outreach Initiative's other programs and all are abilities welcome. JOI believes jazz is a great unifier, teaching tolerance and patience, work ethic, listening skills, democracy and collaboration, and more. So students attending any week can expect to be supported by the instructors and their peers as they develop friendships beyond their home band rooms.
Tunes played were "Now's The Time" (Charlie Parker), "Blue Monk" (Thelonious Monk), and "So What" (Miles Davis). Former LVYJO member Keller Remington, on summer break from college also attended the session. Keller was the lead trumpet player for our Las Vegas Youth Jazz Orchestra for 2 years. He is now continuing his jazz and trumpet studies with Sean Jones at Peabody Conservatory.
Every student that attended played on at least one song. Students learned about jam session etiquette and procedure as well as learning how to navigate chord changes a song form. "Jammin' With JOI" is created and facilitated by JOI V.P. Education & Programming, Gary Cordell.