Jazz Outreach Initiative has been busy this week getting back into full "swing!" First, an interview which aired Sunday 3/20 on 5 local radio stations and a podcast courtesy of Steph Mackenzie and her Neon & Beyond show and 97.1 The Point. Steph and Executive Director Donny Thompson discussed several topics you’ll want to listen to right here!
Monday saw the long awaited relaunch of JOI's acclaimed "Buzzin In Brass" program at Ruthe Deskin Elementary School (Dr. Farias, Music Specialist). "Buzzin In Brass" is funded in part by a grant from The Smith Center for the Performing Arts and is geared exclusively towards Title 1 elementary schools. The JOI Brass Quintet introduces students to members of the brass family, their history, how they're made, how they sound, and then performs age-appropriate recognizable tunes the students love. It is one of the highest rated musical outreach programs available to CCSD schools. JOI co-founder and V.P. Education & Programming, Gary Cordell performed the trumpet and piccolo trumpet along with Larry Ransom (Trumpet), Jonathan Snyder (French Horn), Curt Miller (Trombone), and Dr. Greg McCracken (Tuba).
LATER IN THE DAY, Jazz Outreach Initiative provided its third "JOI in Schools" to Dir. Nathan Geyer's Desert Oasis High School Jazz Band. JOI Board of Dir. VP Curt Miller is a first call trombonist and educator for more than 40 years in Las Vegas. Jazz Outreach Initiative's "JOI in Schools" provides free in-school music clinics to local middle and high school jazz bands paid for by a grant from the Gee and Fred Katen Family Trust. Mentors are provided out of JOI's professional mentor program and the JOI Jazz Orchestra.
FREE CONCERTS THIS SUNDAY MARCH 27TH!!
Tickets at www.jazzoutreachinitiative.org
Don't forget the two free concerts we're presenting on Sunday March 27th! "Jazz for Young People" at 2pm features the life and music of Miles Davis and is licensed to JOI by Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Then at 7pm, the JOI Jazz Orchestra featuring Clint Holmes takes the stage following the CSN Big Band and presentation of JOI's Jazz Routes program where a student will receive a free donated instrument and a year of free private music lessons!
