The La Porte High School Jazz Bands will present their 24th annual "JazzFest" on Friday, May 3, at 7:00 PM in the LaPorte High School Auditorium. Performances will feature all LPCSC Jazz Bands with six professional guest artists. This year’s featured guest artists include:
Jim Widner, bass: An alumnus of the Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, and Glenn Miller big bands, Jim is celebrating his 23nd year of hosting summer camps all across the United States. As a bassist with the Stan Kenton Orchestra, Jim was strongly influenced and motivated by Kenton’s dedication to young student musicians. He was a faculty member of the Kenton camps for 10 years and helped Stan organize and expand his camps from California to other locations across the United States. A graduate of the University of Missouri, Jim also holds an MA degree from Memphis State University and has done postgraduate work at the University of North Texas. Jim has performed at the world famous Lionel Hampton and Montreaux Jazz Festivals. His performance background includes concert dates with Clark Terry, Buddy DeFranco, Louis Bellson, Randy Brecker, Bill Watrous, and an appearance before former President Bill Clinton. In 1999, students at the University of Missouri-Columbia, renamed the music wing of the fine arts residential college, "Widner House," in honor of him. In April of 2006 Jim was inducted into The Statesmen of Jazz. Currently Jim is Associate Professor and Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Missouri - St. Louis and is a Yamaha performing artist. His jazz camps are spearheaded by members of the Jim Widner Big Band which records on the Chase Music Group Label. Their critically acclaimed CD’s include "Yesterdays and Today," "Body and Soul," "Live," and "Flying High"and their newest CD "OUT OF THIS WORLD".
Harry Watters, trombone: Harry Watters serves with the United States Army Band in Washington, DC and teaches Jazz Trombone at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. After graduation from the University of North Texas, Harry spent four years touring and recording with the renowned Dukes of Dixieland and served as graduate assistant to Professor Ellis Marsalis at the University of New Orleans. Watters has performed with Doc Serverinsen, Al Hirt, Pete Fountain, Erich Kunzel, Kevin Mahogany, Wycliffe Gordon, Lou Rawls, Maureen McGovern, Bill Watrous, Carl Fontana, Jiggs Whiggam, James Moody, Peter Erskine, Conrad Herwig, John Fedchock and the Boston Brass. In addition, Harry has appeared as a featured soloist with the Syracuse Symphony, the Baton Rouge Symphony, the Louisiana Philharmonic, the Tulsa Pops, the University of North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band, and the U.S. Army Orchestra. Harry is constantly in demand as a Jupiter Artist and Clinician. He has presented his "Power Practicing" seminar many conventions, universities, and high schools throughout the United States.
Charles “Chip” McNeill, saxophone: Chip McNeill is the Chair of Jazz Studies at the University of Illinois. A jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, and arranger, Chip is also the musical director and jazz tenor saxophonist for Grammy award-winning recording artist Arturo Sandoval. He recorded with Sandoval on his CDs Americana and Hot House, with the latter winning a Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Performance. Chip has also worked closely with legendary jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson. He produced, wrote, and performed on five CDs with Ferguson and has toured with Ferguson, Sandoval, and many other jazz performers. Chip has performed at countless jazz festivals and clubs around the world, including the Montreux Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, and the Noto Jazz Festival.
Reggie Thomas, piano: Reggie Thomas joined the faculty at Michigan State University as professor of jazz piano in 2011 after nearly 20 years as professor of music at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. He regularly appears as a guest artist at collegiate jazz festivals around the country, including those hosted by Lawrence University, the University of South Florida, and Texas Tech University. He has also performed internationally in Canada, Italy, Poland, Senegal, and England. He can be seen fronting his own groups (Mardra/Reggie Thomas Ensemble; OGD) on both piano and Hammond organ and performing with other artists including Ann Hampton Callaway and the Carl Allen/Rodney Whitaker Project. His recordings include work with Clay Jenkins, Kim Richmond, and Clark Terry/Mike Vax, as well as his own recordings "Fade to Blue" with his wife, Mardra (MaxJazz), "Standard Time" (Victoria) and "4" (Jazz Compass). He is also a consultant/clinician for Jazz at Lincoln Center, working with the Essentially Ellington Program and the Band Director Academy. He has served on several summer jazz faculties across the country and abroad including the International Association for Jazz Education Teacher Training Institute, the Birch Creek Music Center, the Eastman School of Music Summer Jazz Camp, the Summer Jazz Academy in Chodziez, Poland, and, most recently, the Barbican Center in London.
Allen Beeson, trumpet: Allen studied piano from age 6 to 12 and began playing trumpet in the high school band at age 14. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia where he performed in any ensemble that used trumpets. In 1984 he met and became a student of Bobby Shew. As with most of Bobby’s students, a longtime friendship is enjoyed today. Allen has performed with jazz artists such as Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillispie, Louis Bellson, Conte Condoli, Gary Foster, Pete Christlieb, Bobby Shew, John Faddis, Marvin Stamm, Conrad Herwig and John Fedchock. Allen performs regularly with the Jim Widner Big Band and is available for clinics and concerts in conjunction with the Yamaha Corporation. Allen is a Yamaha Performing Artist. First Time Out is just that – Allen’s first recording as leader and appears on the Chase Music Group label.
Montez Coleman, drums: Montez Coleman has toured the world with some of the biggest names in jazz. A longtime member of the Roy Hargrove Quintet, Coleman has also worked with nationally recognized musicians like Rufus Reid, Russell Malone, and Wynton Marsalis. Coleman has been touring extensively since 2007 with The Roy Hargrove Quintet and The Roy Hargrove Big Band throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan.
ADMISSION: Adults $ 10.00, Students age 12 and over/Sr. Cit. $ 7.00, Under age 12 Free. Tickets will be available at the door and from LPHS Jazz and Lab Band members.