The LaPorte High School Jazz Bands will present their 25th annual "JazzFest" on Friday, May 9, at 7:00 PM in the LaPorte High School Auditorium. For the 25th anniversary the bands are excited to host saxophone great Lou Marini who was featured on Saturday Night Live and both Blues Brothers movies. Performances will also feature all LPCSC Jazz Bands with six additional professional guest artists. This year’s featured guest artists include:
Lou Marini, Jr., saxophone:
Platinum recording artist, Lou Marini, Jr. is the seasoned soul and adept multi-instrumentalist, arranger, composer, educator, and producer credited with inspiring the origins of a fan-following cult across multiple genres of music. He continues to be one of the most sought-after sidemen and session musicians on the New York scene. He is accomplished on soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxes, piccolo, flute, alto flute, bass flute and clarinet. Lou Marini, Jr. is best known as a member of several distinguished bands: Woody Herman Orchestra, Doc Severinson, Blood, Sweat and Tears, The Band, Levon Helm & the RCO All-Stars, Dr. John, Frank Zappa, Saturday Night Live (SNL) Band, The Blues Brothers, Maureen McGovern, Lew Soloff Quintet, Blue Beck with Joe Beck, Eric Clapton, Red House, and the Magic City Jazz Orchestra.
He has toured four times each with James Taylor’s Band of Legends and the John Tropea Band. A true blue lover of big bands, Lou has had the honor of performing with some of his childhood idols such as Thad Jones-Mel Lewis and the Buddy Rich Band, the latter with whom he also arranged. It is Marini’s seven year association as an original SNL band member that led to his role as “Blue Lou” in John Belushi and Dan Akroyd’s cult classic movie, “The Blues Brothers.” To this day, the remarkable popularity of the Blues Brothers Band is kept alive. Lou and the other band members tour worldwide, giving live concerts to packed houses and hundreds of thousands screaming fans.
Jim Widner, bass:
An alumnus of the Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, and Glenn Miller big bands, Jim is celebrating his 24th 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".
Clay Jenkins, trumpet:
Clay Jenkins is currently an Associate Professor of Jazz Trumpet at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. He attended The University of North Texas where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Music Theory. Upon completion of his degree, Clay went out on the road, playing the jazz trumpet chair with the Stan Kenton Orchestra. He recorded three live albums with the Kenton Band, Artistry in Symphonic Jazz, A Time for Love, and The Lost Concerts, Vols. I & II, and was also involved with the Stan Kenton Orchestra in Residence Jazz Camps. Clay moved to Los Angeles where he continued playing in live performances and in studio recording sessions. From Los Angeles, he toured with the big bands of Harry James, Buddy Rich, and finally, the Count Basie Orchestra. Clay earned his Master's Degree in Jazz Studies from The University of Southern California and began teaching at several schools, including The Foundation for the Junior Blind, The University of Southern California, California State University at Northridge, and The California Institute of the Arts. He also served as Chairman of the Music Theory Department at the Colburn School of Performing Arts from 1988 through the summer of 2000, and co-authored the theory textbook being used there and in other schools. His duties also include being on the staff of several Jim Widner Summer Jazz Camps. while continuing a very active performing and recording artist around the world. He is a charter member of the trumpet section of the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, the Jazz Orchestra in Residence at the Hollywood Bowl from 1999-2001. Clay's solo recordings include: Rings, Give and Gather, Yellow Flowers After, Azure Eyes, Blues State, and the soon to be released Good Signs on the Jazz Compass label. His ensemble with co-leader Kim Richmond, has released two recordings: Range, and Look at the Time.
Stockton Helbing, drums:
It is hard to find a drummer whom is as diverse as Stockton Helbing. But Stockton is not only a drummer, but also a composer, arranger, producer, band leader, educator, music director, author, and entrepreneur. Stockton maintains a busy schedule of performing, recording, and teaching around North America. He is a frequent guest artist at colleges and high schools largely due to his hefty resume of past performances. Most recently Stockton can be heard playing drums for American music icon and trumpet player extraordinaire Doc Severinsen. Stockton has released five albums to date: Lodestar , For Nothing is Secret , Battlestations & Escape Plans , Crazy Aquarius and, his most recent Handprints . Each album showcases not only Stockton's drumming abilities, but his composing, arranging, and producing skills as well. Stockton has performed and recorded with a large range of artists including Maynard Ferguson, Erika Badu, David Braid, Chip McNeill, Jennifer Holiday, The Dallas Wind Symphony, The Metropolitan Winds, Steve Wiest, Darden Purcell, Clay Jenkins, Phil Woods, Denis DiBlasio, Randy Brecker, The Imperial Brass, Kris Berg and the Metroplexity Big Band, Paul Tynan, and many more. Stockton currently serves as Jazz Artist in Residence at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma and Music Director at Grace Fellowship Church in Paradise, Texas. Stockton also owns and operates Armored Records, an independent record label that focuses on releases by up and coming jazz artists. Stockton lives in Dallas, TX, with his wife Denise, John their son, Jack the dog, and Aquarius the turtle.
Brett Stamps, trombone:
Brett Stamps is Professor of Music at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, where he teaches jazz trombone, composition/arranging, improvisation, pedagogy, history, combo, and directs the SIUE Concert Jazz Band. Stamps founded the jazz studies program at SIUE in 1979 and served as its director until 2011. A well-respected trombonist internationally, Brett is based out of the St. Louis metropolitan area. He has performed worldwide with the Stan Kenton Orchestra, the United States Army Jazz Ambassadors, and the University of Miami Concert Jazz Band. Local performance credits include the Jim Widner, Mo Bottom, Kim Portnoy, and Gary Dammer Big Bands, the St. Louis Jazz Orchestra, the Fox Theater and MUNY Orchestras, Legacy, Galaxy, and the SIUE Faculty Jazz Group. Brett has also built a strong following on the Trad circuit, having played with the St. Louis Rivermen and now the ever-popular, Cornet Chop Suey. Brett has recorded three albums as a leader, In Your Own Sweet Way, Bad to the Bone, and In Retrospect. The latter (and most recent CD) features twelve original compositions written for five trombones and rhythm section. It was produced as a retrospective glimpse of Brett’s last 32 years as an arranger and educator. All three CD’s are available for purchase/mp3 download on iTunes and CD Baby. A member of ASCAP, Brett publishes all of his arrangements through either UNC Jazz Press or Slideshow Publications. He has written for big bands, combos, trombone ensembles, and concert band. Brett holds degrees from the College of William & Mary (BA) and the University of Miami (MM).
Rick Haydon, guitar:
Rick Haydon is a Professor of Music at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville where he is head of the Guitar Program and manages the recording studio. He teaches Advanced Jazz Improvisation, Rhythm Section Workshop, Private Applied Jazz Guitar, supervises the Jazz Combo System, and directs the Jazz Guitar Ensemble. Rick has served on the summer faculties of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Band Director Academy, the Birch Creek Music Center and the Jim Widner Summer Jazz Camps. Rick has been playing guitar for forty years and has studied with many of the Masters of Jazz Guitar. Among these are, Johnny Smith, Howard Roberts, Pat Martino, and most recently Bucky Pizzarelli (7-string). Professor Haydon has been performing professionally for over thirty-five years and has played in a variety of situations. In 1996 he performed with Herb Ellis and Mundell Lowe during the Guitar Foundation of America International Guitar Convention. He performed with Bucky Pizzarelli before a sold out concert at the Sheldon Concert Hall in St.Louis in November of 1998. Rick was the featured guest artist at the 2002 Quad City Jazz Festival along with Mulgrew Miller. In 2004 Rick performed with John Pizzarelli at the Classic American Guitar Show in Long Island, New York as part of the Jazz Cabaret Series. Also Professor Haydon received the 2004 Woody Herman Award from the Birch Creek Music Performance Center in Door County,Wisconsin. His most recent recording titled Rick Haydon and John Pizzarelli ‘Just Friends’ for Mel Bay Records has recently reached 19 on the Jazz Week Top 100 charts.
Ken Kehner, piano:
Ken Kehner holds a degree in Piano Performance from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, where he served as staff accompanist, and later joined the faculty as an adjunct jazz instructor. Currently, he teaches jazz piano at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, where he also directs jazz combos. He has appeared with such noted artists as Bill Watrous, Bobby Shew, Buddy DeFranco, Pete Christlieb, Louie Bellson, and Clark Terry. Ken is on staff of the Jim Widner Summer Jazz Camp Series and appears regularly with the Jim Widner Big Band. An accomplished classical pianist, Ken has been featured as soloist with several orchestras in the Midwestern United States. He also stays busy as an accompanist for both vocal and instrumental recitals. Currently living in Jefferson City, Missouri with his wife, Annette, Ken is in demand as a free-lance pianist, recording artist, clinician and adjunct around the state, and maintains a full studio of piano and jazz piano students.
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 in advance from LPHS Jazz, Lab, and Studio Band members.