INSTRUMENTAL JAZZ
Generously supported by ACS – Alaska Communications Systems and Sourdough Fuel
Instrumental Jazz registrants have the opportunity to meet with their guest artists following “Meet the Artists” at 4:00pm on Sunday afternoon, July 13, to get acquainted during the Chancellor’s Reception in the Great Hall OR go to their first class on Monday. Please Note: The maximum registration fee – regardless of how many classes you select – is only $550. See the registration form for discounts available and information on private lessons. QUESTIONS? Contact Doug Lange, (907)479-6192, dlange@mac.com
Workshops
45) Instrumental Jazz: Jazz Piano $150
Instructor: Ovsepian
9:00-11:00am, M-F, Both Weeks
Students should have basic theory background for this class. Beginning pianists should take Drotos’ Fundamentals of Music class — see page 17.
46) Instrumental Jazz: Jazz Swing for all strings $60
Instructor: Gregor
9:00am-10:00am, Tu,Th, Both Weeks
This class introduces one of the most important topics in jazz: Swing Phrasing. We will play some famous swing standards concentrating on ways of bowing the swing.
47) Instrumental Jazz: Improvisation for all strings, Inter. – Adv. $150
Instructor: Gregor
10:00-11:00am, M-F, Both Weeks
This class will present more detailed approaches to improvisation techniques. It will also include how to use scales over chord progressions and will cover blues forms.
30) Instrumental Jazz: Double Bass (Classical and Jazz) $90
Instructors: Davis and Sharpe
10:00-11:00am, MTW, Both Weeks
This class will combine performance skills, technique and sightreading.
48) Instrumental Jazz: Sax Ensemble! All Levels $150
Instructor: Monaghan
10:00-11:00am, M-F, Both Weeks
Opportunities for soprano, alto, tenor and bari saxophones to play quartet/quintet literature in both jazz and classical idioms. Also some jazz band section study. Doubling techniques also discussed. Performances at “Lunch Bites.”
49) Instrumental Jazz: Improvisation for all strings — Beginning $150
Instructors: Gregor
11:00-12:00 noon, M-F, Both Weeks
This class will present basic improvisation skills. It will also include how to use scales over chord progressions and will cover blues forms.
50) Instrumental Jazz: Jazz Improvisation — $150
Inter. -Advanced
Instructors: Ovespian and Davis
11:00am-12:00noon, M-F, Both Weeks
The topics to be presented include a continuation of jazz chord/scale theory, such as altered scales, minor blues, harmonic substitutions and rhythm changes. Daily playing, so bring instruments. Vocalists welcome!
51) Instrumental Jazz: Drumset ~ New this year! $150
Instructor: Cherico
11:00am - 12:00 noon, M-F, Both Weeks
This class will combine performance skills, technique, sight-reading and analysis of various musical styles including Jazz, Brazilian, Afro Cuban, Caribbean and Funk for drumset. There will also be handout materials with examples to aid in the development of the proper technique for playing these styles.
52) Instrumental Jazz: Jazz Improvisation — Beginning $150
Instructor: Monaghan
1:30-2:30pm, M-F, Both Weeks
This class will cover how to practice and use jazz vocabulary most efficiently. Jazz recordings will be studied, analyzed and emulated in their original context and in varied forms. Geared for beginners, but open to all levels. Bring your own instrument. Vocalists welcome.
53) Instrumental Jazz: Arranging and Composition —
Inter.-Advanced $150
Instructor: Hopkins
1:30-3:00pm, M-F, Both Weeks
Arranging for both large and small jazz ensembles will be studied. Jazz theory, bass lines, chord voicings, circle of 5ths and “bandstand theory” will be discussed. Composition of original lines will be encouraged. Bring pencils and manuscript paper.
54) Instrumental Jazz: Combos —
Open to all who are interested! $135
Instructors: Cherico, Culver, Davis, Hopkins, Monaghan, Ovespian
3:00-4:00pm, M-F, Week I; M-Th, Week II
This class will balance faculty presentation/performance with student group rehearsal. Faculty will introduce and demonstrate performance concepts, which will then be rehearsed by student groups. Topics will include ensemble playing techniques and learning repertoire. Various jazz styles will be covered.
55) Instrumental Jazz: Improv Lab - Strings New this year! $150
Instructors: Gregor
5:00-6:00pm, M-F, Both Weeks
Jam time. In this hour all strings that have participated in the morning classes (other students are welcome) get the chance to play what they’ve learned and discover their improvisation spirit.
Performance Classes
3) Festival Jazz Band $100
Conductor: Hopkins
Rehearsals: 6:00-8:00pm, M-F, Week I, M-Th, Week II
Performance: 8:00pm, Thursday July 24, Wood Center Ballroom
This is a great opportunity for instrumental registrants to perform with an internationally known conductor. Music will range from Big Band to Jazz. Jazz strings welcome, too. Registrants can meet Hopkins after “Meet the Artists” on Sunday, July 13, or come to the first rehearsal on Monday evening, July 14.
1) Festival Orchestra — Conductor: Guyver $100
7:30am-10:00pm; M-Th, Both Weeks
Performance: Saturday, July 26, 8:00pm, Davis Concert Hall
Planned repertoire will include Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio Espanol;
Sarasate’s Navarra, featuring Alvaro and Routa Gomez;
Mozart’s Flute & Harp Concerto (First Movement) featuring Jenny Lindner and John Barcellona; Three Leroy Anderson pieces, including “Belle of the Ball”; and the Dvorak Symphony No.8 in G.
Vince Cherico • New York, NY Drums — Also World Music
Vince Cherico performs predominately in the Jazz, Brazilian and Afro-Cuban music-styles. In 1995, he joined Ray Barretto and the New World Spirit. He has performed with the Caribbean Jazz Project and the prestigious Jazz at Lincoln Center. He is currently on the faculty of the Drummers Collective and Queens College, and he gives clinics at the Thelonius Monk Jazz Aspen Summer Camp, the NYU Jazz Program and Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Rick Culver • Traverse City, MI Jazz Trombone
With Master’s Degrees from Juilliard and Michigan State, Rick Culver has performed and recorded with countless bands—including Buddy Rich, Bill Holman and Bob Florence—and has backed many jazz artists. After a 20-year career in LA, he now resides in Michigan and continues to teach, perform and write in both jazz and classical genres.
Joshua Davis • Selinsgrove, PA Jazz and Classical Bass
Joshua Davis is director of Jazz Studies at Susquehanna University. He was on the faculty of Towson University between 2002 and 2006 and prior to that, he was an awarded leader of curriculum development at the Berklee College of Music in Boston where—as one of the youngest faculty members—he taught for six years. Davis recently received his Doctorate.
Valentin Gregor • Berlin, Germany Jazz Violin/Jazz Strings
Valentin Gregor first received classical training on the violin then studied jazz at Music College Cologne followed by a two-year scholarship at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. He recently released his first two jazz albums. Later this year, he will be heard playing solo violin in the Warner Bros. cartoon movie “LITTLE DODO”, in which a violin is the key of the story.
Greg Hopkins • Boston, MA Jazz Trumpet; Conductor Jazz Band
Recognized internationally as one of the most imaginative writers in jazz today, Berklee College of Music faculty member Greg Hopkins has performed world-wide and is in demand as a performer, adjudicator and arranger. Hopkins is the only returning guest who was at our first Festival in 1980, and he’s been here every year but one.
Mike Monaghan • Boston, MA Jazz Woodwinds
Mike Monaghan has been a member of the Boston Pops for years and, in fact, he has performed under all its conductors—Arthur Fiedler, John Williams and the present conductor, Keith Lockhart. Monaghan has been a featured player on all of Keith Lockhart’s Pops recordings. He’s been a long-time popular Festival guest. He wrote Alaska Is A Rainbow in 1985.
Vardan Ovsepian • Boston, MA Jazz Piano
Vardan Ovsepian, an Armenian native, has studied piano at the top conservatories of Yerevan, Tallinn, and Helsinki as well as at Berklee College of Music. Currently residing in Boston, Ovsepian performs regularly with Boston’s most elite musicians including Hal Crook, Tony Malaby, and Mick Goodrick. Ovsepian has recorded and released three CDs.
Paul Sharpe • Winston-Salem, NC Double Bass
Paul Sharpe is the Artist-Teacher of Double Bass at North Carolina School of the Arts and principal double bass of the Winston-Salem Symphony. A recipient of numerous fellowships, prizes and honors, he maintains an active career internationally as an orchestral and chamber musician, and as a soloist. Recent accomplishments include recitals and master classes in Poland, Brazil and the Cleveland Institute. He grew up in Alaska, and in many ways, still considers it home.
