Honors Jazz Ensemble I

SLIPPERY ROCK JAZZ FESTIVAL

Saturday, April 7, 2018

Our Jazz Ensemble traveled to Slippery Rock for their annual Jazz Festival.  We got there in the morning and watched a few other Jazz Bands perform (Seneca Valley, Peters Twp, etc.).  We then took the stage for our performance and adjudication in the afternoon.  Our band did a fantastic job.  After we performed, SRU professor and professional trombonist Jeff Bush got up on stage to work with our band.  Once he was finished, John Clayton (from the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra) took the stage to work with the band.  John is a worldly known jazz musician and bassist who currently lives in LA, played with the Count Basie Orchestra, wrote songs and performed with Whitney Huston, Diana Krall, Paul McCartney, Queen Latifah, and even won a Grammy.

Our students then broke into workshops with SRU professors and ended with an “Artist Talk” with John Clayton.  What a cool experience.  After listening to John talk about his journey and give our students some insight, the SRU Jazz Band, Professors and John Clayton all performed for us (including a few Shaler Band Alumni in SRU’s Jazz Band).  

The students were beaming with excitement when we finally pulled out of there at 10pm.  It was a really neat experience so I thought I would share.  A few pics below!