KPLU
It’s well known news in Seattle that both Garfield and Roosevelt have incredibly talented jazz bands and directors. Both bands have won the Essentially Ellington High school Jazz Band Competition four times, a tie for most wins in the competition’s 15 year history. The competition is the most illustrious and high profile high school jazz band competition in the country, with 15 bands from around the nation descending on New York City to play the music of Duke Ellington for a panel of judges. There is naturally a friendly rivalry between the two schools, who often toggle back and forth between holding first place. Roosevelt director Scott Brown says: “People back in New York and people around d the country are always asking, ‘What’s in the water out in Seattle?’” He laughs. “It’s not really in the water. We think it’s the coffee.” This article profile both of the school’s programs and directors and discusses their preparation for this year’s competition. To read the full article, follow the link.
THREE NW HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ BANDS TO HEAD TO ESSENTIALLY ELLINGTON JAZZ COMPETITION IN NEW YORK
The Seattle Times
Jazz bands from Garfield and Roosevelt high schools in Seattle and Edmonds-Woodway High School will represent the Northwest at the 15th annual Essentially Ellington competition and festival in New York City, May 8-10.Fifteen bands are chosen from around the country every year to compete in the prestigious event.
SEATTLE’S EARSHOT JAZZ FESTIVAL LOOKS BEYOND TRADITION
Seattle Times
The 2009 Earshot Jazz Festival, one of the nation’s most eclectic and protracted festivals of its kind, begins and ends its three-week run with reminders of what qualifies Seattle as a great jazz city. Assiduously engineered by Earshot director John Gilbreath, the event, which is more of concentrated series than a festival, aims to challenge and educate as much as entertain. It brings in musicians American audiences (let alone Seattle audiences) seldom get to see — somewhat unfamiliar names who are doing much of the work of innovating and redefining of jazz. Earshot features more than 50 concerts and also makes generous use of local talent. It opens Friday night at the Triple Door with the Garfield High School Jazz Band, which won this year’s prestigious Essentially Ellington competition in New York.
