The Jazzschool Institute for Developing Artists and Audiences at Yoshi's
I am honored that Jazzschool Director Susan Muscarella has asked me to teach composition, saxophone and jazz ensembles as part of the new Jazzschool Institute, a high level 4 year program for advanced student musicians looking to further their craft in an innovative and superior program of jazz training. Featuring a who's who of Bay Area and national jazzers, the institute is the first of its kind in the San Francisco Bay Area.
I am also very proud that the Advanced High School Workshop I teach through the regular Jazzschool has now won a Downbeat award as the best high school small group in the country, the 7th or 8th Downbeat award my students have received in the past 5 years. It is a joy and pleasure to work with them.
I am also now the head of the jazz and popular music program at Los Medanos College, and have added such outstanding talents as Erik Jekabson on trumpet, Grammy-winner Doug Beavers on trombone and Jeff Marrs on drums to the faculty. We now have what I believe is the best 2 year jazz program in California, comprised of four player/teachers who spent major time in New York and Boston. I firmly subscribe to the principle that you can only teach the music as well as you can play it. To rework the phrase, those who can't do SHOULDN'T teach! I am glad that Los Medanos is the first 2 year program in the area where the faculty are all active, top-level jazz players.