Jazz Camp 2009

 June 15-26, 2009, 10-1p.

Sonoma Valley moves to the rhythms of jazz, and to ensure its presence remains with each new generation, the Sonoma Community Center encourages the young people of Sonoma to follow the muse by offering an annual jazz camp as part of its arts education programming. This summer, Sonoma teens can get into the jazz groove with Summer Jam Jazz Camp co-sponsored by the Sonoma Community Center and Sonoma Jazz+, in conjunction with Sonoma Valley Jazz Society. The camp will be led by highly acclaimed local jazz singer Dana Land, with instruction provided by professional jazz musicians.

 

This two-week camp for middle and high school students, grades 6-12, will provide intensive instrumental and vocal instruction in small combo jazz and allow students the opportunity to perform with their peers and to be coached by experienced jazz professionals. The camp is held in various rooms throughout the Sonoma Community Center building. Coordinators are finalizing this year’s jazz instructors, and the lineup of teachers will be announced in the coming weeks. Last year’s stellar faculty included SSU instructor and professional jazz pianist John Simon, internationally renowned flute and vibraphone player Roger Glenn, Napa Valley Symphony bassist and jazz performer Aida de Arteaga, and master drummer and percussionist Kendrick Freeman.

 

Applications for 2009 Summer Jam Jazz camp are available on the community center’s web site at www.sonomacommunitycenter.org, or at the community center front desk. The deadline for enrollment is May 25. Applicants must have at least two years of musical training or provide a demonstration of equivalent skill level. The jazz camp runs June 15-26, Monday through Friday 10:00am-1:00pm, and culminates in a Friday night concert on June 26 in the community center’s Andrews Hall. The fee for camp is $350 or $315 for SCC members, plus a $20 fee for required instructional text. Full and partial scholarships are available.

 

For more information call the community center front desk at (707) 938-4626 ext. 1

2009 Jazz Camp Faculty

Piano: John Simon-Sonoma State University jazz piano educator, multi-talented professional pianist, composer, musical director, recording artist and sound engineer.

John Simon has studied piano for almost 50 years. He has a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Piano and Music Composition from the Ester Boyer College of Music in Philadelphia. He has composed and produced many avant-garde works, most recently a series of “Preludes” which can be heard on myspace.com/johnsimonmusic. He wrote the music score to a film, “Forever Furness”, which won 1st prize for music in the National Historic Trust Film Competition. John’s passion for creativity has driven him to form and join many groups exploring original and experimental music. John’s compositions are featured on several CDs, most recently, “The Fourth Stream”. John is a preferred accompanist for many Bay Area vocalists. He has shared the stage and worked with groups as diverse as Little Anthony, The Drifters, The Coasters, Spyro Gyra, vocalist Terry Bradford, sax legends Ron Stallings and David Sanborn, The Ukiah Symphony, as well as many big bands, jazz, rock and R&B bands throughout the Bay Area. John has been the musical director for theatrical productions of “A Chorus Line”, “Godspell”, “Pippin”, “Rent” and “The Lion King.” He produced a soundtrack for “The Lion King” and composed the music for the theatrical works “Future Perfect Tense”, and “Broken Wings, The Inner Life of Frida Kahlo”. John is the music director at St. Francis Catholic Church in Sonoma. Mr. Simon is also a member of the faculty at Sonoma State University where he teaches Jazz piano classes, private lessons and jazz vocal repertoire. He owns a recording studio, J Dog Studio, in Sonoma, California.

Guitar,Bass: Brian Nova-Director of Jazz and Guitar Studies for Seattle University '90-'96, national and international touring jazz guitarist and vocalist, recording artist, clinician, educator, composer and arranger.

Brian Nova is one of the few Jazz artists in the world who has studied and toured with the two titans of Jazz guitar, Herb Ellis and Joe Pass. Brian has spent many years on the road, with these great men and others, developing and mastering his own unique Jazz guitar and vocal style.

But he feels one of his greater accomplishments has been the preservation and expansion of the Seattle Jazz Scene. From 1990-1996, Brian headed up the Jazz Program at Seattle University as the Director of Jazz and Guitar Studies, guiding the younger generation to understand and love Jazz as he does. He has also kept many of the local Seattle Jazz musicians busy through being a central player for booking great Jazz in the Northwest, as well as producing workshops in the area. He has also established eleven new venues which all offer live Jazz today!

Brian has released four CD's and has appeared on many others as a guest artist. Through this busy schedule he still finds time to conduct clinics, give lessons, and is one of the most sought-after studio musicians in the Northwest. Please refer to his website to see the long list of name musicians that Brian has performed with.

www.briannova.com

 

Brass, Reeds: Roger Glenn-educator and touring jazz multi-instrumentalist; saxophones, flute, clarinet, vibraphones, Latin hand percussion.

Roger Glenn, one of our returning jazz camp instructors from '08 who taught the students "If you can sing it, you can play it!" has performed worldwide bringing his unique style of playing that is understood by all people. Recognized as one of the master flute and vibraphone players of the world, he has expanded his talents by playing the sax, clairnet, and oboe, and he continues to compose, and perform songs that keep people feeling good and wanting to hear more. In addition to being a solo artist with his own group, he has also performed with such giants of Jazz and Latin music as: Dizzy Gillespie, Mongo Santamaria, Herbie Mann, and Rose Mary Clooney, just to name a few. This New York City born and raised Latin Jazz master got his start listening to his father, Tyree Glenn, play trombone and vibraphone with Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, and Louis Armstrong.

After high school, Roger continued playing music in college and later joined the Army and played with the Army Band at Fort Dix New Jersey. He was in great company back then playing with Grover Washington, and Billy Cobham who were also in the Army Band with him. Roger then was transferred to Hawaii, and played with the Army Band of the Pacific.Peace through music was the name of the first recording that Roger was on, and that has been his philosohy ever since.

Drums: Jason Bodlovich-educator, professional guitarist and drummer, recording artist, composer, arranger.

Jason Bodlovich, "J", is an instrumental guitarist who also doubles on drums. Originally from Huntington Beach CA, J started his musical journey on guitar and would then take to drums while studying music at Sonoma State University. J now performs on both instruments in the North Bay Area and leads his own groups in both electric and acoustic settings. Eclectic is a good word to use when describing J's sound as he incorporates many styles into original compositions including rock, jazz, funk, blues, Brazilian and more.

J was recently awarded the Norbay Award-North Bay Music Award for Jazz category voted by public. He recently performed in the Sonoma Guitar Summit with fellow guitarists Randy Vincent, Edie Duran and Brian Nova. J will be performing for Healdsburg Jazz Festival's Rising Stars of the Bay Area in June 09. J is also slated for the Sonoma Jazz Societies Farmer's market series on July 14 as well as the Cotati Blues & Jazz Festival in June 09. J collaborated with jazz guitarist Julian Lage for a series of guitar trio concerts. J has performed for over ten years as a guitar duo with Isaac Carter specializing in Brazilian music and gypsy swing as Carter & Bodlovich. J toured the west coast as opening act for Joe Satriani as acoustic guitar duo with Isaac Carter & Tom Finch. Carter & Bodlovich have also opened for Al Di Meola, Stanley Clarke and Jean Luc Ponty. J was fortunate to have legendary jazz bassist, Ray Brown, to fill the bass chair on J's tribute to Dexter Gordon-Blues For Dexter. Selected venues performed include: The S.F. Fillmore, Warfiels, Great American Music Hall, Ventura Theatre, Wells Fargo Center For The Performing Arts, Grove of Anaheim, Mountain Winery & The Crystal Ballroom. Festivals include: Healdsburg Jazz, S.F. North Beach Music, Cotati Blues/Jazz. J is also involved in education as a private instructor, clinician and faculty member of the Sonoma Jazz Camp.

www.jasonbodlovich.com

 

Vocals: Jennifer Youngdahl-professional singer, songwriter, recording artist and motivational singing instructor.

Jennifer's mission as a professional singer, songwriter, recording artist and motivational singing teacher for over 20 years is to touch and open hearts, inspire acts of courage, excellence and reawaken the magnificence that is in everybody.

Ms. Youngdahl's professional training and experience includes: private vocal study with Vicki Randle (Jay Leno Tonight Show vocalist - percussionist), Jane Sharp (Berkeley Jazz Vocals specialist) and Desiree Goyette-Bogas (TV soundtrack composer and singer), Meisner Acting Training with Don Biehn (ECU) and Jim Jarrett (SF), choral study (WVU, SSU) singing in numerous TV and radio commercials (Sunkist, Taco Bell, Levi-Strauss) movie soundtracks and trailers (Spy Kids, Mimic, Star Wars, DaVinci Code, James Bond's Quantum of Solace), as well as writing and performing custom songs for authors and speakers with a motivational message. Jennifer is a member of AFTRA (American Federation of Television & Radio Association) and SAG (Screen Actors Guild).

www.pureinspirationprod.com

 

Director: Dana Land-professional jazz vocalist, recording artist, music promoter/producer/director, arranger.

Director and vocal instructor for last Summer's Jazz Jam Camp, Dana is also a professional jazz vocalist performing with some of the Bay Area's finest jazz musicians at upscale corporate events and festivals. Having studied jazz under Suzanne Pittson at Sonoma State University she brings a refreshing style and playful presence to every performance. Dana is a boardmember of the Sonoma Valley Jazz Society, which has been supporting and promoting jazz for over 20 years by producing free concerts for the public, and Sonoma Jazz Plus-education sub-committee, which generously supports music programs in the local schools. In addition to Dana's jazz career as vocalist, arranger and recording artist, she also produces 'Kids Perform for Kids' Sake', a variety show put on by the talented youth of Sonoma for the benefit of local children in need. In association with the Sonoma Valley Jazz Society, Dana has brought some of the top Bay Area (and beyond) jazz musicians for over two years to The Lodge at Sonoma, one of the Bay Area's premiere listening venues for live jazz.

 

www.danaland.com

 

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Scenes from 2008 camp

 

Instructor Roger Glenn working with student at Jazz Camp 2008.

 

  

2008 Teen Jazz Camp vocalists with director, Dana Land.

 Jazz camp is not all serious.

 

    

 

 

 

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2008 JAZZ CAMP FEEDBACK

 

Dear Ms. Land,

Thank you for a wonderful jazz camp experience! My son, Kyle, Thought this was his best music camp. The environment was nurturing, creative and supportive. He enjoyed partaking in the jam sessions with the rest of the students and music instructors. He thought the music instructors were passionate, experienced, patient and very kind. His instructor, Roger Glenn, taught him techniques on how to be an effective background soloist, how to use chord changes in improvisations, the importance of knowing your scales, and understanding that if you can “sing it, you can play it.”

As a parent having watched all the students these past two weeks, I thought the camp was organized, positive, comfortable, and carefully adapted to meet the student’s different skill levels. The instructors were sensitive to each student’s needs and were able to bring out the best in each student. The jam sessions were fun, expressive, and innovative. It was a pleasure to see students blossom into inspiring musicians. I would definitely recommend this camp to others.

 Sincerely,                                                     

Evangeline Santos-Ong

Parent/Teacher