MONTEREY JAZZ FEST FOR KIDS
MUSICIANS from the MJF performed for a full house of elementary and middle school students at the Pacific Grove Performing Arts Center on November 4. They were joined by vocalist Tammi Brown and dancer Micha Scott. Far right is 15-year-old Felix Diaz-Contreras from PG High School on trombone. Two other teenage instrumentalists joined the band on stage: Akili Bradley and Isaac DeVera. The students stood, stamped and clapped to the rhythms of the blues and swing and learned about improvisation. Three volunteers from the audience played kazoos on stage to the amused laughter of all. Included was music by Charles Mingus, Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Dizzy Gillespie. Samantha Samuels was MC. The program was repeated for more students at Sherwood Hall in Salinas.
ART OF VOCAL IMPROVISATION
SINGER/VOCAL COACH Ariel Thiermann gives a free master class for aspiring jazz singers of all ages, this Wednesday, November 11, 7pm at Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz.
JASPER QUARTET MASTER CLASS
STUDENT MUSICIANS will be coached by the Jasper String Quartet, Thursday at 7pm, at Carmel High School Performing Arts Center. The public is invited to attend free of charge. The event is sponsored by the school, Chamber Music Monterey Bay and Youth Music Monterey County.
SANTA CRUZ SYMPHONY
PERFORMS ITS SECOND PROGRAM of the season this weekend. Daniel Stewart conducts Debussy, Schubert, Saint-Saëns & Marquez at Civic Auditorium in Santa Cruz and at the Mello in Watsonville. See our CALENDAR.
THREE NEW STAGE OPENINGS
JEWEL THEATER’S Guys and Dolls debuts at the Tannery Art Center in Santa Cruz. Almost, Maine opens at Monterey Peninsula College and The Producers on the Western Stage. See our CALENDAR for details.
PERFORMING ARTS PEOPLE
MICHELLE AND SEAN BOULWARE. Sean’s Aria Women’s Chorus joins David Dally’s MPC String Orchestra in concert this weekend. Click HERE
FRESH REVIEWS
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE at Cabrillo College. Click HERE
ENSEMBLE MONTEREY’S “Winds of the Exotic,” and Youth Music Monterey County’s “Mystery and Transparency.” Click HERE
Scott MacClelland, editor