Guest artists Dann Zinn and Chris Robinson will give feedback and critique to Elon University students and guests during the 20th annual Jazz Festival Friday, Feb. 19 in McCrary Theatre.
The annual event consists of two days of jam sessions, master classes and performances. Starting Friday at 9:30 a.m., 11 or 12 local high school and middle school bands will come to perform and practice all day in McCrary Theatre.
Zinn is a saxophonist who teaches at California State University, East Bay and has just released a new album, which director Matt Buckmaster, associate professor of music and education, said has gotten a lot of attention.
Paired with Robinson, a guitarist originally from Australia, the duo are expected to serve as great musical mentors to all of the students.
The music department strives to bring in big-name clinicians to teach both the visiting students as well as Elon students at the festival.
“We mix it up year to year,” Buckmaster said. “Sometimes it’s people more local, sometimes it’s more global. This year we have two people from the West Coast.”
Local high school and middle school band directors are contacted by Elon and invited to join.
“Unfortunately, there aren’t that many jazz programs in the area because of cuts and stuff like that. But the ones that are there are very passionate,” Buckmaster said.
Chair of the music department Jon Metzger started the festival to give students the opportunity to learn from some of the best musicians in their field.
Both Buckmaster and Metzger said the community outreach component of the festival is one of the most important aspects.
“When I founded it 20 years ago, my main thoughts were about bringing outstanding, world-class artists here to Elon for the benefit of our jazz studies students first and foremost,” Metzger said.
Elon music students will also have the opportunity to work with about 400 visiting grade-school students throughout the day.
Senior Jacob Ingle, a music major with a minor in music production, hopes to have a larger role in this year’s festival than he has in the past.
“This year I am hoping to be more involved with the festival activities during the weekend, such as helping out all of the high school ensembles that are coming through and talking to students about music at the collegiate level,” he said.
After the visiting students get a chance to perform and receive feedback, they head home, and Elon students get a chance to play with and learn from the guest artists.
Additionally, at 7 p.m. Friday at The Oak House, Elon jazz students will have time to bring their own instruments and play with the guest artists for Oak House patrons.
“It’s kind of a party,” Buckmaster said. “It’s a little bit of a competitive battle sometimes, but mostly
just fun.”
Saturday morning, Zinn and Robinson will teach their own master classes to Elon students. They will have rehearsals throughout the day before a final performance.
At 7:30 p.m. in McCrary Theatre, Elon students will join Zinn and Robinson on-stage for a free concert.
The first part of the concert will be a collaboration with students, while the second half is reserved for both Zinn and Robinson to perform their own solo work.
Ingle, who will be playing upright bass in the show, says the concert is the most exciting part.
“I am definitely most excited for the concert itself, not only because I get to do what I love most, which is perform, but I will get to perform with professionals who are some of the best in today’s jazz scene,” he said.