Stay tuned for further information about Jazz Fest 43, which will be held February 25th and 26th, 2011!

Born August 11, 1966, McCaslin grew up in in Santa Cruz, CA; inspired by his father, a pianist and vibraphonist, the youngster started playing tenor saxophone at 12, and quickly progressed, touring Europe and participating in the prestigious Monterey Jazz Festival’s California All-Star band while in high school. After attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston, he joined Berklee professor Gary Burton’s quintet, with whom he toured for four years. McCaslin moved to New York, in 1991, working with bassist Eddie Gomez and then joining the group Steps Ahead, with whom he made the 1995 disc Vibe (NYC Records). But he really began to turn heads with his solo work in larger ensembles – first Ken Schaphorst’s big band, and subsequently the acclaimed Maria Schneider Orchestra, where his performance on the album Concert In The Garden received a Grammy nomination for “Best Jazz Instrumental Solo” in 2004.

So much for McCaslin’s “traditional” credentials, which provide the anchor for his much-admired work in more adventurous realms. Chief among these is the pianoless quartet Lan Xang (which evolved from an experimental partnership with fellow New York saxist David Binney) and the quintet led by the widely lionized trumpeter Dave Douglas, who added McCaslin to his band in 2005. Reviewing the Douglas Quintet in Jazz Times, Josef Woodard wrote of McCaslin: “He’s a versatile player who moves easily between inside and outside musical zones . . . . [T]here’s a fluidity and grace to his playing even when he’s pushing at envelopes.”

Thanks to the high profile of the Dave Douglas Quintet, McCaslin in the last two years has achieved wider praise for the incisive twists and purposeful turns of his emotionally charged solos. But those qualities – along with his sometimes startling virtuosity, and his distinctive voice as a composer – had actually been on display for much of the previous decade, during which McCaslin proved himself a valued sideman on recordings by Danilo Perez, Luciana Souza, and performances with Tom Harrell, Brian Blade, John Pattitucci, The Mingus Big Band, and Pat Metheny. . Meanwhile, the previous albums under his own name have shown him subtly incorporating elements of Latin American music within adventurous jazz frameworks.

In 2006, McCaslin received a Doris Duke grant for new jazz composition from Chamber Music America; his album In Pursuit comprises the results of that work.

ANY QUESTIONS MAY BE ADDRESSED TO:
Michael Kosiek
Jazz Fest Chair
(630) 303-3537 / mak6447@truman.edu

Tim AuBuchon
Assistant Professor of Music, Jazz Studies
(660) 785-4412 / aubuchon@truman.edu

Classification: High school bands will be classified according to the Missouri classification system. High schools are classified by the total enrollment (9-12) as follows:

• Class 1: 130 & below
• Class 2: 131 – 245
• Class 3: 246 – 577
• Class 4: 578 – 1202
• Class 5: 1203 & above

2nd Bands and Combos will be included in their own classes regardless of school size. Middle schools and junior high schools will be combined in one class.

Awards: First, Second and Third Place plaques will be awarded in Classes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, 2nd Band, Junior High/Middle School, and Combo, assuming there are 4 or more participants in each class. Classes with fewer than 4 participants will receive 1 fewer plaques than there are groups (i.e. a class with three participants will receive first and second place plaques only). The adjudicators will also select one student per class to receive an “Outstanding Soloist” certificate.

Equipment: Truman State University will provide the following equipment in the performance rooms:

• A sound-reinforcement system
• Risers, chairs, stands, and electrical outlets
• A grand piano

Each band must supply any additional equipment e.g. drums, cymbals, amps, bass, guitars, etc… If you have special equipment needs, please contact Tim AuBuchon at (660) 785-4412. He will take each situation into account and try to accommodate the specific needs of each band.

Warm-up Rooms: A warm-up room with piano, chairs, and stands will be provided. Warming up will be allowed only in the warm-up room during the allotted time without exception (NOT in the home room, hallways, or performance site). (Note: Drum sets and amps are not provided in warm-up rooms.)

Truman State University and the Phi Mu Alpha Jazz Festival cannot take responsibility for the loss of personal belongings, equipment etc. Each band will be assigned monitored homerooms for an hour prior to their warm up time, but individuals and band directors must take precautions to keep their equipment secure. Each band should vacate their homeroom immediately following their band’s clinic. NO drinking or eating will be allowed in the homerooms.

Failure to adhere to the above guidelines could result in disqualification. Please make your students aware of these requests.

Performance and Clinic: Each group will be allotted 30 minutes (including set-up and tear-down) which will include performance. A clinician will observe each band, accompany them to a clinic room, and provide a 30 minute clinic (including set-up and tear-down). A piano will be provided in each clinic room. (Note: Drum sets and amps are not provided in clinic rooms.)

Entrance Fees/Ticket Information: The entrance fee for each school is $150 for each ensemble and $150 for each combo. Please include the appropriate fee with your application. The registration deadline is February 1, 2010. We have had problems with faxes in the past, so though we will accept faxed entry forms, we need you to either call or email to make sure that we did receive your application. Please return your application as soon as possible – performance spots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

(Note: each band should have its own entry form, NOT each school.)

Mail registration packets to:
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Music Department
Ophelia Parrish 1101
Kirksville MO 63501-4221

Apply online:
www.upsilonphi.org/article/online-application

Or fax to:
660-785-7463

Faxed applications should be followed by phone call or email for confirmation.

RECEIPT OF ALL APPLICATIONS WILL BE CONFIRMED BY PHI MU ALPHA VIA EMAIL.

Saturday, February 27, 2010
An all-day high school and middle school competition including performances, clinics for each band and a free master class by Donny McCaslin for all festival goers. It will also feature performances by TSU jazz combos, an awards ceremony, and an evening concert.

Admission into the daytime competition concerts is $2, but free to band members, band directors and bus drivers from participating schools.

The master class with Donny McCaslin will be at 11:30am in Baldwin Auditorium.

The festival awards ceremony will take place at 5;15pm.

The evening concert feature Donny McCaslin with the TSU Jazz Ensemble will be at 8pm. Admission is $8 (free for those with a valid Truman State University ID).

Schools Attending

Crossroads College Preparatory School (combo, ensemble)
De Soto High School (ensemble)
Elseberry High School (ensemble)
Francis Howell North High School (combo, ensemble)
Hickman High School (ensemble)
Highland High School (ensemble)
Kirksville High School (ensemble)
Knoxville High School (ensemble)
Mark Twain High School (ensemble)
Moberly High School (ensemble)
North County High School (ensemble)
Orchard Farm High School (ensemble)
Pacific High School (ensemble)
Rich Central High School (ensemble)
Rock Bridge High School (2 combos, ensemble)
Troy Buchanan High School (ensemble)
Wentzville Holt High School (ensemble)

Crossroads Middle School (ensemble)
Jefferson Junior High School (ensemble)
Oakland Junior High School (ensemble)
West Junior High School (combo, ensemble)

Updated: 02.11.10

Middle School
1st – Hannibal Middle School
2nd – West Jr. High School Jazz Ensemble
3rd – Jefferson Jr. High School
Outstanding Soloist – Carter Datz (West Jr. High)

Combo Division
1st – Rock Bridge High School
2nd – West Jr. High School Combo
3rd – Jackson high School Combo
Outstanding Soloist – Peter Eddins (Lincoln Academy)

Band 3A
1st – Mark Twain High School
2nd – Highland High School
3rd – Orchard Farm High School
Outstanding Soloist – Misty Todd (Highland)

Band 4A
1st – Hannibal High School Jazz Ensemble
2nd – Moberly High School
3rd – Platte County High School
Outstanding Soloist – Cory Lajeunesse (Moberly)

Band 5A
1st – Rock Bridge High School Jazz Ensemble
2nd – Jackson High School
3rd – Pattonville Jazz Ensemble
Outstanding Soloist – Jason Matthews (Rock Bridge)

Updated: 03.02.09

Cited in the “Best Bassist” category of the 2007, 2006 and 2005 Downbeat Readers’ Poll, Ben’s work has not gone unnoticed by the press. Since 2003 Ben has been routinely listed in the Downbeat Critics Poll in an extremely wide variety of categories including “Bassist,” “Composer,” “Rising Star Bassist,” (ranking #1 in 2005, 2006 and 2007), “Rising Star Album,” “Rising Star Acoustic Group,” “Rising Star Arranger,” and “Rising Star Jazz Artist,” all of which is a testament to his dedication as a musician.

Born in 1966 in New Haven, Connecticut, Ben has performed the world over with musicians ranging from oudist Ara Dinkjian to saxophonist Lee Konitz to legendary performance artist Joey Arias. He has appeared on over 40 albums by various artists and has written music for film, national television and radio, including the theme for the National Public Radio (NPR) show On the Media(which boasts a listenership of over 1,000,000 people per week) and the score for Two Days, a play written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Donald Margulies. He was a featured artist with the Jazz Sinfonica Orchestra of Sao Paulo in 2005 and 2008

Vice President
Drew Williams
ajw982@truman.edu

Fraternity Education Officer
Adam Phillips
acp6467@truman.edu

Secretary
William Steinbeck
aws1554@truman.edu

Treasurer
Lucas Willsie
ldw6258@truman.edu

Parliamentary Warden
Joe Eaton
jre4851@truman.edu

Alumni Relations Officer
Bob Gunn
gunn@truman.edu

Risk Management Officer
Brandon Pollard
brandonspollard@gmail.com

Historian
Joel Fischer
jef7121@truman.edu

Festival Information

• Guest Artist: Donny McCaslin
• 2010 Festival Information
• Past Guest Artists
• About Truman State Jazz

Competition Information

• 2010 Competition Schedule
• Competition Guidelines
• Online Application
• Personnel Chart
• Soloist Form

Sponsor Information

• Coming Soon: Advertise at Jazz Fest or become a Patron of Jazz Fest

For more information, contact:

Brendan McGregor
Jazz Fest Chair
btm7658@truman.edu

Tim AuBuchon
Assistant Professor of Music, Jazz Studies
(660) 785-4412
aubuchon@truman.edu