Founded in 1971 as the California High School Jazz Competition and re-named the Next Generation Jazz Festival in 2004, this event has become one of the most influential jazz education summits in the entire country, as evidenced by the growing list of its alumni streaking onto the jazz world’s music scene.
Monterey Jazz Festival Education Director Paul Contos remembers the event’s beginnings, having attended the event in 1971 with Carlmont High from the San Francisco Bay Area. “We didn’t win or anything,” he says, “but I was there.”
A saxophonist and flautist himself, Contos joined the Monterey Jazz Festival in the mid-1980s as part of an educational outreach program to local schools. The program now has six other pros teaching, in addition to himself. “We have a really deep, long-running relationship with dozens of schools throughout Monterey County,” Contos says.
Each year at the end of the event, 21 best-of-the-best student musicians are chosen – from a total of over 1,200 gifted invitees – to populate the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, a prestigious ensemble responsible for launching current jazzbos like sax players Joshua Redman and Mark Turner, pianist Donnie McCaslin and smooth jazz saxman Dave Koz.
“That list just keeps on growing,” Contos says, sounding more like a proud papa than a jazz educator.
He lists off some recent news: trumpeter Sean Erick, an alum from 10 years ago, is now in Justin Timberlake’s band; alum flautist Elene Pinderhughes has recorded with Herbie Hancock and rapper Common; saxophonist Chad Lefkowitz-Brown already has a Grammy under his belt and has appeared with Don Henley, Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift.
Post-festival, the orchestra goes on tour, including an every-other year sojourn to Japan. This year they will tour the Atlantic seaboard in late June, including a stop at NYC hotspot Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola in Manhattan at Jazz at Lincoln Center, and culminating with an appearance at the Montreal Jazz Festival in Quebec.
Last year, two local players became the first Monterey County musicians to be chosen for the orchestra since 2005. Trumpeter Akili Bradley and guitarist Isaac de Vera both now seem poised for trajectories similar to previous Next Gen Jazz Orchestra alumni.
In addition to going to CSU Monterey Bay and Monterey Peninsula College, Bradley also interns at the Jazz Festival offices. Just last week, San Francisco Conservatory of Music’s Roots, Jazz, and American Music division accepted her. De Vera has joined a number of ensembles as a freshman at UCLA.
New this year is a judging category for solo jazz vocalists. “If we think of jazz vocals, the first thing that comes to mind isn’t really a vocal ensemble, it’s jazz singers, right?” Contos says. “Like Billie Holiday, Ella [Fitzgerald], Sarah Vaughan, [Frank] Sinatra, Tony Bennett – so I’m excited to finally have that new division this year.”
The intense focus on competition and winning, along with the rigorous selection process to qualify just to attend, gives previous education director Rob Klevan pause to reflect. “If you’re here,” Klevan says, “you’ve already won.”
Contos echoes the thought: “Yes, we do pick a first-, second – and third-place winner, but the mere fact that you are here means that you have already been selected as a top-excelling group.”
The event debuts with Friday night’s annual Opening Night Judges Concert at Golden State Theatre where the competition judges join 2017 artists-in-residence bassist John Clayton, drummer Jeff Hamilton, and pianist Gerald Clayton from the Clayton Hamilton Big Band and others for a riff session. That follows an opening set from the Danae Greenfield Quartet from Boston’s esteemed Berklee College of Music.
Contos is also excited by the annual late Saturday night concert, which this year will feature the stellar University of North Texas One O’Clock Jazz Band.
“They’ve been known for many years as one of the very best big bands out there,” Contos says. “They don’t compete, they tour – everywhere. They’re just exceptional, and were last here in 2013. We’re delighted to have them back.”
Contos’ focus on youth education evokes the oft-cited maxim that music and arts training for youngsters makes for more well-rounded, balanced adults.
“Take jazz improvisation for example,” Contos says. “There are all kinds of rules, but you also have to learn to spontaneously make wise decisions very quickly. That skill transfers to a decision-making skill set.”
Some 90 bands all told will converge upon numerous downtown venues this weekend. All events are free, but seating is limited.
“I just want to be a catalyst for inspirational thinking, creative development and wise choices in music,” Contos says, “which leads to wise choices in life.”
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