November 2009
Volume 75, Number 2

It is early November and here we are making our push toward the holidays.  With the LMEA Conference coming up shortly, there’s lots of jazz going on and LAJE is on the move.  Please refer to our website at www.lajelouisiana.org for updated membership info.  We are ready to get you involved and the website is very informational about many things in the realm of jazz.  Everything you need to know about LAJE dues, membership benefits, etc., is on the website.  Always feel free to contact any of the board members for we are here to help you as best as we can.

            I want to thank several people who helped make the All State Jazz Band auditions such a success.  Our judges were Rick Condit (all saxes), James Miller (trumpets and trombones), Kevin Estoque (drum set and bass), and Patrick Bordelon (guitar and piano).  I want to thank our monitors who helped our judges: J.R. Miller and Lloyd Bosch as well as our desk workers: Mike “Doc” Morgan and Lee Hicks.  There are many more that helped make the audition process run smoothly and I just want to say thanks to all who assisted.  I also want to take this opportunity to show some appreciation in advance of the conference.  Much appreciation goes out to Mr. Doug Gay and Baton Rouge Music Studios, www.brmusicstudios.com, for providing the sound system that the LMEA All State Jazz Ensemble and LAJE Reading Big Band will be using.  I also want to thank those directors who always show up and help with sectionals for the jazz band.  Without the help for all of the various aspects of the audition, rehearsals, and the concert, I wouldn’t be able to provide for the students as best as I am able to.  These people have things that the band needs and this is just part of the reason for the level of success that the All State Jazz Band has achieved over the years. 

            There will be opportunities to catch some fantastic jazz events at the conference.  Besides the three jazz clinics at LMEA, the Loyola University Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Mr. John Mahoney, will perform on Saturday, November 21, from 12p.m. – 12:45p.m.  On Sunday, November 22, another group of inductees will enter the Louisiana Association for Jazz Education Hall of Fame.  All three of these gentlemen are of the highest caliber and respect when it comes down to what they have accomplished individually and collectively in jazz education.  Headlining this class is pianist, Mr. Ellis Marsalis.  Along with Marsalis will be trumpeter, Mr. John Gerbrecht, as well as trumpeter, Mr. Lee Fortier, post humously.  You can read up on these jazz educators in the biography section of the magazine.  Their bios are truly amazing.  The ceremony will take place at 3:45p.m.  Following their induction, the All State Jazz Ensemble will perform from 3:55p.m. – 4:40p.m.  Following the All State Jazz Band will be the LAJE Reading Big Band from 5p.m. – 6:15p.m. Some of the best jazz educators and performers in the state will be performing in this band and they will be debuting new jazz literature as well as classic standards and selections that you will want to purchase for your jazz library.

            In closing out yet another LAJE article, I want to remind everyone of the LMEA Jazz Division/LAJE Business meeting at the conference.  This meeting will take place on Sunday, November 22 from 6:45p.m. – 7:30p.m., following the LAJE Reading Big Band performance.  Refer to the conference schedule for the room location for this meeting as well as the three outstanding jazz clinics that will be held on Saturday and Sunday.  Also, don’t forget to check out www.lajelouisiana.org for info on the following jazz festivals to be held in the spring: LAJE/Northwestern State University State Jazz Festival, Loyola University Jazz Festival, Abbeville Jazz Festival, as well as the Contraband Music Days Jazz Festival.  All of the dates, locations, and registration forms are on the website.  See you at LMEA and look for info on LAJE membership in the exhibit hall.