La reVista: Story on the Alamo Jazz Allstars Mentorship Program

Students Get Pointers from Jazz VIPs

The next great jazz musician may soon emerge from the Alamo Colleges thanks to a student jazz group that was formed last year at Northwest Vista College and has received mentoring from some of the best jazz musicians in the business.

The Alamo Allstars, created by NVC associate professor of Music Katharine “Katchie” Cartwright, is a student mentorship program for Alamo Colleges students to receive training, mentorship and a chance to travel abroad to learn from international jazz musicians.

To join the group of five, students have to audition and then one student is chosen to attend the International Association of Schools of Jazz (IASJ) conference hosted in different cities. Only about 50 students are selected internationally to participate in the conference. This year, NVC student Stephen Bennett will be traveling to Austria to be a part of the event.

Last year, then NVC student Jeané Gaines traveled to Brazil to participate in the conference. She said words can’t express all that she experienced on the trip. Read more >>

Allstars to Perform at Palo Alto Jazz Festival - Fri March 23, 2012

In a whirlwind morning and afternoon, the Alamo Allstars quintet rush from a live television date (10-11 AM) to a festival opening performance on Friday March 23, 2012. The group is slated to perform at 11:30 AM in the Palo Alto College Performing Arts Center auditorium. See you there...

16th Annual PAC Jazz Festival

Friday, March 23, 2012, 10:00 AM
Location: Performing Arts Center Auditorium

Palo Alto College will host the 16th Annual PAC Jazz Festival on March 23 in the Performing Arts Center on the Palo Alto College campus. Performance times are Friday, March 23 from 10am to 8pm and again on Saturday, March 24 from 10am to 5pm (dates and times are subject to change). The festival will feature local Middle and High School jazz ensembles as well as the PAC Jazz Ensemble and the Alamo Colleges All-Star Jazz Ensemble. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information,call 486-3227.

Alamo Allstars Quintet to Perform on San Antonio Living WOAI

The Alamo Allstars quintet are slated to perform live on San Antonio Living WOAI, hosted by Shelley Miles. The television show airs Friday morning, March 23, 2012 from 10-11 AM. Stephen Bennett, the group's bassist, arranged the date. Good work, Stephen! Stay tuned...

Geri Allen Master Class at Trinity - A Multilevel Community Event

Left to right: James Buentello, Shea Adams, Marco Escobedo, Stephen Bennett

Geri Allen gave a wonderful master class at Trinity University on Saturday, February 18, as part of her residency with Musical Bridges Across the World. The free event was a collaboration between Trinity's KRTU, Musical Bridges, and the Alamo Colleges Jazz Mentorship Program.

Local students and performers were invited to bring their instruments. Elementary school students participated along with local professionals and, of course, our own Alamo Allstars quintet. Allen found a way for everyone to share with each other, whether performing a single-note drone, simple rhythmic pattern, familiar tune, or jazz standard. The afternoon was magical. Everyone left feeling excited and eager to play.

On Sunday, Feb 19, Geri Allen and her trio presented a concert at San Antonio College.  She recorded a radio interview with Bradley Kayser for his Jitterbug Waltz Hour show (Tuesdays 8-9 PM) on KRTU 91.7 FM.  During the interview, she spoke of her influences and spun records by some of her musical mentors.  The radio show is available online until 8 PM CST on Tuesday, February 29. Well worth listening to...

The next Alamo Allstars event on the calendar is a master class with Dr. Armin Marmolejo at Palo Alto College. Stay tuned...

Where's Geri Allen? Back row, fourth from the left...

Pianist Mark Ligon joins the program

We are pleased to welcome Mark Ligon into the Alamo Colleges Jazz Mentorship program as a new member of the 2012 Alamo Allstars quintet. Congratulations, Mark! Our newest member, he is a pianist and hails from Northwest Vista College. We're sorry to see Rene Pintor leave the program, and wish him well in all his future endeavors.

Join the Alamo Colleges Jazz Mentorship program Facebook community for breaking news and lots of other helpful information. Stay tuned...

50th Annual Fiesta Jazz Festival - Alamo Allstars to Perform

The Alamo Colleges Jazz Mentorship program's Allstars quintet has been invited to perform at the 50th annual Fiesta Jazz Band Festival, hosted by St. Mary's Unviversity. Event details are below. Congratulations, Alamo Allstars!

 

50TH ANNUAL ST MARY'S FIESTA JAZZ FESTIVAL

April 28, 8:00am-5:00pm

St. Mary’s University

The 50th annual Fiesta Jazz Band Festival is San Antonio’s oldest educational jazz festival, attracting junior and senior high-school jazz ensembles from Texas and other states. Participants perform for criticism before a panel of renowned jazz clinicians. Trophies and awards are given for outstanding performances in various categories.

A special clinic by this year’s Fiesta Jazz Artist will be featured at midday. Past clinicians have included Dizzy Gillespie, Bill Lee, Wayne Bergeron, Curtis Wilson, Rick Lawn and Bob Moses. Come enjoy tomorrow’s future jazz artists performing for the final day of the Fiesta Jazz Festival.

Free admission. Call the Music Department at (210) 436-3421 for more information.

Location:
St. Mary's University
One Camino Santa Maria

IASJ Announces 2012 Grand Prize Winner

Left to right: Loueke, Rene Pintor, Marco Escobedo, Stephen Bennett, James Buentello (2/4/12)

 

Hot off the presses! We've just heard from the International Association of Schools of Jazz (IASJ) that bassist Stephen Bennett (Northwest Vista College) has been invited to the 2012 meeting of the IASJ, to be held in Graz, Austria June 23-29, 2012.  Congratulations, Stephen!

Our "Alamo Allstars," the Alamo Colleges Jazz Mentorship program's combo of finalists had a wonderful master class with Lionel Loueke at The Carver a few weeks ago, and are looking forward to another this weekend, with Geri Allen at Trinity. Hope to see you there...

Join the Alamo Colleges Jazz Mentorship program Facebook community for breaking news and lots of other helpful information. Stay tuned...