Steppin' Out
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Jazz education is key at 36th annual Stanford festival
By Heather Zimmerman
One could say that the Stanford Jazz Festival is a true learning experience. With the festival complementing a summer's worth of jazz workshops at Stanford University, there's plenty of learning going on. And with the Stanford Jazz Festival's more than 30 concerts featuring top names in jazz, it's definitely an experience.
The 36th annual Stanford Jazz Festival gets under way June 23, 8 p.m. with a performance by the Nicholas Payton Quintet. The Stanford Jazz Festival takes place through Aug. 4, with concerts presented nearly every night of the month-plus run, plus several matinee performances. All concerts are held on the Stanford University campus in either Dinkelspiel Auditorium or the Campbell Recital Hall.
The festival grew out of the Stanford Jazz Workshop, which was founded in the early '70s by saxophonist and Stanford graduate Jim Nadel. The workshop began as weekly jam sessions on campus, which quickly grew into a summer program. Before long, such heavy hitters as Stan Getz and Dizzy Gillespie were guest teachers at the summer program. The Stanford Jazz Workshop now encompasses a jazz camp for youth ages 12-17, a residency program for adults and some advanced youth and a series of evening classes for young people 12 and up, and adults. Top jazz musicians from the Bay Area and around the country teach these programs.
The musicians on hand to teach workshops during the day perform for their students in the evening in concerts open to the public, a practice that gave rise to the Stanford Jazz Festival. This format creates a unique, intense atmosphere, with the musicians knowing that their audience, comprised of workshop students and jazz enthusiasts, is there to appreciate their music.
This year, the festival's vast lineup includes performances by the Bobby Hutcherson Quartet on July 7, 8 p.m.; the Heath Brothers on July 21, 8 p.m.; Stanford Jazz Workshop alumni Taylor Eigsti and the Julian Lage Group on July 22, 7:30 p.m.; Wycliffe Gordon Quartet with Matt Wilson on July 28, 8 p.m.; Madeline Eastman and Dena DeRose on July 31, 8 p.m.; Kenny Barron, Terell Stafford, Dayna Stephens and Matt Wilson on July 29, 8 p.m.; and Lee Konitz on Aug. 4, 8 p.m.
The festival also features several performances by jazz camp participants on July 20, 27 and Aug. 2.
Tickets are $5-$20 students and $20-$40 general admission; prices vary by event. For more information, call 650.725.ARTS or visit www.ticketweb.com.
