Oberlin Jazz Ensemble's Recent Outreach Effort is Part of a Long and Proud Tradition Story by Linda Shockley Photographs by Wendell Logan
			Twenty-four Jazz Studies students traveled recently to Northview High School of Sylvania, Ohio (nearby Toledo), where they served as adjudicators, clinicians and performers for the school's 12 th annual Northview Jazz Festival. The outreach effort is just a small part of the Oberlin Jazz Ensemble's (OJE) long and proud tradition of outreach. "The OJE and smaller jazz groups," says Wendell Logan, professor of African-American music and chair of the Jazz Studies program, "have always been active in outreach at schools, prisons and festivals. This tradition ties in with the Excellence in Music program, a cooperative venture among Oberlin, the Tri C Jazz Fest, Cuyahoga Community College and Cleveland School of the Arts. Oberlin was a founding partner in the Excellence in Music program and we have been instrumental in its growth." Logan continues, "At Northview High School, our students did as they usually do: they represented Oberlin very well. They know what's expected of them and they do it well. I say it boastfully but it's also what other people say." Indeed, Eugene Bohland, director of bands at Sylvania Northview High School, says of Oberlin's contribution to the festival, "Without the contribution of the Oberlin students, our 12th annual Jazz Festival would not have achieved such a high level of success. Thirteen high school bands - mostly big bands but also a few small ensembles - from Ohio and Michigan participated in the festival. The Oberlin students listened to performances, identified outstanding soloists, critiqued performances, offered tips in sectionals, and offered their own performance in the evening. They did a great job of providing our students with information and encouragement. On top of that, their performance was hot! I also have a senior Rob Schwartz who was recently accepted into the Oberlin Jazz Studies program and he was able to talk to members of OJE." Logan adds, "For the those Jazz students who want to be teachers, this outreach work provides a wonderful opportunity for valuable classroom and teaching experience. Outreach is time consuming. But if you can go and encourage one kid to be a musician, it's worthwhile. Most of us started in school music programs; I know I did. It's important to give back." "I think one of the primary challenges for us as adjudicators," says Michael Reavey, third-year double degree trumpet major, "is that the level of jazz education in public schools varies a great deal from state-to-state and area-to-area. We all went in with different expectations and we had to reach a middle ground. Personally, I looked for the qualities that make a successful ensemble: 'togetherness,' intonation, and a spirit or energy. "I thought it was wonderful," Reavey adds. "I compared this experience with what I grew up with. It was great that all the groups seemed to be led by someone who knows and loves jazz education, which I think is a new development in public schools." The Oberlin group also performed a concert, a preview of sorts for the upcoming May 6 OJE concert in Finney Chapel. The recital included: And That's That Dennis Mackrel The Quintessence Quincy Jones The End of a Love Affair Edward Redding Central Park North Thad Jones A Night in Tunisia Dizzy Gillespie "When our students act as judges," says Logan, "the roles are reversed for them as they are usually being judged in competitions and festivals. This provided important experience in learning the procedures of a festival and in recognizing and articulating exceptional musicianship." The participating students, members of OJE, included:   THE OBERLIN JAZZ ENSEMBLE SAXOPHONE TROMBONE Kelly Roberge, tenor, clarinet, flute Andy Hunter - Grayling, MI - Monroe, CT Shannon McLeod - Cadillac, MI Jonal Berman, Jr., alto, flute Nicholas Daley - St. Paul, MN - Newton, MA Dan Weiskopf - Baltimore, MD Tom Bencivengo, alto, soprano *Steve Parker - Chicago, IL - Burlington, CT Brian Wesolowski, tenor, clarinet GUITAR - Lincoln, RI Evan Wilson - Brooklyn, NY Peter Lyons, baritone, bass clarinet Jeff Bean - Bloomington, IN - Annandale, NJ BASS TRUMPET Zachariah Hickman - Lynchburg, VA Farnell newton - Miami, FL Matthew Elliott - Factoryville, PA Damein Hill - Pittsburg, CA Mark Tipton - South Portland, ME DRUMS Josiah Woodson - El Cerrito, CA Brian Chase - Huntington, NY Michael Reavey - Thompson, PA Jason Brown - New Rochelle, NY J. Q. Whitcomb - Santa Fe, NM PIANO Adam Faulk - Medford, MA Allan Baker - Cleveland, OH
			Back to the Backstage Pass