MJF 2008 JAZZ CAMP CLINICIANS

PECK ALLMOND - trumpeter/educator. Originally from San Francisco, multi-horn player and composer Peck Allmond has lived in NYC for over a dozen years. Aside from leading and writing for his own jazz/world-music unit, the Peck Allmond Kalimba Kollective, he is an in-demand sideman on an unlikely variety of instruments: trumpet, flute, saxophones, valve trombone, bass clarinet, kalimba, and many others. Peck is a current member of Me'Shell NdegeOcello's jazz project "The Spirit Music Sextet", and Oliver Lake's quintet and big band. His recording and performance credits include work with Don Cherry, Julius Hemphill, Peter Apfelbaum's Hieroglyphics Ensemble, Craig Handy, Paul Shaffer, Will Lee, James Brown, and Lenny Kravitz.

ROBYNN AMY - trombonist/educator. Robynn Amy received her B.M. in Performance at Berklee College of Music where she is currently an instructor in the Brass Department, specializing in both tenor and bass trombones. Robynn has performed with Syncopation, "Swingin' Europe" European Jazz Orchestra, Against the Grain, the DIVA Jazz Orchestra, Maiden Voyage Jazz Orchestra, WAITIKI Orchestrotica, the Artie Shaw Orchestra, and the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra. She has additionally worked with Christian McBride, Patrick Williams, Vince Mendoza, Johnny Mandel, Patti Austin, Eguie Castrillo, Victor Mendoza, Gloria Estefan, Lee Ritenour, Abe Laboriel, Burt Bacharach, Dave Grusin, Donna McElroy, Carmen Branford, and Dee Daniels. Robynn has also traveled for the Berklee College of Music, holding brass and jazz clinics all over the world, including Germany, Puerto Rico, and Israel.

PAUL CONTOS - woodwinds performer/educator. A master at combining technical wizardry and musical fluidity, Santa Cruz resident Paul Contos has been a favorite of Monterey music fans and jazz aficionados for over twenty years. A woodwind and saxophone artist extraordinaire, he continues to impress audiences with his virtuosity, versatility, clarity, and warmth of sound. He directs the MJF Next Generation Jazz Orchestra and the MJF Monterey County All-Star High School Big Band, and is on faculty at Cal State University Monterey Bay.

JOE BAGG - pianist/educator. Hammond B3 organist and pianist Joe Bagg earned a Masters degree in music from Rutgers University, where he studied with Kenny Barron for two years. He has since become an integral part of the Los Angeles jazz scene, earning placement in DownBeat Magazine’s Critics’ Poll for ‘Talent Deserving Wider Recognition’ in the Hammond B-3 category for the last four years. Musical partners to date have included Charles McPherson, Billy Higgins, Arthur Blythe, Bob Dorough, Ernie Watts, Joe LaBarbara, Ralph Moore, Jeff Hamilton, Andy Simpkins, Pete Christlieb, Dave Pike, Terry Gibbs, Jack Sheldon, Roy McCurdy, Bobby Hutcherson, Marvin 'Smitty' Smith, Anthony Wilson, Eric Alexander, and Alphonse Mouzon.

SAL CRACCHIOLO – trumpeter/educator.  A trumpet virtuoso with stunning range, Sal Cracchiola has performed or recorded with Poncho Sanchez, Shannon Kennedy, Scott Amendola, Brian Setzer Orchestra and many others.

MADELINE EASTMAN – vocalist/educator.  Madeline is one of the leading lights in vocal jazz in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Among her many credits, she is the co-leaders of Mad-Kat Records and maintains a busy schedule of international performing and teaching engagements.  She has released five albums as a leader and has been awarded as “Talent Deserving Wider Recognition” by DownBeat Magazine’s International Critics Poll.

BRUCE FORMAN - guitarist/author/educator. His recording and performing credits include the likes of Bobby Hutcherson, Ray Brown, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Barney Kessel, Richie Cole, and countless others, and his guitar work is featured throughout Clint Eastwood's Academy Award winning film, "Million Dollar Baby." Bruce has released two educational jazz guitar books, one educational jazz guitar video, and thirteen recordings as a leader.

MICHAEL GALISATUS - trumpeter/educator.  An accomplished musician and teacher, Michael Galisatus teaches at Aragon High School in San Mateo and won a prestigious award in 2004 from the California Music Education Association.  He also teaches at the College of San Mateo.

VINCE LATEANO - drummer/educator. California native, Vince Lateano made his mark performing with Eddie Duran and Vince Guaraldi in the 1970's. After a tour with the Woody Herman Band, Vince joined the Cal Tjader group in 1978, recording 6 albums with the famed vibist. Vince has also recorded with Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Tania Maria, Tom Harrell, Al Cohn, Richie Cole, Mark Murphy, Eddie Duran, Bill Perkins, and Carmen McRae, among others.

KERRY MARSH - vocalist/educator. A member of the jazz studies faculty at Sacramento State University, Kerry directs three vocal jazz ensembles, teaches jazz arranging, and oversees the jazz voice studies program. Kerry also directs the new vocal jazz program at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton. Marsh earned a B.M.E. in Music Education from the University of Kansas in 2000 and a M.M. in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas in 2003. Kerry is a leading composer and arranger of music for vocal jazz ensemble, instrumental jazz ensemble, marching band, and other musical groups.

VIRGINIA MAYHEW - saxophonist/composer/arranger.  A native of San Francisco, Virginia moved to New York in 1987 and attended the New School's Jazz Performance program. She has worked with such renowned artists as Norman Simmons, Al Grey, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Lew Tabakin, Joe Williams, Leon Parker, Clark Terry and many others. She is the director and founder of the Greenwich House Jazz Workshop in New York City and has released three albums as a leader.

CHRISTIAN McBRIDE - bassist/educator/MJF Artist-In-Residence. The Grammy Award winning bassist Christian McBride has been at the forefront of jazz since the early 90s. He has performed with many top jazz artists, including trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, Superbass (with Ray Brown and John Clayton), Pat Metheny, Joshua Redman and many others. Christian has recorded over 150 albums as a sideman for such artists as Joe Henderson, Betty Carter, Roy Haynes, Benny Green, Kathleen Battle, Diana Krall, Dave Brubeck, Jimmy Smith, Joe Lovano, McCoy Tyner, George Duke, and many more. McBride has released six records as a leader, won a 2004 Grammy Award for his participation on McCoy Tyner’s Illuminations, and has performed with  James Brown at the Hollywood Bowl. In 2007, he recorded with and acted as Musical Director for Queen Latifah; presented Charles Mingus’ “Epitaph” in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York; and performed with Sonny Rollins and Roy Haynes at a 50th Anniversary concert at Carnegie Hall. A devoted jazz educator and mentor, Christian is the Artistic Director at the Jazz Aspen Snowmass summer program, the Co-Director of The Jazz Museum in Harlem, and is Creative Chair for the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

EDDIE MENDENHALL - pianist/educator.  An alumnus of the Monterey Jazz Festival High School All Star Band in 1989 and 1990, Eddie Mendenhall is a graduate of Berklee College of Music.  Eddie worked in Japan from 1995 to 2002, and was one of the most-often working pianists in Japan.  Since returning to the U.S., he has maintained a busy performance schedule and directs the Monterey Peninsula College Jazz Big Band.

SCOTT STEED - bassist/educator. A top-rate bass player in the San Francisco Bay Area, Scott Steed performs regularly with musicians such as Darrell Grant and Anton Schwartz. He has also performed with legendary vocalist Diane Schuur.

DICK WHITTINGTON – pianist/educator.  Whittington has enjoyed a lengthy career performing with the likes of trombone legend Curtis Fuller and many others.  As an educator he has taught musicians such as Benny Green and many other Bay Area pianists.  Whittington is note-worthy for his mastery of comping and backing up soloists, and provides important accompaniment for vocal students.

For other giving options (credit card by phone, stock donation, planned giving), please contact the Monterey Jazz Festival at 831.373.3366 or e-mail jazzinfo@montereyjazzfestival.org.