May 12, 2008; Monterey, CA; The Monterey Jazz Festival is proud to announce that the Monterey County High School All-Star Band will perform a special performance at the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas in celebration of Armed Forces Day on Saturday, May 17 at 1:30 PM.

The concert is followed by a color guard presentation from Seaside High School Junior ROTC. Then there will also be a panel with photographer Tom Graves; the President of the National Japanese American Citizen League (JACL), Larry Oda; Nisei veterans, and a Taiko drumming demonstration under the direction of Irene Hashimoto.

The Monterey County All-Star Band Concert will open the National Steinbeck Center’s “Heroes All! Nisei Veterans of WWII and Korea,” which continues through July 27, 2008. The exhibit features photographic portraits and interviews by San Francisco photographer Tom Graves, honoring the Japanese American veterans of the WWII generation. “Nisei” means second generation, and refers to a child born to parents who emigrated from Japan.

“We’re pleased to continue our partnership with the National Steinbeck Center in providing a venue and performance opportunities for our students,” said Dr. Rob Klevan, Education Director of the Monterey Jazz Festival. “We are also proud to offer the general public the chance to hear some great jazz played by the very best young musicians in Monterey County.”

The National Steinbeck Center is located at One Main Street in Salinas. From May 17 through July 27, 2008, the “Heroes All!” exhibition is included with museum admission, costing $10.95 for adults, with discounts for seniors, students, children and groups (with advance reservations). A portion of program proceeds that day will be donated to the Paralyzed Veterans Association. The museum is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM. For more information, visit www.steinbeck.org or call (831) 775–4721.

The MJF County High School All-Star Band, directed by renowned saxophonist and flautist Mr. Paul Contos, includes the best and brightest student musicians from the Festival's home county. The 21-member band features the finest young jazz musicians from nine Monterey County high schools, including Carmel, Monterey, North Monterey County, Pacific Grove, Palma, Salinas, Seaside, Stevenson, and York High Schools. Members of the All-Star Band are selected by the Festival’s “Traveling Clinicians” who visit Monterey schools once a month during the school year for one-on-one instruction in jazz. In 2008, the All-Star Band will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of their annual tour of Japan, which will take place from July 22 - August 4, 2008.

The Monterey Jazz Festival and the National Steinbeck Center have become formidable presenting partners in the Monterey Bay Area. The two organizations have joined forces in recent years to produce concerts in the summer and fall seasons, including the Summer Jazz Series in July and the Jazz with Steinbeck concert prior to the Monterey Jazz Festival each year. On Wednesday, September 17, 2008, the 4th Annual Jazz with Steinbeck concert features vocalists Mary Stallings, Spencer Day, and Masha Campagne.

About the Steinbeck Center

The National Steinbeck Center museum in Salinas, California offers three distinct visitor experiences exploring literature and history, agriculture and art. In the John Steinbeck Exhibition Hall, explore the life of John Steinbeck, his writings and characters through engaging exhibits, one of a kind artifacts, and films. The Rabobank Agriculture Museum shares the stories of the Salinas Valley “from field to fork.” The Gabilan and Pearl Galleries offer changing art and cultural exhibits.

About the Monterey Jazz Festival

Starting with a modest $35,000 scholarship fund in 1970, the Monterey Jazz Festival now invests over $800,000 annually in jazz education through a variety of different programs which are a model of arts education for the entire nation. These hands-on, cutting-edge educational components include the Traveling Clinician and Latin Jazz Programs, with professional musicians visiting Monterey County schools to teach students how to play and improvise in jazz and Latin styles; the Artist-In-Residence Program, which brings a leading jazz performer to work with students throughout the year; the MJF Summer Jazz Camp, the MJF Instrument and Sheet Music Library, the MJF Digital Music Education Project, the Next Generation Festival, the Monterey County High School All-Star Band, the MJF Middle School Honor Band and MJF Vocal Jazz Ensemble, and the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra.

This exhibition at the National Steinbeck Center is supported in part by Public Programs Sponsors: Alvarez Technology Group, Inc.; Full Steam Marketing & Design; Kennedy, Archer, & Harray; Pacific Gas and Electric Company; Penguin Group USA; Rabobank; Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System.

2008 Monterey County High School All-Star Band
Director - Mr. Paul Contos

Saxophones
Taylor Herhusky - alto, Stevenson School
Nathan Tucker - alto, York School
Lorenz Rossman - tenor, Monterey High School
Ben Perlmutter - tenor, Carmel High School
John Neff - baritone, Palma High School

Trombones
Angela Andrews, Salinas High School
Peter Sujan, Pacific Grove High School
Andrew Durkee, York School
Veronica Christie, Monterey High School

Trumpets
Conor Jones, Carmel High School
Michael Weissman, York School
Lia Donovan, Monterey High School
Adam Krause, Salinas High School
Kelly Whiteford, North Monterey County High School

Rhythm/Other
Elizabeth Cho - piano, Pacific Grove High School
Ryan Grech - bass, Monterey High School
Tommy Howbert - guitar, Carmel High School
Dylan Aiello - drums, Carmel High School
Patrice Ware - drums, Seaside High School
Simone van Seenus - vocalist, Carmel High School
Noah Freedman - violin, Carmel High School