July 7, 2008; Monterey, CA; On Sunday, July 20, the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Monterey County High School All-Star Band and High School Honor Vocal Jazz Ensemble will perform at the National Steinbeck Center in a special concert kicking off the All-Star Band’s annual tour of Japan.

The concert begins at 7 PM at the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas. Tickets are $10, and advance purchase is recommended. Patrons are advised to call (831) 775-4721 for more information or visit www.steinbeck.org.

The MJF County High School All-Star Band will also perform at Jazz on the Plazz in Los Gatos on Wednesday, August 13 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. The concert is free, and will take place at the Los Gatos Town Plaza, at the intersection of West Main Street and Santa Cruz Avenue in downtown Los Gatos. For more information, please visit www.jazzontheplazz.com.

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 MJF’s Traveling Clinicians who visit Monterey schools during the academic year for one-on-one instruction in jazz. Members of the High School Honor Vocal Jazz Ensemble are selected by the MJF’s Traveling Vocal Clinicians who coach and tutor young vocalists the nuances of vocal jazz performance during the school year.

In 2008, the All-Star Band will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Monterey Jazz Festival in Noto, Japan with their yearly tour, which takes place from July 22 - August 4, 2008.

During the All-Star Band's platinum tour of Japan, the students will participate in the Festival’s unique and exciting educational opportunities. This year, the band will join in various cultural exchange programs with Japanese students in Nanao, Monterey’s sister city, at Nanao High School (7/28) as well as Tateshina City High School (7/29) and Tomisato High School (8/1), with special joint concerts at Nanao and Tomisato High Schools on July 28 and August 2. Highlighting the tour will be the band’s performance at the 20th anniversary of the Monterey Jazz Festival in Noto on July 26. Started in 1989, the MJF in Noto has become the longest running jazz festival in Japan.

"Jazz has always held a special place in Japan, and for twenty years now, the Monterey Jazz Festival has played a special role in bringing the best in jazz to MJF in Noto," commented Dr. Rob Klevan, Monterey Jazz Festival Education Director.  "But it's the involvement of our younger jazz players, from Monterey County and from Japan, who have helped make our relationship that much stronger. There is an incredible amount of inspiration intertwined with music, culture, and just plain friendship that promises to keep our jazz relationship with Japan growing for many years to come.  And that's what this trip is all about."

The MJF Monterey County All-Star Band and their international tours are supported by the Pebble Beach Company Foundation, and by the many individual contributors to MJF’s Bob Phillips Monterey County High School All-Star Band Endowment Fund.

About MJF’s and National Steinbeck Center’s Musical Collaborations

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 seasonal concerts, including shows from the MJF Jazz Camp, the Summer Jazz Series and the annual “Jazz with Steinbeck” prior to the Monterey Jazz Festival each year. For 2008, “Jazz with Steinbeck” will take place on Wednesday, September 17, and features the vocal talents of 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 Jazz on the Plazz

Now in its 5th season, Jazz on the Plazz is a free summer jazz concert series showcasing world class jazz artists. Founded by the Los Gatos Morning Rotary Club and held in the outdoor plaza in downtown Los Gatos, proceeds from the Club’s events go into their charitable foundation for use in the local community. In 2006, the Club Foundation gave scholarships to students interested in studying art, architecture and drama, funded a local high school jazz band to travel to national competition and sponsored a Shakespeare Camp for young adults.

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.

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

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
Veronica Christie, Monterey High School
Matthew Shonman, Pacific Grove 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

2008 Monterey County High School Vocal Ensemble
Dr. Rob Klevan, Director

Katherine Andrade, Stevenson School
Ikemba Anyanwu, Monterey High School
Arick Arzadon, Monterey High School
Jordan Bickel, Carmel High School
Ben Chodosh, Stevenson School
Lia Donovan, Monterey High School
Derek Jayson, Stevenson School
Amanda Palmer, Stevenson School
Christoph Riddle, York School
Simone van Seenus, Carmel High School
Lorena Tamayo, Gonzales High School

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For more information, please contact:
Timothy Orr
Marketing Associate
Monterey Jazz Festival
Direct Line: (510) 652-1122
MJF Phone: (831) 373-3366 X252
timorr@montereyjazzfestival.org
www.montereyjazzfestival.org