The Tulsa Jam'bassadors win several awards in jazz competition
BY KIM ARCHER World Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
2/26/13 at 8:40 AM
In its first entry in the exclusive Charles Mingus High School Competition and Festival in New York City, the all-city band Tulsa Jam'bassadors came away with first-place honors in three categories.
The Tulsa group came home from the Feb. 15-18 event with the best solo awards for drums and piano and had the outstanding saxophone section.
"We are proud of the exceptional talent that was showcased by (Tulsa Public Schools) students who have come together from multiple schools as the Tulsa Jam'bassadors," Superintendent Keith Ballard said.
Edison sophomore Jonathan Haywood won the Best Drum Solo award. Kaze Mauser, a senior at Tulsa School of Arts and Sciences, won Best Piano Solo. And the band won Outstanding Saxophone Section, led by East Central Junior Adrian Miller.
The Charles Mingus jazz band competition is named for a pioneering jazz bassist, bandleader and composer. It is in its fifth year, but this was the first time any Oklahoma band competed in the finals.
The 20-member Tulsa Jam'bassadors came together when the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame recruited young musicians from Tulsa Public Schools and the Tulsa School of Arts and Sciences.
The group began rehearsals in August and submitted recordings of three Mingus songs to the Mingus Foundation. Only six bands from across the country were selected as finalists.
Tulsa competed in the "Big Band - Special Schools and Programs" category against the Manhattan School of Music's precollegiate Big Band from New York and the SFJazz High School All-Stars Orchestra from San Francisco.
Ballard said the Tulsa school district is "grateful to the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame for their leadership and to the dedication of these fine musicians. They have represented Oklahoma admirably."
State Rep. Kevin Matthews, D-Tulsa, said he is "proud to be a strong supporter and sponsor of these young Tulsa musicians.
"As we look to the future, it is my hope that we restore music education to the levels that I enjoyed as a public school student.
"The Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame is in my district, and the work they are doing with young musicians is invaluable."
Tulsa Jam'bassadors
Directors: Doug Styers and Tim Shadley
Band members:
| NAME | SCHOOL | GRADE | INSTRUMENT |
| Alexis Cota-Gallegos | Nathan Hale | 12 | alto sax |
| An'Nissa Davis | Nathan Hale | 10 | tenor sax |
| Charles Fennell | Edison | 9 | bass |
| Jonathan Haywood | Edison | 10 | drums |
| Renner Howell | Edison | 11 | bass |
| Philip Jenkins | Thoreau | 8 | baritone, trombone, saxophone |
| Nick Johnson | Edison | 12 | trumpet |
| Anthony Jones | Washington* | 11 | trombone |
| David Mason | Edison | 12 | tenor, saxophone |
| Curt Masters | East Central | 10 | trumpet |
| Kaze Mauser | TSAS** | 12 | piano |
| Cassy Meador | Edison | 9 | trumpet |
| Adrian Miller | East Central | 10 | alto, saxophone |
| Dylan Reid | Washington* | 10 | bass |
| Cody Seibel | East Central | 11 | drums |
| Covey Tims | Edison | 10 | guitar |
| Gabi Trobare | Thoreau | 8 | tenor, saxophone |
| Josh Wagner | TSAS** | 12 | bass |
| James Wessinger | TSAS** | 11 | trombone |
| Sarah Wise | Edison | 12 | trombone |
* Booker T. Washington
** Tulsa School of Arts and Sciences
Source: Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame
Original Print Headline: Tulsa students take New York
Kim Archer 918-581-8315
kim.archer@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
The Jam'bassadors enjoyed the sights in New York. Courtesy
|
