4/25/10 UPDATE

The final concert in the University Jazz Series brought the Jazz Ensemble from Mississippi State University, under the direction of Dr. Clifton Taylor, to the JA Performing Arts Center on Friday evening. With many MSU alumni in the audience, the high energy performance was a fitting end to the series.

Thank you to JA band members Will Commarato, John Humphreys, Annie Campbell, and Samantha Hill for their help at the three concerts in the series, collecting admission fees and assisting behind the scenes.

PRESIDENT'S CORNER - Jim Lowery

I am looking forward to hearing one more concert of the Jackson Academy Band before my youngest child graduates next month. This month has offered some amazing performances that many of you heard. The Jackson Academy Band continues to set the standard for bands in the MAIS. The performance in the PAC was even more impressive when you realize that former JA band member Corey Carter wrote one piece and arranged one piece of the three pieces of their performance. The outstanding performance at the Township Festival was part of what is becoming a significant local event. All the feedback I have received from my friends in Ridgeland has been amazing. What a way for our family to leave the band! I am looking forward to a most interesting night as we change how we close the year on May 13th. More information on this will be shared with you soon.

On a somber note... Any band family that has had children pass through the JA elementary grades is shocked by the sudden death of Jane Gibbons. Your band booster officers are preparing to make a gift from our budget in her honor to Jackson Academy. Gifts to the school will be focused on a yet to be determined project leaning toward a music area due to Jane’s love of music. One of the most mentioned projects is a scholarship for musically interested students. The band boosters are preparing to donate to this or a similar idea and I would solicit those of you who want to donate through the band boosters and be included with the band boosters to increase our donation send checks so marked to the band boosters to be included with the booster check. Please understand that this is only an option to increase the booster presence with a major project. This is your personal decision on how to honor our beloved teacher. My suggestion if you choose to join with the band boosters would be to have all donations received by the May 4th concert to be presented at the awards meeting on May 13th. If you have any questions, please contact me.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Tuesday, May 4 - JA Band Program Spring Concert, PAC, 7:00 - performances by the Sixth Grade Band and the Concert Band

Thursday, May 13 - JA Band Program Awards Ceremony - cookies & punch served at 6:30 in the PAC lobby, awards in the auditorium beginning at 7:00

JA Dance Camp - June 1-4, 12:00 - 5:30 each day

Capital City Jazz Camp - June 7-11, 1:00 - 5:00 and 6:30 - 9:00 each day

BAND CAMP - July 26-30 and August 2-6, JA campus, 8:30 - 5:00 each day

4/18/10 UPDATE

The first two concerts in the University Jazz Series here at JA produced two energetic performances this week. On Thursday, the USM Jazz Lab Band I, including JA alum Corey Carter, visited the PAC. On Friday, the Mississippians, from Ole Miss, performed. JA Alum Derrick Marchant is a member of that ensemble.

USM Director Mr. Larry Panella introducing Corey Carter:

USM Jazz Lab Band I:

Derrick Marchant with the Mississippians:

The Mississippians:

The final concert in the series, by the Jazz Ensemble from Mississippi State University, under the direction of Dr. Clifton Taylor, will be Friday, April 23, at 7:00 pm in the PAC.

JA COLOR GUARD

All JA Guard members are strongly encouraged to attend the Jackson Academy Dance Camp June 1-4, from 12:00 - 5:30 each day. Click on the link under "Upcoming Performances and Camps" for a camp flyer. If you have questions about the camp, contact Cammie at crc38@aol.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS

University Jazz Series, PAC, 7 pm
Friday, April 23 - MSU Jazz Ensemble

Tuesday, May 4 - JA Band Program Spring Concert, PAC, 7:00
Thursday, May 13 - JA Band Program Banquet

JA Dance Camp - June 1-4, 12:00 - 5:30 each day

Capital City Jazz Camp - June 7-11, 1:00 - 5:00 and 6:30 - 9:00 each day

BAND CAMP - July 26-30 and August 2-6, JA campus, 8:30 - 5:00 each day

4/11/10 UPDATE

Congratulations to the JA Jazz Band for a fine performance on Saturday at the Township Jazz Festival in Ridgeland.

See more photos from the band's performance, as well as from the MAIS Festival, at the following links:

Township Jazz Festival photo gallery

MAIS Concert Band Festival photo gallery

The Jackson Academy Band Program is pleased to announce the University Jazz Series, a trio of concerts to be presented at the new Jackson Academy Performing Arts Center. Jazz ensembles from the University of Southern Mississippi, the University of Mississippi, and Mississippi State University will perform.

On Thursday, April 15, the USM Jazz Lab Band I will perform at 7:00 pm. The jazz studies program at The University of Southern Mississippi has a long and illustrious history, having been in existence for nearly 40 years. Among the notable guest artists who have performed with the Jazz Lab Band I are Ira Sullivan, Bob Berg, John Fedchock, Ellis Marsalis, Jeff Coffin, Russ Nolan, Jovino Santos Neto, and many more. The jazz band is under the direction of Mr. Larry Panella, the school’s Director of Jazz Studies, who received degrees from Northern Illinois University and the University of North Texas, where he performed with the acclaimed 1 O’Clock Jazz Lab Band. He has performed with numerous artists and entertainers including The Phil Collins Big Band, The Woody Herman Orchestra, and Natalie Cole.

Friday, April 16, the Mississippians, the principal student jazz ensemble from the University of Mississippi, will visit the JA campus for a 7:00 pm performance. The ensemble is to perform the music of Duke Ellington and Count Basie along with works by contemporary composers Rob McConnell, Charles Mingus, Theloneous Monk and others. ''We are particularly enjoying working up an outlandish arrangement of Gershwin's ‘I Got Rhythm,’" said Dr. Michael Worthy, associate professor of music and ensemble director. “The arrangement uses several rhythmic devices that seemingly mock the assertion of the title."

The Jazz Ensemble from Mississippi State University will perform on Friday, April 23, also at 7:00 pm. Ensemble musicians are members of the Famous Maroon Band at MSU, the oldest university band in the South, selected by audition. The jazz band is under the direction of Dr. Clifton Taylor, a native of Biloxi who holds degrees from USM and the University of South Carolina. Dr. Taylor remains active as a trombonist and performs in numerous symphonic, jazz, and rock settings annually.

The admission charge for each concert will be $5 for adults, $2 for students (college age and younger), and children under 5 will be admitted free.

Please make plans to attend these great concerts, and spread the word among family and friends who would appreciate great jazz music.

JA COLOR GUARD

Cammie spent a few days in Dayton, OH this week at the Winter Guard International World Championships. She was able to observe performances by guards from around the country and even international groups. She was also able to connect with the guard and staff from Croatan, NC, including director Lenny Westmoreland, the JA Band and Guard's drillwriter, and Ashleigh Bradley, who will be the primary instructor at the JA Dance Camp this summer and also assist at Band Camp.

Here is a photo of Cammie with Ashleigh and Lenny immediately after Croatan's bronze medal performance in the Independent Open Division at the WGI Championships:

All JA Guard members are strongly encouraged to attend the Jackson Academy Dance Camp June 1-4, from 12:00 - 5:30 each day. Click on the link under "Upcoming Performances & Camps" for a flyer. If you have questions about the camp, contact Cammie at crc38@aol.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS

University Jazz Series, PAC, 7 pm
Thursday, April 15 - USM Jazz Lab Band I
Friday, April 16 - the Mississippians, Ole Miss
Friday, April 23 - MSU Jazz Ensemble

Tuesday, May 4 - JA Band Program Spring Concert, PAC, 7:00
Thursday, May 13 - JA Band Program Banquet

JA Dance Camp - June 1-4, 12:00 - 5:30 each day

Capital City Jazz Camp - June 7-11, 1:00 - 5:00 and 6:30 - 9:00 each day

BAND CAMP - July 26-30 and August 2-6, JA campus, 8:30 - 5:00 each day

4/4/10 UPDATE

Congratulations to the JA Concert Band for a fine performance on Thursday at the MAIS Concert Band Festival. The band received all superior ratings and many positive comments from the adjudicators and audience members. Thank you to the parents who were able to attend the performance.

Special thanks to Betty Commarato, who helped throughout the day, and to the members of the Sixth Grade Band who served as band guides and judge runners and helped with stage setup. Thank you as well to Martha Ray and Kristal Golden for organizing box lunches for students and staff.

Here are a few other photos from the festival:

Some of the sixth grade helpers:

Waiting for warmup:

The JA Concert Band on stage:

JA JAZZ BAND

Saturday, April 10 - The JA Jazz Band will perform at the Township Jazz Festival at the Township at Colony Park in Ridgeland. The JA band will play from 12:00 - 12:45. Click on the logo above for more information about this event, spearheaded by prominent local musician Raphael Semmes. The Festival has announced that the headliner this year will be Mose Allison, known as the "William Faulkner of Jazz". Please visit Mose's official website for more infomation about this influential musician.

Jazz Band members should be at the stage of the festival (near the Fusion Coffeehouse) at 11:30 on Saturday. Attire will be black pants and shirt.

JA COLOR GUARD

All JA Guard members are strongly encouraged to attend the Jackson Academy Dance Camp June 1-4, from 12:00 - 5:00 each day. The flyer for the camp is linked under CAMPS to the right. If you have questions about the camp, contact Cammie at crc38@aol.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Tuesday, May 4 - JA Band Program Spring Concert, PAC, 7:00
Thursday, May 13 - JA Band Program Banquet

JA Dance Camp - June 1-4, 12:00 - 5:00 each day

Capital City Jazz Camp - June 7-11, 1:00 - 5:00 and 6:30 - 9:00 each day

BAND CAMP - July 26-30 and August 2-6, JA campus, 8:30 - 5:00 each day