SANTA MONICA-MALIBU UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICTPRESS RELEASE
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CONTACT: Tom Whaley(310) 450-8338, ext.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE05 FEB 2007 |
JAZZ EXCHANGE CONCERT AT SAMOHI SCHEDULED FOR VALENTINE’S DAY EVENING
The Samohi Jazz band and jazz choir will be sharing the
Barnum Hall stage with the Northampton
School for Boys from the UK on Valentines Day, February 14th,
from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. Both schools
will feature their jazz bands and jazz choirs in this exciting event. Tickets will be $10 for adults and $5 for
students at the door.
The Northampton School for Boys is one of
the top performing state schools in the UK, having received top awards at two
national Music Festivals for the last five years. In a recent government inspection rating, the school was
identified as “Outstanding.” Situated
about seventy-five miles north of London, it caters 1,530 students, aged 11
–18, with girls being admitted at Post-16 level.
The music department runs thirty-five different performance
groups each week, with the Symphonic Winds and Big Band regularly winning
'Outstanding Performance' and ‘Gold’ awards at national festivals. The orchestra, percussion ensemble,
saxophone and low brass ensembles, clarinet quartet, Jazz Vocal Group, and
senior rock band have all performed at the finals of the National Youth Music
event during the last five years, often winning major awards. The school also features large curricular
music groups, with many students successfully obtaining national qualifications
in music and/or music technology.
The Jazz Vocal Group also performed in the finals of the National Festival of Music for Youth, and also received a standing ovation from 250 singing teachers from all over the UK at a national conference last summer.
The Santa Monica
High School jazz band is under the direction of the visual and
performing arts coordinator for the SMMUSD, Mr. Tom Whaley. The group has garnered an excellent
reputation and has participated in numerous jazz festivals and high-level venues
like the Jazz Bakery in Culver City. Santa Monica High School jazz choir is under the direction of Mr. Tim
Buchholz.
The concert will also feature two world famous musicians, Mr. Gordon Goodwin and Mr. Eric Marienthal as
guest soloists. Gordon Goodwin’s “Big
Phat Band” is the hottest band in the jazz world today and features L.A.’s
finest musicians. Gordon Goodwin is
also a Grammy award-winning composer. He has written, recorded, or performed
with Ray Charles, Christina Aguilera, Johnny Mathis, Toni Braxton, John
Williams, Natalie Cole, David Foster, Sarah Vaughn, Mel Torme, Brian McKnight,
and Quincy Jones.
Eric
Marienthal is one of the most recorded sax players in contemporary
jazz. He has played on over fifty GRP
records, including records by Lee Ritenour, Dave Grusin, David Benoit, Don
Grusin, Dave Weckl, John Patitucci, GRP All-Star Big Band, Yellowjackets, and
The Rippingtons. Eric juggled being a
member of Lee Ritenour's band, David Benoit's band, Chick's Elektric band, and
his own band. He is also the lead alto
and featured soloist in Gordon Goodwin’s super hot “The Big Phat Band”. Eric
has also been a leader in jazz education as the author of many instructional
books, CDs, and DVDs.
This is going
to be an INCREDIBLE concert so please come out to support “Jazz at Samohi!” Go to dinner and bring your sweetheart to a
great concert.
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SANTA
MONICA-MALIBU UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
1651 16TH
Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404
ph:
310.450.8338, fax: 310.581.1138
www.smmusd.org