Chuck was on vacation (in France, yet!) when we went to press (and web) so this month's article is written by Sally Schorr, our Education Committee Chair.

Ask a young jazz musician who turned him on to jazz and he'll often answer with the name of a well-known recording artist; the likes of Coltrane and Hancock and Evans  earn major  listening time. But, just as often, the young performer will credit her band teacher for sparking her interest. "If it wasn't for Thara..." Or he'll name the performing musicians he traded fives with at Mel Brown's Jazz Camp for supporting his talents into life-long devotion to jazz.

Here's where JSO's Education Committee comes in. Our president, Chuck, likes to remind us that "We grow jazz." Those words act as a guideline for our committee as we review applications for scholarships to jazz camps, lessons or workshops. Which of these young applicants shall we support? Which ones demonstrate the kind of dedication and talents that will grow jazz out into the community?   

Committee members Sandy Stallcup, Margie Smith, Pete Davis, Joe Mattoon, Rob Rayfield, Cynthia Plank and Sally Shorr meet several times a year to consider awards, sponsorship and fund-raising, hoping to provide just the right boost for fledgling musicians.

Curious to see whether, since 1999, we've been hitting our target, I  recently contacted just a few of our winners to ask, "Where are you now in your journey into jazz?"

I found Ian Tornay, recipient in 2003, now a junior majoring in music at U.O, studying alto and tenor sax and piano, marching in the athletic band, and directing the Yellow Gaiter Band. He admitted, "I don't get much sleep, but I love school!" A huge fan of Charlie Mingus and Herbie Hancock, he dips into all kinds of music, but always returns to jazz . He can't wait " to teach either high school or college, but mainly I want to keep playing."

I located Morgan Herst, recipient in summer '04, now in Boston majoring in performance and composition at Berklee School of Music. We awarded Morgan a small amount to help defray fees for the summer jazz program at Berklee, but his father says, "That support helped him determine that he would go to Berklee." Morgan is amazed that his tenor sax audition score (to determine instructional level) was a seven out of eight possible. "I think they overrated me," he says. More good fortune followed when he (scored) Joe Lovano as his instructor, yet Morgan feels most indebted to his earliest instructors, Renato Caranto and especially Thara. "Without Thara" (at Arts and Communications Academy), his dad confided, "I think Morgan would have dropped out."

Finally, I found Esperanza. Or, actually, Europe has discovered Esperanza Spalding ! Just 16 and already admitted to PSU's music program when she received our scholarship  to the Mel Brown Jazz Workshop in "01, she was a natural on the acoustic bass. Just two years after picking it up, "goofing off" and playing by ear every day, she joined a couple of bands, formed the Esperanza Quintet and attracted an enthusiastic following in local venues. Now in her senior year at Berklee, she's composing and arranging, but she's also uncovered her vocal talents. I was bowled over hearing her at the Old Church last Feb....highly polished, creative and agile on her bass, but in combination with a sultry Astrid Gilberto like voice, a knockout performance. True to her early  vision "touring the world with a successful band" and "playing my original works," this amazing young musician has done just that; with European tours to her credit.

Whether by our financial support or workshop sponsorship, your Education Committee tries to be just one more catalyst that will commit a young person to jazz. You can support this good work, also!  Contribute tax-free dollars to the Education Endowment Fund by clicking on www.jsojazzscene.org. Or, you can send interested jazz students to the same website for applications. And please, contact us with your ideas and suggestions. We welcome all ways to grow jazz!

Sally Shorr, Chair
Education Committee