Pittsburg State University
Jazz Festival

Tom Davis Music Publications will be participating in a special drawing for festival bands. http://www.tomdavismusic.com/

Jon Faddis and the Chicago Jazz Ensemble

a photo of the Chicago Jazz Ensemble

Jon Faddis is a complete and consummate musician -- conductor, composer, and educator. Marked by both intense integrity and humor, Faddis earned accolades from his close friend and mentor John Birks Gillespie, who declared of Faddis, "H''s the best ever, including me!" As a trumpeter, Fad "the world's greatest trumpeter ... brash soloistic logic and breathtaking technical acuity," and Nat Hentoff, in The Wall Street Journal (2005), characterizes Faddis as "a trumpet player of prodigious lyrical force."

Born in 1953, Faddis began playing at age eight, inspired by an appearance by Louis Armstrong on television. Meeting Dizzy Gillespie at 15 proved to be a pivotal beginning of a unique friendship that spanned over three decades. Shortly after his 18th birthday, Faddis joined Lionel Hampton's big band, moving from Oakland, CA to New York. Faddis worked as lead trumpet for the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra at the Village Vanguard, formed his own quartet, and soon began directing big band orchestras, including the Grammy-winning United Nation Orchestra, the Dizzy Gillespie 70th Birthday Big Band, the Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Stars, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band (1992-2002), and the successor to the CHJB, the Jon Faddis Jazz Orchestra of New York (2003-present).

The Chicago Jazz Ensemble, which celebrated its 40th anniversary at Columbia College Chicago, named Faddis as its Artistic Director in autumn 2004. Faddis will continue to conduct both the JFJONY and the CJE in the future. Faddis has also served as guest conductor and featured guest with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.

Faddis' original compositions include the Jazz opera Lulu Noire (1997) (named a "Top 10" pick by USA Today'; others may be heard on his Grammy-nominated Remembrances (Chesky 1998), Into the Faddisphere (Epic 1989), and Hornucopia (Epic 1991). Faddis' forthcoming album, TERANGA (KOCH Records June 2006) features new compositions by the trumpeter, joined by members of the Jon Faddis Quartet.

The Pittsburg State University Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of PSU faculty member and festival director Bob Kehle, will open the concert.

Tickets for Jon Faddis and the Chicago Jazz Ensemble concert are: Jazz Festival participants are $5.00 each and may be ordered by the group's director only. All other ticket prices are as follows: On the floor: $12 for adults and $10 for persons 65 and over or 12 and under. PSU students are admitted free to designated areas of the balcony. Tickets may be purchased at the PSU Ticket Office, 620-235-4796. For information about the PSU Jazz Festival, contact Director Bob Kehle at 620-235-4474.

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General Information

On Friday, March 7, 2008, Pittsburg State University will be hosting our
34th Annual P.S.U. Jazz Festival.

The evening concert will be at 7:30 P.M. and features Jon Faddis and the Chicago Jazz Ensemble.

This festival is approved as a regional program for participation by students in the following states: Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.

Because of the stature of our guest artists, it is imperative that all applications get in as early as possible. Bands will be admitted on first come first served basis till all slots are full. The same is true for participant tickets. Participant tickets will be $5.00 each.

Applications will be accepted beginning November 1st . Get your basic information in now. The program and fee may follow later.

The tentative schedule (subject to revision) for the day is as follows:

8:00 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. Judging of Bands

12:30 P.M. - 1:00 P.M. Lunch

1:00 P.M. - 1:30 P.M. P.S.U. Jazz Concert @ Memorial

1:30 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. Judging of Bands

7:30 P.M. - Evening Concert at Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium 5th & Pine

WITH

Jon Faddis and the Chicago Jazz Ensemble

ALL JAZZ FESTIVAL PARTICIPANTS will need to pay $5.00 each for evening tickets and are admitted to designated areas of the balcony. To reserve your slot, mail or fax the application today. Even if you don't know your tunes, send the front page of the application soon! Space is limited. Other tickets for Jon Faddis and the Chicago Jazz Ensemble concert are: On the floor: $12 for adults and $10 for persons 65 and over or 12 and under. Jazz festival participants $5.00 each . Tickets may be purchased at the PSU Ticket Office, 620-235-4796. Participants must pre-order tickets via their director.

All performance groups have the option of requesting the judges to "clinic" their group as time allows. Each group has 30 minutes to set up, perform, and tear down. Check the verbal comments on the application form if you wish this "clinic" option.

Tim Fleming, of Fleming Music in Chanute, KS, will be available to do repair work and will also be sponsoring a director's luncheon. The director's luncheon is free for you, university student teachers and assistant directors.

The PSU Jazz Festival entry fee for big bands and combos is $100.00 per group (includes evening tickets) with a $5.00 late fee charged after February 10, 2008.

Make checks payable to "PSU Jazz Festival ".

Check List

Below is a checklist of material(s) you should be sending:

__ __Application
__ __Fee + $5.00 per ticket for the evening concert. (payable to "PSU Jazz Festival "). The PSU Jazz Festival entry fee for big bands and combos is $100.00. Receipt will be sent under separate cover.
__ __Personnel list
__ __Program
__ __Solo list
__ __Participant ticket request (these are free but a number is needed)
Two (2) judges scores should be brought with you. If you cannot get scores don't worry.

Should you or any of your students wish to tour particular departments on campus during the day I can make arrangements with the Admissions Office to assist you.

Registration

Registration and the posting of results will be handled in Memorial Auditorium lobby. Please report there upon your arrival. For McCray the registration table is in the lobby.

Unloading at Memorial

Unload by the stage doors, on 5th street. Buses may park in the street. Do not park in the 1st United Methodist church parking lot!!

Unloading at McCray

Unload by McCray on Lindberg Street.

Warm-up room

Each band will have twenty (20) minutes in a warm-up room just before they go on stage. If you are late the time will come out of your warm-up time. Five (5) minutes before you are due on stage you should leave the warm-up room. Take your cases with you as another group will be using the room while you are on stage.

Guides

Several P.S.U. students will be available to show you to your warm-up room, as well as to the stage. They will be glad to help in any way possible, but please follow their instructions. You may pick up your guide at the Registration Desk forty (40) minutes before your performance time.

Ratings

You may choose to either receive just taped comments or also a rating (I-IV). These ratings will be posted. There will be no winner; this is a Kansas State High School Activities Association ruling. Verbal comments on stage may be given in a clinic format if you wish (see the application form).

Equipment

An acoustic piano, P.A. system, stands, chairs, risers, and a drum set consisting of the wood and hardware, no cymbals, will be provided. All other equipment should be brought with you. Please bring your own amps and cymbals. I request these to be brought as the tone and sound of your own equipment is part of the sound of your band. To use someone else's will change the quality and hence perhaps the rating.

Set-up

All bands will be set up in the stack position.

Music

Two (2) scores should be provided for the judges. Please number the measures for the convenience of the judges. These may be brought with you. It is recommended that you perform in at least two (2) contrasting styles (i.e. swing and latin)

Program

Please include program and solo information as found on the back of your application form.

Entry fee

The PSU Jazz Festival entry fee for big bands and combos is $100.00. A late fee of $5.00 will be charged if the registration fee is not received by midnight February 10, 2008. The entry fee covers

Entrance to the clinics.
A CD of your performance and a cassette with the judge's comments will be provided.

Awards

IAJE Citation for Outstanding Musicianship will be awarded to deserving players from the ensemble festival and they will be recognized at the evening concert. There will be a $5.00 late fee charged if the registration fee is not received by midnight February 10, 2008.