Jazz Fest - 2008/2009
Jazz Fest & more.... 2008/2009 
Jazz Week has been our flagship event for fifteen years. The true essence of Jazz Week has been to offer visiting students from throughout the region and our jazz studies students the opportunity to interact with jazz masters and leading jazz educators in concerts, clinics, workshops and adjudication. It has been an exciting event which we hope to make even more vital by condensing to a four day festival called Jazz Fest.
Jazz Fest 2008/2009 Entry Form 
Jazz Fest 2008/2009 Entry Letter
Artists
Jim Walker: Renaissance Man of the Flute
No other flutist in history has made such indelible marks in so many musical circles. From jazz to pop to classical, television to film to the concert hall, Jim Walker has never met a crowd that didn’t love his powerful, “stand and deliver” performances.
A star was born in 1969, when Jim was named Associate Principal Flute in the Pittsburgh Symphony after a stint playing in the US Military Academy Band at West Point. He quickly gained the admiration of colleagues and audiences in Pittsburgh and set his sights on Principal Flute jobs. After eight years he won the Principal Flute position in the Los Angeles Philharmonic and never looked back.
To be Principal Flute of a major orchestra is to sit at the pinnacle of the profession. Most flutists who reach that height are content to spend the rest of their careers there, but Jim Walker is not most flutists. After seven successful seasons of performing, recording, and touring with the Los Angeles Philharmonic—during which time the New York Philharmonic briefly borrowed him as Principal Flute for their 1982 South American tour—Jim left the orchestra, diving off the mountaintop into the world of jazz and studio recording.
Jazz had been one of Jim’s puppy loves, and he was inspired to get back to it by LA’s lively club scene. After a few years of avid listening in dives, gaining confidence undercover in the practice room, he organized his jazz quartet Free Flight. Flute, piano, bass, and drums playing jazz-classical fusion, Free Flight took the music world by storm. Jim’s unique combination of vision and determination pushed the group to multiple appearances on the Tonight Show and the Today Show and brought them a number one record (Slice of Life). By the time Jean-Pierre Rampal—the granddaddy of modern classical flutists—called “Jimmy” his “favorite jazz flute player” in the 1990’s, Jim was a bona fide jazz flute superstar.
Life has been equally good for Jim Walker in LA’s famed studio scene. He has been a first-call studio flutist for the better part of two decades, and his bold, expressive playing can be heard on hundreds of soundtracks and commercial recordings. His playing has become the gold standard from Hollywood to Carnegie Hall and has unlocked the door to studio and concert collaborations with everyone from John Williams and Paul McCartney—“the thrill of a lifetime,” says Jim—to Leonard Bernstein, James Galway, and the LA Guitar Quartet. It is no wonder that Yamaha has proudly called Jim an exclusive Yamaha Performing Artist since 1980.
After all the reviews have been written and the stage and studio lights dim, however, Jim has said that the one aspect of his career he could maintain to the grave is teaching. He has been filling his students’ lives with music for four decades now, just as his own parents—Bob, a jazz clarinetist and public school band director, and Barbara, a church organist—filled his upbringing in Greenville, Kentucky, with piano and flute lessons. He went on to become a graduate and “Distinguished Alumnus” of the University of Louisville as well as the University’s first “Alumni Fellow” from the School of Music. To this day Jim credits a parade of flute teachers with helping him rise through the ranks, from Sarah Fouse and Francis Fuge in Kentucky to the Metropolitan Opera’s Harold Bennett, the Philadelphia Orchestra’s James Pellerite, and internationally renowned flutist and conductor Claude Monteux. A further sign of his success as a teacher and performer came this past summer when he was presented THE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD from the National Flute Association.
Jim’s gratitude to his teachers is returned to him by his students. As Senior Lecturer and Coordinator of Flute Studies at the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music and Instructor of Flute and Chamber Music at the Colburn Conservatory of Music, Jim devotes at least twenty hours a week to steering the careers of young flutists. Before coming to Los Angeles, Jim’s teaching career included positions at Duquesne University, Carnegie-Mellon, and the University of Pittsburgh, and since arriving in Southern California he has been invited to be visiting professor at the University of North Texas, the University of Texas-Austin, and Arizona State University.
Jim has taught hundreds of flutists at these terrific institutions. Many of them have gone on to successful orchestral careers, holding Principal Flute chairs in major symphonies from Phoenix to Boston to Beijing. Still others have careers in fields as varied as gospel music and arts administration. Jim is not interested in simply training musicians; he inspires each pupil as a whole person, and students leave his tutelage feeling empowered, reaching for the stars. With such a legacy, it is no wonder that students on four continents have flocked to hear his recitals and master classes. Jim’s creativity allows him to reach not only these students but also others he never sees with his editions of flute masterworks on the Alfred Music Publications Young Artist Series. He is also completing a set of flute method books filled with unique, fun, highly instructional exercises so that future generations can continue to benefit from his wealth of knowledge and generosity.
Dynamic soloist, legendary orchestral and studio musician, celebrated jazz flutist, and an inspiration to countless students worldwide, Jim Walker is living proof that with enough creativity and determination, anyone can reach the stars. He is a living legend, the one true Renaissance Man of the Flute.
Davide Logiri, pianist
At the age of 7 Davide enters the Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi in Milan where he starts playing the Piano and the Cello. Very soon he feels an attraction for jazz that is to accompany him throughout his life and starts studying it with Diego Baiardi and Sante Palumbo. After the degree in Classical Piano, he continues his jazz apprenticeship with the support of jazz international artists such as Antonio Faraò, Phil DeGreg, Dan Hearle and Harold Danko.
In 1995 he is "best pianist" at the Berklee Clinics in Perugia and this gives him the possibility to play at Umbria Jazz Winter in Orvieto. In this period Davide starts collaborating with some musicians in Milan like Tullio Ricci, Massimo Pintori, Massimo Minardi, Remo Bianchi, Marco Mistrangelo, Roberto Piccolo, Stefano Senni and Giovanni Giorgi, playing in the most important venues of the city (Capolinea, Scimmie, Tangram, Ponticello, Nordest Café, Mingus, Bolgia Umana, Dinamo, Leoncavallo,). At the same time Davide joins the Blueback quartet and he performs at the Cotton Time Jazz Festiva at Arco Della Pace with Cristina Benefico e Gigi Cifarelli.
In 1997 Davide starts to work with the vocalist Roberta Sdolfo and for a couple of years they play in a jazz fusion band called Sing-Olare. In 1999 he organises a concert for the city of Milan to celebrate the centennial of Duke Ellington, playing along with Marco Brioschi, Bruno DeFilippi and the American jazz star Don Friedman. In 2000 Davide is asked by Giorgio Fontana to arrange and perform the cd La Tetraluna . In 2001 Davide founds the Davide Logiri trio together with Gianluca Alberti (doublebass) and Alessio Pacifico (drums); the Trio plays at Lago Maggiore Jazz Festival and records a cd with the singer Giovanni Sartori.
Academic Studies
Classical Piano with: Elio Cantamessa, Mariagloria Ferrari , and Edoardo Filus
Composition with: Angelo Corradini, Giuliano Zosi, and Francesco Maselli
Jazz Piano with: Diego Baiardi, Sante Palumbo, Antonio Faraò, and Phil Degreg
Masterclasses with: Ray Santisi, Dan Hearle, Jamey Aebersold, and Harold Danko
Lee Konitz , alto saxophone
I was rather shy; but was willing to stand there and invent variations on themes, in front of people; and I got just enough validation to encourage me to continue developing this craft, and sometimes, art. This NEA award is a major acknowledgment.
A distinctive altoist, Lee Konitz was born on October 13, 1927, to an Austrian father and a Russian mother in Chicago.
In his youth, Konitz studied clarinet, then alto saxophone with various teachers in Chicago. In the early 1940s, Konitz met noted pianist Lennie Tristano, under whose influence and tutelage his mature style in jazz began to emerge. His recordings with Tristano include the 1949 releases Intuition and Digression -- the first "free" improvised recorded music.
Konitz participated in Miles Davis's nonet performances and recordings ( Birth of the Cool, 1948-50), famous for both bringing together nine notable musicians and for its place in the history of cool jazz. Konitz went on to play with Gerry Mulligan and Chet Baker's influential band and worked from 1952-53 in Stan Kenton's big band. From then on, he mainly led his own small groups, occasionally touring abroad.
In the early 1960s, as opportunities for performances declined, Konitz withdrew from the music business and took on day work. However, Konitz continued to develop his unique sound, occasionally working with such musicians as Paul Bley, Martial Solal, Charlie Haden, and Brad Mehldau. He worked as a private teacher, conducting lessons by tape with students worldwide. Konitz joined with Warne Marsh, his fellow sideman from early Tristano sessions, to tour Europe and record in 1975-76; he also founded his own nonet and performed regularly during the 1980s.
In 1992, Konitz won the prestigious Danish JAZZPAR Prize. He kept a busy release schedule throughout the 1990s and recorded Lee Konitz & The Axis String Quartet: Plays French Impressionist Music of the 21st Century (Palmetto 2000), which combined French impressionist music with Konitz's own improvisation. The Mark Masters Ensemble joined him for One Day with Lee (2004). Most recent releases include Inventions, featuring the Spring String Quartet (Omnitone 2006); New Nonet (Omnitone 2006); and Portology, featuring Orquestra Jazz de Matosinhos (Omnitone 2007). His influence is seen in West Coast alto saxophonists Art Pepper, Bud Shank, and Paul Desmond. Currently, Konitz is traveling and performing more than ever.
Adjudicators
Jim Carroll
Jim Carroll earned his B.M. in saxophone performance and M.M. in woodwinds and jazz from Indiana University. His career has included performances at Carnegie Hall, The Hollywood Bowl, The White House, Yokohama Stadium, The Kennedy Center, Royal Albert Hall and the Apollo Theatre. As a versatile performer Mr. Carroll has worked with Michael Jackson, Clark Terry, Nancy Wilson, Maynard Ferguson, Billy Taylor, Zoot Sims, Keter Betts, The Columbus Symphony, The Indianapolis Symphony, The Indiana Saxophone Quartet, Woody Herman and His Thundering Herd, The Jazz Arts Group, The Great American Music Ensemble, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra and others. Carroll is currently leader and Artistic Director of the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra. Active as an educator, he teaches at the Jamey Aebersold jazz workshops and is Director of Jazz Studies at George Mason University.
Tim Coffman
Tim Coffman is one of the most active trombonists and teachers in the Chicago area. A graduate of the prestigious Jazz Studies program at Indiana University, Mr. Coffman worked closely with David Baker. He was awarded the Performer’s Certificate after his Senior Recital.
Mr. Coffman is in demand for studio and show work and has performed with Frank Sinatra, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Andy Williams, Natalie Cole, Lou Rawls, The Tempatations, Louie Bellson, The Woody Herman Orchestra, Frank Wess, Bassist Ron Carter, Johnny Griffin, Kurt Elling, Von Freeman, Tito Puente, Arturo Sanduval, Tom Harrell, Johnny Mathis, Paul Anka, Al Jarreau, Henry Mancini, Stevie Wonder, Diane Schur, Jimmy Heath, Randy Brecker, Benny Golson, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Joe Lovano, Lennie Niehaus, Slide Hampton and many others. He performed in the pit for the world premiere of “The Producers” and also performed with the Chicago Symphony playing Lead Trombone in the Duke Ellington “Nutcracker.” He also performed on the recording of “Porgy and Bess” featuring Clark Terry and the Chicago Jazz Orchestra. This recording was nominated for Jazz Album of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association.
Mr. Coffman is currently on the Jazz Studies faculty at DePaul University. There he teaches Jazz Trombone, Jazz Improvisation, Jazz History, Low Brass Techniques and coaches Jazz Combos. Before teaching at DePaul, he taught at New Trier High School as the Trombone instructor and directed several Jazz Improvisation classes from 1990-2001. In addition to his duties at DePaul, he is currently directing Jazz Ensemble lll at Oak Park-River Forest HS. He is a regular member of the Rob Parton Jazz Tech Big Band and the Chicago Jazz Ensemble lead by Jon Faddis. He also frequently performs with the Chicago Jazz Orchestra.
Mr. Coffman is a Conn/Selmer artist/clinician and has performed/adjudicated at various high schools, Jazz Festivals and Universities including: Evanston HS, Rolling Meadows HS, Mundelein HS, Oak Park-River Forest HS, Wheeling HS, Purdue University, Furman University, The University of Wisconsin-River Falls, The University of New Mexico and many others. He recently competed his first recording entitled Crossroads, available on the Blujazz label. In the summer, he teaches at the Jamey Aebersold Jazz Camp at the University of Louisville, and also at the Midwest Young Artists Jazz Camp in Lake Forest, IL. Mr. Coffman is married to Becky and has two children, Daniel and Sarah.
Terry O'Mahoney
Jazz drummer Terry O’Mahoney has appeared with such jazz greats as saxophonists Bud Shank and Phil Woods, pianists James Williams and Oliver Jones, guitarists John Abercrombie and Ed Bickert, trumpeters Marvin Stamm and Terell Strafford, and trombonist Curtis Fuller, as well as performances in Japan and Brazil. His book, Motivic Drumset Soloing, has been published by the Hal Leonard Corporation (2004). He is currently Professor at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia (Canada) where he teaches jazz and orchestral percussion, history, and coaches large and small jazz ensembles. He has performed with the Louisville Orchestra (KY, USA) and Symphony Nova Scotia (Halifax, NS). His education includes studies with jazz great Jeff Hamilton, B.M.Ed. from the University of Louisville (KY) and a Master’s degree from the University of Miami (FL). Terry’s percussion ensemble compositions are published by Per-Mus Publications (Columbus, OH) and his articles on percussion have appeared in Percussive Notes, Modern Drummer, Rhythm (UK), and Rhythm and Drums magazines (Japan). He was a presenter at the 2003 Percussive Arts Society International Conference (PASIC) in Louisville. KY. He is a contributing editor for Percussive Notes magazine and is active as a clinician and adjudicator at music festivals throughout the US and Canada. He endorses Bosphorus cymbals and Vic Firth drumsticks.
Sean Parsons
Sean Parsons is a jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and educator. Originally from Illinois, Sean holds a Bachelor’s degree in music composition from Illinois Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in jazz studies from DePaul University, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Illinois.
Sean is a faculty member at Marshall University in Huntington, WV where he teaches many of the core classes in their jazz studies program. In addition to his teaching, Sean performs with the faculty jazz ensemble “Bluetrane” and is sought after as a performer and clinician throughout the United States. Some of the renowned musicians Sean has performed with include Clark Terry, James Moody, Jon Faddis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Randy Brecker and Steve Turre.
Sean currently resides in Chesapeake, OH with his wife, two horses, three dogs, eight cats, and a turtle, most of which are named after jazz musicians.
Steinway by GIST PIANO CENTER, The official piano of Jazz Fest & more....
Accomodations for Jazz Fest & more ... 2008/2009 provided by the Seelbach Hilton, Executive West, the Quality Inn & Suites, and the Courtyard Marriott Louisville Airport.
