Vail Jazz Festival

June 1 – September 2 • Vail, CO

The Vail Jazz Festival, with its focus on outreach to the next generation of players and listeners, is more than just a showcase for renowned jazz artists. VJF sponsors activities and educational programs such as Jazz Goes To School, the VJF Regional Big Band, the Washington Prep High School's Fourth of July Band Trip and the Vail Jazz Workshop, a unique music residency program for gifted and deserving high school jazz musicians. Twelve full scholarships are provided for this intensive 10-day jazz training program directed by bassist John Clayton, Jr., with Jeff Clayton, Terell Stafford, Bill Cunliffe and Lewis Nash. Since 1996, 70 talented young musicians have been nurtured and taught in the "old school" way, focusing on ear training and learning-by-playing alongside the top musicians of the current generation. "It's one of the leading jazz education programs in the nation," says Yamaha district manager Tom Mapson. Yamaha was the official piano of the 8th annual summer-long festival, which culminated with a Labor Day Weekend Party featuring many of the top names in jazz, as well as these young jazz musicians of the next generation.

 

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