NYSMF JAZZ!Greetings everyone, I hope everyone had an appropriately festive President’s Day! Were we supposed to buy presidents? Personally, I sent a card.
For those of you I don’t know, I’m
Robert Sabin, jazz bass instructor for the New York Summer Music Festival. NYSMF is riding on all cylinders toward the highly anticipated June 25th launch date of the Festival, and the entire returning jazz faculty (myself,
Jason Rigby, Gernot Bernroider, Jon Irabagon, Alejandro Aviles, Nathan Warner, Brenda Earle, and Joe Vererese) is excited about the new facilities at SUNY Oneonta, and with good reason. A larger space will give the program the opportunity to continue to grow, providing the best and most comprehensive summer jazz program for our students. This year is going to be the best and most exciting festival we’ve ever been apart of, and we’re just getting started. Much props to our fearless leader Ms Kim for orchestrating this great feat!
On the guest artists front we have some exciting and dramatic developments. We have assembling a roster of visiting legends to lend us their insight and incredible playing for this year’s guest artist series. Each artist will give a master class, and an evening performance.
Session one will feature one of the greatest bassists and musicians in the world,
John Patitucci, with on of our outstanding resident conductors,
Mike Holober. As anyone who has seen this duo perform knows, this will be a day not to be missed. John performs regularly with legends such as Wayne Shorter and Chick Corea, and is one of the biggest names in the jazz world. To say that he is “in demand” is about as big an understatement as is possible, making this a remarkable, and rare, opportunity for our students!
Second session brings the inimitable saxophonist
Dick Oatts! I like to refer to him simply as “the man” because of his unbelievable ability, musicianship, and his incredible ability to inspire everyone he comes into contact with. He holds one of the most prestigious appointments in the jazz world, lead alto for the legendary Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, and his playing defies the imagination. It is an honor to have him grace the Festival this year!
Third session brings another legend, drummer
John Riley, from the ranks of the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, not to mention Stan Getz, Milt Jackson, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, John Scofield, Bob Mintzer, Gary Peacock, Mike Stern, Joe Lovano, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, John Patitucci, Bob Berg, and many others. John is one of the most unbelievable drummers on the planet, and no doubt will be one of the highlights of the festival.
But wait there is more….
As those that saw the NYSMF Jazz Faculty perform at the Manhattan School of Music last month know, we have a new guitarist joining our ranks!
Jesse Lewis is one bad mama jama, for sure. An amazing musician, Jesse will be teaching advanced, and beginning guitar ensembles, not to mention guitar lessons. The new and improved guitar program will offer something for everyone, from the beginner looking to get it together, or the advanced guitarist looking to expand his or her abilities from one of the finest players on the East Coast. It is wonderful to have such an established player on board, one who can play everything from classical, rock, funk, and tear it apart as a jazz player. Welcome aboard Jesse!
Hey NYSMF has a myspace page! Check out the great page Keisuke put up at
http://groups.myspace.com/nysmf and join!
More exciting developments are on the way, so stay tuned. I welcome all feedback and questions about our program, so please drop me a line at bobsabin@earthlink.net. I would be happy to give any specific details on what our program can offer prospective students and parents. We are the most best and experienced summer music festival in the North East, and we’ll be showing why in just a few months!
Stay warm everyone! see you soon,
Robert Sabin
