Students who study music are accustomed to reading sheet music, but one weekend a year Athens students are encouraged to feel and improvise beyond written notation.
“The festival has been going on for many years and it’s an annual celebration of jazz in Athens,” said Matthew James, professor of music at Ohio University. “We have three solid days of music making that involves OU student groups it involves the community. For example, we’re playing at ARTS/West which brings people in from the outside.”
This jazz festival isn’t just for college students, James added. High school students also get an opportunity to learn this art as well. Clinics with the event’s main guest Carl Allen, a drummer, educator and band leader based out of New York, are available for music students of all ages to attend.
“Since I direct one of the student jazz ensembles I really enjoy seeing the students react with professional jazz musicians,” he said. “It’s great to sort of cut me out as the middle man and see how they react to and perform with the professionals and learn a lot in the process. In general it’s a lot of fun to sort of help students unleash their creativity with improvisation.”
Sean Parsons, assistant professor of jazz and music theory, is a performing pianist at the event who has been playing on the ivory keys since he was in third grade.
“I’m with a number of other faculty in the music department,” Parsons said. “It’s a part of our mission for promoting the arts and education in music. It’s an opportunity to not only meet high school students but also to work with them and share information and our passion for music and for jazz music specifically.”
Parsons will be performing with guest performer Carl Allen and faculty for the festival.
Other performers in the festival talk about the festival as if it was a dream come true.
“I’ve known about the festival for a long time and I’ve known Matt James for many years and I’ve known a lot of people out there and became good friends with many of them,” said Ben Huntoon who is a trumpet performer for the festival. “I always thought that jazz and the jazz education (in Athens) was top flight.”
Huntoon discusses how important it is for kids to come and learn this genre of music.
“I’m all about jazz education.” He said. “I want the kids to come away with a better feeling about themselves playing jazz a sense of what really good jazz sounds like. I want them to take in a positive musical experience.”
@annachristine38
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If You Go
All events are free
What Athens Jazz Festival Concert #1
When 7:30p.m., Friday
Where ARTS/West, 132 W. State St.
What Athens Jazz Festival High School Ensembles
When 8:30 a.m., Saturday
Where MemAud
What Visiting Artist Carl Allen
Jazz Clinic
When 2:15 p.m., Saturday
Where MemAud
What Athens Jazz Festival Concert #2
When 7:30 p.m., Saturday
Where MemAud
What Athens Jazz Festival Concert #3
When 7:30p.m., Sunday
Where Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery, 24 W. Union St.
