Jetsettersblog

Las Vegas, Nev. – The UNLV Jazz Studies program announces its second consecutive invitation to participate in the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival April 1 – 4, 2011.

Recently recognized as one of the nation’s premier jazz education programs, select UNLV Jazz students will undergo evaluation on a global scale amongst other university-level ensembles in one of the most prestigious arenas for young jazz musicians.

Six groups compete in each category, including College Big Band Division, Conglomerate Big Band Division, and College Vocal Ensemble Division.

The UNLV Contemporary Combo will compete in the Open Combo Division under the leadership of Jazz Studies Director Dave Loeb.

“We are extremely proud of our talented and gifted students. They are afforded the opportunity to develop their jazz arranging and composition skills in addition to perfecting their craft as performing artists.

The evidence is clear in their level of musicianship. Our students are actively preparing for their featured performances at this prestigious event and are eager and excited to have another opportunity to perform in this world class arena,” said Loeb.

UNLV Jazz students strive to achieve high honors from the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival this year, surpassing the four recognitions they returned home with last year.

Individually, students are also considered for awards in categories ranging from musicianship to improvisation.

In addition to the Contemporary Combo’s participation in the judged contest, the award-winning Ensemble I will join the Contemporary Combo as special guest performers for festival attendees to enjoy.

Under the seasoned leadership of Loeb, UNLV’s Ensemble I won “Outstanding Performance” in the large-ensemble graduate college division of DownBeat magazine’s “Student Music Awards” in 2010. National acclaim followed shortly afterwards with Jazztimes magazine’s praise of the Ensemble I latest album release, “The City.”

The UNLV Jazz Studies program has been active for more than 20 years. Today, the Jazz Studies program offers degrees in instrumental or vocal jazz performance and composition at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Currently, the UNLV Jazz Studies program features three big bands and several combos including the Contemporary and Latin ensembles. Since its inception, the jazz program has received nothing but outstanding reviews from critics, including a five-star rating from the jazz publication, DownBeat Magazine.

With more than 15 recordings to its credit, the UNLV Jazz Ensemble has performed across the United States and at such events as the Hawaii International Jazz Festival, Telluride Jazz Festival, the Kennedy Center, and the Village Vanguard.