Jazzschool Studio Band Performs Tonight at Yoshi's

PHOTOS: Trombonist Remee Ashley solos at Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek; The Studio Band placed third in the 2015 Conglomerate High School Big Band Division; saxophone section featured at their Next Generation Monterey Jazz Festival performance. Credit: Shannon Miller

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From the California Jazz Conservatory:

The Jazzschool Studio Band, featuring the Bay Area’s finest high school musicians, including performers from Lamorinda and Walnut Creek, is ready for its final performance before departing on its’ European Tour later this month. Performing at Yoshi’s in Oakland’s Jack London Square tonight -- on Monday, June 8 -- at 8p.m., the Studio Band gained national recognition when it was named Honors Ensemble in Downbeat Magazine’s 38th Annual Student Music Awards.

The young musicians are excited to perform at European jazz festivals this summer in Vienne, France, Montreux, Switzerland, and at the Umbria Festival in Perugia, Italy.

Led by legendary bandleader, composer and arranger Dave Eshelman, the band sounds mature beyond their musicians’ young ages. These remarkable young musicians from across the Bay Area represent the future of jazz as they live, breathe and sleep the music that has gripped their souls and captured their hearts. They come from all walks and locations - from Berkeley to San Ramon and San Francisco to Walnut Creek to Novato.

Concertgoers can expect incredible arrangements, fiery solos and amazing music, both exploratory and traditional. The group placed third at this year’s national competition Next Generation Monterey Jazz Festival and a number of its soloists are in this year’s GRAMMY band with students selected from around the country. These musicians are the future of jazz, and Yoshi’s is the place to see them before they leave the country June 26.

Tickets for the Jazzschool Studio Band performance tonight at Yoshi’s in Jack London Square are $15 adults and $12 students. Purchase at the door or go to http://www.yoshis.com/event/707529-jazzschool-studio-band-europe-oakland/.

A portion of performance proceeds will support costs associated with the band’s European Tour.

The Jazzschool Studio Band is part of the Community Music School at the California Jazz Conservatory (CJC) in Berkeley. The CJC, an innovative nonprofit organization, is dedicated to the study and performance of jazz and is the only accredited, stand-alone conservatory devoted exclusively to jazz studies in the United States.

Studio Band members are selected yearly by audition; they perform frequently and participate in competitions throughout the U.S.Find out more about the California Jazz Conservatory and the Jazzschool Studio Band at http://www.cjc.edu/community-music-school-youth/youth-ensembles/large-ensembles/

Local talent from Walnut Creek and Lamorinda include:

Pete Cerdan, a 16-year-old at Las Lomas high School in Walnut Creek, is a trumpeter who has also won many solo and performance awards at jazz festivals including Delta Jazz, Campana, Folsom, Santa Cruz, and CMEA festivals. He has been a member of the Contra Costa County Honor Band and the Contra Costa County Honor Jazz Band and is annual attendee of the Lafayette Jazz Workshop. Like other Studio Band members, Cerdan has his own band and plans to major in music in college.

“I’m so excited to go to Europe and to get to play Jazz while I do it. It’s going to be a life-changing experience and will really take my music to the next level,” Cerdan says.

Derek Cross, a high school senior who lives in Walnut Creek and Danville, plays trombone, tuba and sousaphone with the bands at Monte Vista High School including the award winning Monte Vista Marching Band, Jazz Ensemble and Wind Ensemble. He is a member of the Contra Costa Generations in Jazz Honor Band, as well as both Jazzschool studio bands. Cross is considering offers from University of Hawaii, University of Oregon and UC Riverside where in addition to studying physics, he will continue his musical education.

Evan Mikas, 15, lives in Lafayette and attends Acalanes High School, performing in the school’s award-winning Kazz Band and Wind Ensemble. He has appeared with the SF Jazz High School All-Stars and the Jazz Mafia’s Realistic Orchestra, as well as the Contra Costa County and CMEA Bay Section Honor Jazz Bands. As an avid composer and arranger, Evan also has played on records with prominent local musicians.

“It should be a really fun experience; I’ll really get to see what the life of a touring musician is like and decide if that’s something I want to do,” Mikas says of the upcoming tour.

Alan Osmundson, 17, is a senior at Las Lomas High School and plays in trumpet in the Jazz School Studio Band who participates in summer music camps, including La Honda Music Camp, and received a full tuition scholarship to attend the Berklee College of Music Summer Performance Program.

Matt Richards, 17, is a junior at Las Lomas High School in Walnut Creek who plays alto sax and has been a member of the Contra Costa County Honor Jazz Band, CBDA All-State Symphonic Band, and the CBDA All-State Jazz Band. He has received multiple outstanding soloists awards at local jazz festivals. Matt currently is also a member of the SF JAZZ High School All-Stars Orchestra in San Francisco

Dylan Sleeper, 16, also attends Las Lomas High School and has competed with the high school jazz band playing saxophone at numerous festivals, winning soloist awards at Folsom and Campana festivals. He was a member of the Contra Costa County Honor Band and has studied at both Lafayette and La Honda music camps.

“Playing with all of these incredibly talented musicians around me inspires me to work harder than I ever have before and I look forward to seeing how much the band and I improve throughout the year,” Sleeper says.