You can now purchase your tickets to the City Jazz Festival here!
Schedule of Events
Director Information
March 25 and 26, 2010
Since its inception in 1991, the City Jazz Festival has grown to an event hosting dozens of student jazz groups from throughout California, performing in three different venues at Fresno City College. The emphasis has always been on education. A panel of jazz educators critiques the students’ performances, and they attend a variety of workshops presented by some of the greatest professional jazz performers in the country. Scholarships to the Berklee College of Music, FCC, and many summer music camps are awarded to outstanding student performers. The event culminates with a performance by the featured guest artist, accompanied by the FCC Jazz Ensemble. Here are a few facts and figures based on the 20 year history of the festival:
- Over 700 student jazz groups have participated
- Over $100,000 in scholarships have been awarded
- Featured guest artists have included a who’s who of jazz:
- Saxophonists Bob Mintzer, Ernie Watts, and Bob Sheppard
- Trumpeters Bobby Shew, Ingrid Jensen, and Gilbert Castellanos
- Guitarists Anthony Wilson and Mark Whitfield
- Drummers Jeff Hamilton and Steve Houghton
- Trombonists Conrad Herwig and Andy Martin
- Vocalists Tierney Sutton, Kevin Mahogany, Kristin Korb, and Sunny Wilkinson
City Jazz 2010
This year’s festival will include an appearance by Rolling Stones saxophonist Tim Ries, and the return of the Tierney Sutton Band. Highlights of City Jazz 2010 include:
- Thursday, March 25: Student performances from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Thursday, March 25: Jazz workshops (times TBA)
- Thursday, March 25: Tim Ries, Fresno All-Stars, FCC Jazz Ensemble (FCC Theatre, 7:30 p.m.)
- Friday, March 26: Tierney Sutton Band (FCC Theatre, 7:30 p.m.)
- Saturday, March 27: Tierney Sutton vocal master class (FCC Band Room, 11:00 a.m.)
Jazz at FCC
City Jazz is part of a strong jazz studies program offered at Fresno City College, directed by festival founder and jazz ensemble director Mike Dana. FCC’s jazz program is the most diverse in central California, and has earned a national reputation. Performance groups include the Jazz Ensemble, Latin Jazz Ensemble, Vocal Jazz Ensemble, and Jazz Combos. Courses in jazz improvisation, theory, history, and arranging are also offered. Jazz faculty members include Mike Dana, Larry Honda, George Ramirez, Julie Dana, and Dale Engstrom. In addition to the festival, the jazz program at FCC has brought many other performers to perform at work with students. These include The Langston Hughes Project, guitarists Nguyen Le, Frank Gambale, and John Stowell, and most recently the Grammy-nominated University of North Texas 1:00 Lab Band.
Featuring Guest Artists: Tim Ries and Tierney Sutton Band
Tim Ries
Thursday, March 25
FCC Theatre 7:30 p.m.
Tickets $15 general, $12 senior, JazzFresno member, $12 students
Saxophonist, composer, arranger and producer Tim Ries received degrees from both the University of North Texas and the University of Michigan. He has had a unique and varied career, which began in 1983 with the great Maynard Ferguson. Since that time, his performing and recording credits include a who’s who of jazz, rock and pop icons: The Rolling Stones (touring from 1999 to the present), Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Michael Jackson, and jazz greats Red Garland, Tom Harrell, Michael Brecker, Joe Henderson, Tony Bennett, and Maria Schneider. Tim has released seven CDs as a leader. His last two discs, The Rolling Stones Project (Concord) and Stones World (Sunnyside), are his versions of Stones tunes arranged in the jazz and world music genres. Both CDs have drawn rave reviews across the globe. Guest artists featured on these CDs include: all four Rolling Stones, Norah Jones, Sheryl Crow, Milton Nascimento, Bill Frisell, John Scofield, Jack DeJohnette, and many more. Tim is currently an assistant professor of jazz studies at the University of Toronto and shares his time between New York and Toronto.
Tierney Sutton Band
Friday, March 26
FCC Theatre 7:30 p.m.
Tickets $15 general, $12 senior, JazzFresno member, $12 student
Jazz vocal workshop on Saturday, March 27
FCC Band Room (MS 135) 11:00 a.m.
Free admission
During its 15 years together, the Tierney Sutton Band has received 2 Grammy Nominations for Best Vocal Jazz Album, a JazzWeek Award for Vocalist of the Year, consecutive nominations for Jazz Journalist Association Awards, recorded several CDs that made the #1 spot on jazz radio playlists, and garnered critical praise throughout the world. Comprised of vocalist Tierney Sutton and instrumental virtuosos Christian Jacob, Trey Henry, Kevin Axt and Ray Brinker, the band has headlined in recent years at Carnegie Hall, The Hollywood Bowl and Jazz at Lincoln Center and has appeared at the Monterey, Marciac and Umbria jazz festivals. To date they have recorded seven CDs, each resulting in increasing recognition and acclaim. The band's most recent disc, "On the Other Side", was hailed as "a Masterpiece...eloquent, honest and magnificently sung and played." Still, the band's greatest accomplishment is its continuing commitment to unity, excellence and creative collaboration. Critics agree that the reason this band endures can be found in its music: "Phenomenal rapport"..."the chemistry is palpable"..."telepathic give and take"..." a seamless blend with superlative bandmates"..."an uncanny display of spirit and unity."
Ticket Information:
Fresno City College Box Office
1101 E. University Ave.
Fresno, CA. 93741
559.442.8221
Contact Information:
Mike Dana - mike.dana@fresnocitycollege.edu
Fresno City College Music Department
1101 E. University Ave.
Fresno, CA. 93741
559.442.4600 x.8463
Fax 559.233.6874
Application Information:
City Jazz Festival 2010 Application