Wikipedia

Tucson Jazz Institute

Tucson Jazz Institute (TJI) is an independent jazz school home to award-winning ensembles such as the Ellington Big Band and the Concord Combo. TJI is owned and operated by Brice Winston and Scott Black, profesional musicians in the southern Arizona region. Many students from Tucson Jazz Institute have gone on to become career musicians.

Tucson Jazz Institute
Former name
Arizona Jazz Academy, Tucson Community School of Music, TJS: Jazzworks
FounderDoug Tidaback, Scott Black, Brice Winston
DirectorBrice Winston, Scott Black, Joesph Rader
Address
3233 S Pinal Vista
,
Tucson
,
Arizona
,
85713
,
USA

(32.187442, -110.936173)
Websitewww.tucsonjazzinstitute.com

Tucson Jazz Institute specializes in education for styles of Big Band music, Bebop, and Hard Bop music. Ensembles perform music from Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Buddy Rich, Charlie Parker, Wayne Shorter, Art Blakey, Benny Golson and more. Combos learn concepts of improvisation over chord-changes of music. Classes meet on Sundays, Tuesdays, or Saturdays.[1]

The TJI Ellington Big Band competes in the Essentially Ellington national competition annually and has one the 1st place price on many occasions with coutless students receiving personal adwards.[2] Other TJI Ensembles compete in more regional festivals such as the NAU Jazz Festival in Flagstaff, Arizona[3] and the ASU Highland Jazz Festival in Gilbert, Arizona.[4]

Programs

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Tucson Jazz Institute currently has 3 Big Bands and 5 Combos. After the pandemic the school was hit hard leading to this small number. Ensembles include:

  • Ellington Big Band
  • Basie Big Band
  • Kenton Big Band (Middle School Band)
  • Concord Combo
  • Blue Note Combo
  • Columbia Combo
  • Coltrane Combo (Middle School Band)

Tucson Jazz Institute has sponsored a high school jazz jam session meeting every Wednesday from 6-8PM. The jam session is led by a house band consisting of TJI's top students and alumni. Currently the house band consists of David Nguyen, Trumpet; Jaxon Hirsh, Bari Sax; Zeke Hirsh, Bass; Jacob Nguyen, Piano; Daniel Estrada, Drums. This jam session happens at the GloBall restaurant at the Sheraton Hotel & Suites (5151 E Grant Rd. Tucson, Az)

TJI formerly had music technology classes where students were trained on the usage of recording equipment, mixing boards, recording software, and CD production.[5] During TJI's time under the Tucson Community School of Music, TJI also had ensembles available to adults, these were taken over by Pima Community College. Additionally, during the TCSM control there was the Tucson Symphonic Winds, a wind ensemble meeting Thurday evenings.[6] TCSM also had beginging band classes for all ages.[7]

History

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Arizona Jazz Academy was originally founded in the early 2000s eventual reorganizing as Tucson Community School of Music with a sub-brand of Tucson Jazz Institute in 2008[8]

Around 2017, Tucson Jazz Institute moved from their location at 6061 E Broadway Blvd. Tucson, Az to their current home at Utterback Middle School.

In 2019, founder Doug Tidaback left the program for unknowen reasons moving to Denver, Colorado with his family.

The Tucson Jazz Institute is supported by the Tucson Jazz Music Foundation (TJMFDN) with finnacial support for travel and registration costs associated with competitions.[9] TJMFDN also provides scholarships to students of TJI that are unable to pay the tuition.[10] TJMFDN has also sponsored clinics with profesional jazz musicians such as: Kenny Rampton, Ron Carter,[11] Jimmy Heath,[12] Emmet Cohen, Russell Schmidt, Sherman Irby,[13] Michael Weiss[14][15], Roxy Coss,[14] and Alex Hahn.

In February 2024, TJMFDN announced in partnership with Hotel Congress's Century Room jazz club, an education program providing oppourtunities to all jazz students around the Tucson region. In this program the Century Room was made free to school bands for use as well as a cost reduction to students for tickets to the venue.[16]

Tucson Jazz Institute has had many students audition for the Grammy Band. However, only two have been accepted into the ensembe, John Black[17] & Miranda Anew[18][19]

Former Staff

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  • John Black, Director of Big Bands.
  • Doug Tidaback, Director of Big Bands, Music Technology Instructor, Director of Tucson Symphonic Winds.[17]
  • Neamen Lyles, improvisation and combo director.
  • Gavin Tidaback, vocal jazz and big band assistant director.
  • Mary Ellen Labrecque, Program Manager.[20]
  • Sam Eagon, Music Technology Instructor.[20]
  • Matt Mitchell.
  • Aaron Kalish.
  • Michael Fan.
  • Kari Shaff.

Alumni

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  • Chloe Rowlands, American Trumpet Player.
  • Robie Lee, Jazz Pianist, Singer, & Saxophonist.
  • Sam Chess, American Trombone Player.[21]
  • Miranda Agnew, American Trumpet Player.
  • Arco Iris Sandoval (piano / class of 2006)[22]
  • Andrew Halchak (sax/ class of 2006)
  • Teddy Raven (sax / class of 2006)
  • Arthur Vint (drums/ class of 2007)
  • Chris Pena (piano/ class of 2008)
  • Alex Weitz (sax/ class of 2009)
  • Max Goldschmid (multi-instrumentalist/ class of 2012)
  • Sean Johnson (sax/ class of 2012)
  • Tim Rachbach (drums/ class of 2013)
  • Alan Acosta (sax/ class of 2014)
  • Anthony Gibes (trumpet/ class of 2014)
  • John Black (trombone/ class of 2014)
  • Simeon Roth (sax/ class of 2016)
  • Ben Canfield (sax/ class of 2019)
  • Colin McIlrath (bass/ class of 2020)
  • Ryan Magness (bass/ class of 2020)
  • Kenji Lancaster (drums/ class of 2020)
  • Andrew Gioannetti (sax/ class of 2021)
  • Denali Kauffman (trombone/piano/ class of 2021)
  • Kevin Ravellette (sax/clarinet/ class of 2021)
  • Calvin Simmers (drums / class of 2023)

References

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  1. ^ "Programs | Tucson Jazz Institute". Tucson Jazz Institut. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  2. ^ "Tucson Jazz Institute Wins Essentially Ellington Competition - The Syncopated Times". 2017-06-01. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  3. ^ Lisa Petrass (2015-03-02). Tucson Jazz Institute NAU 2015. Retrieved 2024-12-02 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ International, Nogales (2023-04-07). "NHS jazz groups turns in a 'superior' performance". Nogales International. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  5. ^ "Tucson Community Music School". web.archive.org. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  6. ^ "Tucson Symphonic Winds". web.archive.org. 2010-11-01. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  7. ^ "Tucson Community Music School". web.archive.org. 2010-11-01. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  8. ^ "About | Tucson Jazz Institute". Tucson Jazz Institut. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  9. ^ "Welcome! – Tucson Jazz Music Foundation". Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  10. ^ "Scholarships – Tucson Jazz Music Foundation". Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  11. ^ "Tucson Jazz Music Foundation". www.azgives.org. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  12. ^ Tucson Jazz Music Foundation (2017-11-05). Jimmy Heath Q&A at the Tucson Jazz Institute. Retrieved 2024-12-02 – via YouTube.
  13. ^ Paul Melnychuck (2014-04-24). Sherman Irby Solo at the Tucson Jazz Institute. Retrieved 2024-12-02 – via YouTube.
  14. ^ a b "Sponsorships: Guest Artists, Travel, School Shows, Unique Programs – Tucson Jazz Music Foundation". Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  15. ^ "Michael Weiss Piano Jazz Masterclass". Hotel Congress. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  16. ^ "The Century Room Jazz Education Program – Tucson Jazz Music Foundation". Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  17. ^ a b "Tucson Community Music School". web.archive.org. 2019-05-19. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  18. ^ "How a student went from GRAMMY Camp to the GRAMMY stage | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  19. ^ "Local trumpet player has big Grammys moment". indearizona.com. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  20. ^ a b "Tucson Community Music School Contact". web.archive.org. 2010-12-02. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  21. ^ Jazz, All About (2024-07-22). "Sam Chess Musician - All About Jazz". All About Jazz Musicians. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  22. ^ "Arcoiris Sandoval Sonic Asylum Trio". Tucson Weekly. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
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