History

Conceived of in the waning months of 2016, the then unnamed jazz festival at Bainbridge High School was meant to fill a hole seen in the regional jazz education scene. A festival that focused on developing the area's rhythm sections and soloists. The hope was to inspire more schools to start combo programs, and to ignite further interest in jazz studies and deeper commitments to life long jazz performance. It's easier for graduates to start a combo later in life than it is a big band, and great combo players in school make for even better big band players. Put simply, the mission was to improve school jazz programs through focus on the often less-rehearsed components of the big band.

After some initial inquiries, Jim Stevens with Ted Brown Music offered to collaborate on the project. He has been instrumental in helping bring in our festival guest artists, as well as helping to support our festival recording logistics.

Past Contest Results

2022 - Year 4

Saturday, May 21st.

Photo Album

Placements

Top Three Schools

  1. Decatur Jazztet

  2. Ballard Brass

  3. Northwest School Combo 1

Guest Artists

The Brian Lawrence Quintet
  • Brian Lawrence, (piano & sax)
  • Bailey Ehrgott (guitar)
  • Mike Sundt (bass)
  • Luca Cartner (drums)

2021 - Cancelled because of Covid-19


2020 - Cancelled because of Covid-19


2019 - Year Three

Saturday, December 7th.

Photo Album

Placements

Top Three Schools

  1. Bellarmine Prep

  2. Fairview Middle School

  3. Charles Wright Academy

Guest Artists

KNKX Public Radio

Trumpet player, composer and jazz educator Jared Hall grew up in Spokane, Washington. His jazz studies took him to Whitworth University in his hometown, then to Indiana and Florida. But Hall has recently returned to the Northwest, adding another potent voice on trumpet to the growing Seattle jazz scene.
Jared Hall - trumpetJohn Hansen - pianoBen Feldman - bassMatt Jorgensen - drums
To learn more about Jared and buy his CD visit his website here:
http://www.jaredhall.net/
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2018 - Year Two

Saturday, December 1st.

Photo Album

Placements

High Schools

  1. Decatur High School

  2. Monroe High School

  3. Auburn High School

Middle Schools

  1. Fairview Middle School

Guest Artists

Adjudicators:

Dr. David Deacon-Joyner & Tracy Knoop.

Clinicians:

Terry Marsh, Tracy Marsh, & Roy Brown

2017 - Inaugural Year

Saturday, December 2nd.

Photo Album

Placements

High Schools

  1. Auburn Riverside High School

  2. Auburn High School

  3. Kingston High School

Middle Schools

  1. Woodward Middle School Combo A

Guest Artists

Our Clinicians & Adjudicators were:

Dr. Vanessa Sielert, sax; Dr. Vern Sielert, trumpet; Marcus Kitley, guitar; Dr. David Deacon-Joyner, piano; Marina Christopher, bass; D'Vonne Lewis, drums