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.

Past Festivals

2024-25 | 7th Annual

Saturday, March 29th
Naomi Moon Siegel, trombone; Tracie Marsh, bass; & Terry Marsh, drums

2023-24 | 6th Annual

Saturday, January 20th
Kareem Kandi, sax; Drew Baddeley, bass; Jacques Willis, drums & vibes
FinalistsAlphabetial order
  • Northwest School
  • Olympic High School
  • Peninsula High School

2022-23 | 5th Annual

Saturday, April 15th
Susan Pascal, vibes; Bill Anschell, piano; Chris Symer, bass; Mark Ivester, drums.
Finalists
  • Non-Competitive

2021-22 | 4th Annual

Saturday, May 21st
Brian Lawrence, piano & sax; Bailey Ehgott, guitar; Mike Sundt; Luca Cartner, drums.
Finalists
  1. Decatur Jazztet
  2. Ballard Brass
  3. Northwest School Combo 1

2020-21

Cancelled because of Covid-19

2019-20

Cancelled because of Covid-19

2018-19 | 3rd Annual

Saturday, December 7th
Jared Hall, trumpet; John Hanson, piano; Ben Feldman, bass; Matt Jorgensen, drums.
Combined Results
  1. Bellarmine Prep
  2. Fairview Middle School
  3. Charles Wright Academy

2017-18 | 2nd Annual

Saturday, December 1st
Adjudicators: Dr David Deacon-Joyner & Tracy Knoop.Clinicians: Tracy Marsh, Terry Marsh, & Roy Brown.
Photos (1) (2)
High Schools Results
  1. Decatur High School
  2. Monroe High School
  3. Auburn High School

Middle School Results
  1. Fairview Middle School

2016-17 | Inaugural Year

Saturday, December 2nd
Dr. Vanessa Sielert, sax; Dr. Vern Sielert, trumpet; Marcus Kitley, guitar; Dr. David Deacon-Joyner, piano; Marina Christopher, bass; D'Vonne Lewis, drums
High Schools Results
  1. Auburn Riverside High School
  2. Auburn High School
  3. Kingston High School

Middle Schools Results
  1. Woodward Middle School Combo A