Las Vegas Academy students to back up jazz musicians

The 24th annual Jazz in the Park concert series is scheduled to begin Saturday, featuring some of today’s top jazz musicians and perhaps some of its future ones.

Students at Las Vegas Academy, 315 S. Seventh St., will accompany guest artists for the next three Saturdays. Performances are scheduled at 7 p.m. Saturday and May 18 and 25 at the Clark County Government Center Amphitheater, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway.

People will be admitted beginning at 6 p.m. and are encouraged to bring blankets or low-back chairs and food. Admission and parking are free. The series is sponsored by Clark County Parks and Recreation.

Scheduled headlining artists are Dee Dee Bridgewater on Saturday, The Jeff Hamilton Trio on May 18 and Tom Scott on May 25. The series is set to continue with Earl Klugh on June 1 and Pete Escovedo on June 8 without LVA students.

LVA students opened for some of last year’s headliners and were invited this year to join them.

“The students get an unbelievable experience of playing with great artists,” said Patrick Bowen, director of jazz studies at LVA. “... This is also an opportunity for the kids to be showcased to the community. We represent the community exceptionally well.”

Bowen said there will be performances by the school’s big band, which has about 20 students, and combos of two or more students. LVA’s big band was one of 12 finalists at last month’s Next Generation Jazz Festival in Monterey, Calif., and two of its combos placed second and third in their division.

LVA senior Danny Ferenbach, 18, plays trumpet in the big band and violin as part of a duet combo. He said he is looking forward to learning from the artists.

“You’re always helped when you listen to jazz,” he said. “Any concert you go to, you’re influenced in some way. Hearing them play in person and being able to watch how they interact with each other and just how they respond to us, it’ll be a great learning experience.

“It’s just an opportunity to play with these really cool cats.”

Senior Anthony Wesley, 18, echoed Ferenbach’s approach and said he plans to “pick their brains.”

“Just knowing what to watch for from professionals, I could learn from example,” he said.

Bowen said concerts such as these, and music education in general, are essential to “keep kids interested in school.”

“It shows the importance of arts in the public schools and how good these students really are,” Bowen said. “They take care of their business with their instruments but also academically.”

Ferenbach, who plans to study music at the University of Southern California in the fall, said it will be up to the artists to decide if they want to play with the big band or certain combos, but he hopes his combo gets a chance to play.

“Even more than trumpet, I find myself more comfortable on jazz violin,” he said. “It’s more of a rare thing. We’re hoping we can show off our talents together and spark the interest of some people.”

Contact View education reporter Jeff Mosier at jmosier@viewnews.com or 702-224-5524.