MONTEREY JAZZ FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES
NEXT GENERATION JAZZ ORCHESTRA

YOUNG MUSICIANS FROM ALL ACROSS USA AND CANADA
TO PERFORM ON INTERNATIONAL TOUR
AND AT MONTEREY JAZZ FESTIVAL PRESENTED BY MCI
SEPTEMBER 16 - 18, 2005 IN MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA

WINNER OF MJF'S COMPOSITON COMPETITON ALSO ANNOUNCED
WITH WORLD PREMIERE BY NEXT GENERATION JAZZ ORCHESTRA
SLATED FOR 48TH ANNUAL MONTEREY JAZZ FESTIVAL

April 20, 2005; Monterey, California; The Monterey Jazz Festival has announced members of the 2005 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, the Festival's international high school all-star big band. Created as a part of the Monterey Jazz Festival's continuing commitment to jazz education, the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra includes some of the top high school level jazz students from all parts of the U. S. and, for 2005, even boasts one member from Canada. The Next Generation Jazz Orchestra represents the very highest level of musicianship as evidenced by past members of the ensemble (formerly known as the MJF High School All-Star Big Band) including pianists Benny Green and Patrice Rushen, bassist Larry Grenadier, drummer Chad Wackerman, saxophonists Joshua Redman and Dave Koz, to name a few.

Under the tutelage of Mr. Paul Contos, renowned saxophonist and flautist who serves as the director of the Orchestra, the ensemble is dedicated to the study and performance of the most challenging big band literature available. The Next Generation Jazz Orchestra will embark on a performance tour during the summer, to include gigs in New York at Sweet Rhythms on July 3 and in Lincoln Center's "Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola" on July 4. The tour will cross the border for a performance at the Montreal Jazz Festival on July 6. In addition, NGJO performances are slated for the 48th annual Monterey Jazz Festival presented by MCI, September 16 - 18, 2005.

Members of the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra were selected through a rigorous audition process that included review by a national panel of judges comprised of professional jazz musician/educators. For the first time ever in the 35 year history of its high school all-star band, the Monterey Jazz Festival invited auditions via video tape in addition to in-person auditions, which took place during the Next Generation Festival, April 8 - 10 in Monterey.

In conjunction with the announcement of the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, the Monterey Jazz Festival has also recognized the winner of the Next Generation Festival's Big Band Composition Competition. Adam Bravo, a Junior at Mission Viejo High School in Mission Viejo, California, wrote the winning piece, "Perpendicular to Reality". Shelly Berg, noted pianist/educator and a judge for the competition, commented that the piece was "an amazingly mature composition." "Perpendicular to Reality" will be performed by the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra in a world premiere at the 2005 Monterey Jazz Festival.

Following are members of the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra

Director
Mr. Paul Contos

Saxophones
Will Reardon-Anderson
Alto
Walt Whitman High School, Bethesda, MD

Alex Han
Alto
Pinnacle High School, Scottsdale, AZ

Chase Baird
Tenor
Acalanes High School, Lafayette, CA

Peter Reardon-Anderson
Tenor
Walt Whitman High School, Bethesda, MD

Tim McKay
Baritone
Albany High School, Albany, CA

Trombones
Stephanie Baird
Arts & Communication Magnet Academy, Beaverton OR

Ismael Cuevas
Eagle Rock High School, Los Angeles, CA

Chris Myrick
Bass
Monterey High School, Monterey, CA

Brama Sukarma
Lincoln High School, San Jose, CA

Nick Sweet
Arts & Communication Magnet Academy, Beaverton OR

Trumpets
Kyle Athayde
Acalanes High School, Lafayette, CA

Jonathan Challoner
Kwalikum Secondary School, Qualicum Beach, BC, Canada

Scott Copeland
Buchanan High School, Clovis, CA

Greg Diaz
Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, Los Angeles, CA

Rami Hachache
Bonita High School, LaVerne, CA

Rhythm
Victor Gould
Piano
Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, Los Angeles, CA

Scott Worthington
Bass
Mission Viejo High School, Mission Viejo, CA

Jeff Stein
Guitar
Monte Vista High School, Danville, CA

Mitchell Wilson
Drums
Arts & Communication Magnet Academy, Beaverton OR

Max Griffith
Drums
Albany High School, Albany, CA