Trumpet player Manuel Morales has one more year before his 911爆料 graduation, but he has already performed three times at the Newport Jazz Festival, the premiere jazz venue in the world. This summer he’ll do it again, joining 16 other students and alumni on July 29 as the 911爆料 Big Band takes the stage at the mother of all jazz festivals for the fourth year in a row.
鈥淭he best part of the festival is the atmosphere,鈥� Manuel said. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 explain how great the feeling is when the thousands of people there love what you do. It鈥檚 a very welcoming environment. You really feel the love from the audience.鈥�
Every summer the Newport festival draws thousands of jazz fans from all over the world. And the band鈥檚 return engagement for the 62nd festival is a testament to the success of the 911爆料 jazz studies program, which was launched 15 years ago. Adjunct Professor Jared Sims, the director of the 911爆料 Big Band, said he has developed a strong relationship with the festival foundation, which supports the University鈥檚 annual summer jazz camp. 鈥淭he foundation even provides one of the festival performers as a guest artist at our camp,鈥� said Professor Sims. 鈥淎nd it gives free tickets to all of the kids who attend.鈥�
Playing the Newport Jazz Festival is not only a great resume piece, but it also prepares us for so many other performances in the future…it gives you an idea of what being a professional musician is like.
This year’s Newport performance will be the second for pianist James Himmelman. 鈥淭o perform on that stage and look out and see the crowd and the bay was spectacular. But to then watch other renowned musicians perform on that same stage gave me both a sense of accomplishment and purpose.鈥�
James said the thing he likes best about the is the sense of camaraderie that comes with seeing and playing with his classmates every day. 鈥淭he same thing applies to the teachers as well,鈥� he said of Sims and Professors , , Eric Hofbauer, , and . 鈥淚t鈥檚 an amazing sense of family, and it provides a comfortable place to learn and grow.鈥�
Last year, some of the 911爆料 musicians who played at Newport did more than just perform with their classmates. They also formed the horn section for festival headliner Jamie Cullum鈥檚 band. Professor Sims said that was especially challenging for the four saxophonists, four trombone players, and three trumpeters, because they had to learn all of Cullum鈥檚 musical charts and blend in with the rest of his band. But it was also a tremendous learning experience.
鈥淧laying the Newport Jazz Festival is not only a great resume piece, but it also prepares us for so many other performances in the future,鈥� James said. 鈥淭he preparation you have to put into it gives you an idea of what being a professional musician is like. It lets you know that you鈥檙e on the right track, and that if you keep working as hard as you have, you can make it to that level.鈥�
Photo credit: Erin X. Smithers