UCLA Jazz Ensemble Plays at Mammoth JazzFestival
UCLA Global Jazz Ensemble Shines at Mammoth JazzFest
The UCLA Global Jazz Ensemble made a splendid appearance at the Mammoth JazzFest on June 21-22, 2019. The ensemble, affiliated with UCLA's Herb Alpert School of Music, showcased their unique blend of jazz as a global art form during the two-day festival.
Under the direction of acclaimed trombonist Duane Benjamin, a lecturer in the Global Jazz Studies program, the group of six jazz students - Kimiko Daniels (piano), Dobrev (bass), Gilliam (trumpet), Ennis Harris (saxophone), Kersey-Wilson (trombone), and Siciliano (drums) - performed sets on both days of the festival.
Kimiko Daniels, a pianist in the ensemble, found the start of summer at the Mammoth JazzFest to be perfect. She also described the people of Mammoth as nice. The ensemble's performance at the festival reflected the interdisciplinary and global outlook of UCLA’s jazz programs, with compositions that drew from various international music traditions.
The Global Jazz Studies program, part of UCLA's broader emphasis on jazz studies and music education, aims to prepare students for careers in various aspects of the jazz industry. It encourages students to think globally about the capacity of jazz to transform the musical and political world it engages.
The program builds upon UCLA's strong foundation in jazz studies and world music. It ties into the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA, a renowned program offering college-level training by international jazz masters, emphasizing jazz education that is free and globally accessible. This connection highlights the ensemble’s role in fostering the next generation of jazz musicians with a broad, inclusive perspective on jazz’s cultural dimensions.
The Mammoth JazzFest, a free summer festival held in the Village at Mammoth, aims to refresh, renew, and reinvent jazz. The festival's mission aligns with the Global Jazz Studies program's mission to preserve and expand jazz globally as a unifying and imaginative art form.
For more information about the Global Jazz Studies program, please visit their website. The UCLA Global Jazz Ensemble's performance at the Mammoth JazzFest was a testament to their commitment to advancing jazz education and performance globally, focusing on cultural diversity and innovative jazz exploration.
Engaging in a blend of education and self-development, the UCLA Global Jazz Ensemble showcased their unique jazz performances at the Mammoth JazzFest, an entertainment event that aligns with the program's global mission to preserve and expand jazz as a unifying and imaginative art form. After their performance, pianist Kimiko Daniels expressed her excitement for summer, noting the nice atmosphere of Mammoth, while also highlighting the ensemble's commitment to showcasing various international music traditions, reflecting the global outlook of UCLA’s jazz programs.
