MEDIA RELEASE

CSUN’s Jazz ‘A’ Band Steals Show, Takes Top College Band Prize,
Will Perform at World-Famous Monterey Jazz Festival in September

(NORTHRIDGE, Calif., April 22, 2008) — Cal State Northridge’s 20-member Jazz "A" Band walked away with national first place honors in the College Big Band division of the Monterey Jazz Festival’s annual Next Generation Festival, held earlier this month in Monterey, California.

"The college big bands, some of the most accomplished in the nation, were commanding and fluid in their performances," said an article in AllAboutJazz.com. "In the end, it was the dense-sounding Cal State Northridge that earned the top position of the College Division and the performance slot at the 51st Monterey Jazz Festival."

CSUN’s renditions of "Cat and Mouse," "Montana de Oro," "Kopanitsa" and "Lil’ Ol’ Groovemaker" earned the group a performance berth at the Monterey festival, now in its 50th year. The Jazz "A" Band will travel to Monterey in September to perform at the world-famous festival.

Taking first place at the Next Generation competition, said conductor Matt Harris, is equivalent to "winning a championship game."

To get to the prestigious event in the first place, the Jazz "A" Band had to vie with college bands across the country; only five were chosen to compete. The Northridge student musicians placed ahead of the second place University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) and Cal State Long Beach, which came in third.

Famed keyboard artist George Duke and jazz drummer Terri Lyne Carrington were on the panel of judges, considering qualities such as the band’s time, intonation, style and presentation, creativity and solos.

An "outstanding soloist" award was earned by trombonist Harrison Kirk, a sophomore jazz major. Michael Mull, a senior jazz major, created two original compositions performed by the band during the festival.

With a donation from widely known jazz vocalist Sandra Zacky and husband Ronald, the Jazz "A" Band is fully funded for its trip to the Monterey Jazz Festival. The Zackys’ generous donation of $25,000 will both support the trip and scholarships for CSUN’s jazz program. The pair also has pledged $10,000 annually for the next five years, for jazz scholarships.