Jazz hands Jazz hands (February 03, 2006)

Amador gets ready to swing and groove for the 31st Annual Campana Jazz Festival
by Rebecca Guyon

Step on the Amador Valley High School campus next Saturday and you'll think you've walked into a swinging jazz club. That's because students of all ages will be playing their hearts out as the school hosts the 31st Annual Campana Jazz Festival.

"This is an important festival that honors a great Amador teacher, Jim Campana," said Amador band director Jonathon Grantham. "He really put Amador on the map with his talent and energy."

Campana originally started the festival in 1975, then titled the Pleasanton Music Festival. The festival's name changed in 1980 to honor Campana when he retired. Campana still attends the event each year.

This year, 15 bands from the greater Bay Area will perform all-day Saturday, Feb. 11 in 25-minute slots for a three-judge panel. This year's judges are jazz musician and music teacher Mary Fettig from San Mateo's Aragon High School and professional musician Mike Galisatus and Las Positas professor Cindy Brown.

The winning bands will perform in the Amador Theater at 5 p.m. that evening for an Awards Concert. Amador, as the host band, will not compete, but they will play during the Awards Concert. Bands compete in three categories--High school A, High School B and Middle School--and the top three sections in each category receive awards.

Performers and community members will also have the chance to learn how to play jazz with a workshop on jazz improvisation led by musician Frank Sumares.

"I'm really excited by the high level of groups we'll have there," Grantham said. "We have some schools that are bringing excellent bands from all over the Bay Area."
Going to the show

When: Saturday, Feb. 11. Bands perform all day and the Awards Concert starts at 5 p.m.

Where: Amador Theater, 1155 Santa Rita Rd.

Tickets: $5 wristbands that allow admittance to all the performances, including the Awards Concert, will be sold at the door the day of the event.

Call Jonathon Grantham 461-6196 or e-mail jgrantham@pleasanton.k12.ca.us for more information.

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