For the love of Jazz For the love of Jazz (March 04, 2005)

Amador Valley High School hosts 30th annual Campana Jazz Festival
by Rebecca Guyon

It's possible that the next Miles Davis will be discovered in Pleasanton next weekend. That's because the annual Campana Jazz Festival is happening March 11 and 12 at the Amador Theater, hosted by Amador Valley High School.

"The music is fabulous," said Ellen McMahon, a parent volunteer who has helped organize the festival for three years. "It is incredible to see the age of the students and the level at which they play. People who are not familiar with the band and come to the festival are impressed because the students sound like professionals."

The festival is a two-day event that starts Friday night with a performance by the Chabot Panhandlers Steel Drum Band, a 25-member band based in Hayward. The Panhandlers played at the festival last year and are remembered for their dynamic performance, which included bringing audience members on stage for the closing number.

"The Chabot Panhandlers are a really fun group," said Amador band director Jonathan Grantham. "They are all professionals from other areas who come together to perform for the love of music."

The main event is on Saturday when 13 jazz bands from high schools and middle schools across the Bay Area compete. The day runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. with competitions scheduled every half hour and culminates with a performance at 4:30 p.m. by the winning bands, the Amador High School jazz band, and jazz bands from all three Pleasanton middle schools.

Students compete in three categories, High School A, High School B and Middle School. High School A bands are a higher level than High School B bands and are generally comprised of seniors and juniors.

Folsom High School from Sacramento won both high school competitions last year, and Valley Christian from San Jose won in the middle school competition.

Awards are also given for outstanding sections and soloists. Students who win the soloist competition are awarded with scholarships to summer music camps at Berkeley College in New York State and local music camps.

As the host school, Amador does not compete, but that doesn't mean its students miss out on showcasing their talent.

"It's fun being the home band because we get to show off," said Alex Boyovich, a senior who has played several different instruments in the jazz band for four years and currently plays the trumpet. "The other schools are impressed because we have a really good band program."

The judges for this year's festival are Cindy Brown Rosefield, Mary Fettig, Frank Fumaref and Mike Galisatuf, all jazz musicians from the Bay Area. In addition to judging, Fumaref is holding a jazz clinic on improvisation that is open for anyone to attend.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing Frank Fumaref," said Emily Joseph, a senior who has played trombone in the jazz band since her freshman year. "I hear he is really good."

The improvisational element of jazz music is one thing that sets the jazz band apart from the other high school bands. The jazz band is also much smaller than the regular band, with 19 students in both level A and B bands.

"In the jazz band each person has their own individual part, so it forces each student to be on top of their game since there is no one else to cover for them," Grantham said. "The students are used to playing in a structured band, but because jazz band is more laid back and because of the improvisations the students always get to play and be involved."

The festival was first organized by longtime Amador Valley band director Jim Campana in 1975 and was originally titled the Pleasanton Music Festival. When Campana retired in 1980 the name was changed to the Campana Jazz Festival in his honor. Campana still attends the event each year.

"(Campana) really is the one who put Amador jazz on the map through his hard work," said Grantham.
Jazzing up the town

What: 30th annual Campana Jazz Festival Where: Amador Theater, 1155 Santa Rita Road When: Chabot Panhandlers, 8 p.m., Friday, March 11. Jazz band competitions 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, March 12. Closing performances, 4:30 p.m., Saturday, March 12 Who: Chabot Panhandlers Steel Drum Band, Amador Valley High School jazz band and high school jazz bands from the Bay Area. Tickets: $10 reserved, $8 at the door, $4 for performers

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