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AJRO to appear at Villanova Jazz Festival - March 2011

Villanova Jazz Festival

The Villanova Jazz Festival provides local high school and college jazz ensembles with an opportunity to compete and share musical experiences with one another. Students also get the opportunity to learn from some of the most noted jazz musicians in the nation. Each Jazz Festival has one or more concerts by jazz greats who at past festivals have included Randy Brecker, Denis Diblasio, Jon Faddis, Ellis Marsallis, Nestor Torres, Allen Vizzutti, and Maynard Ferguson.

2011 marks the 50th Anniversary of the Villanova Jazz Festival. There is a historical relationship between AJRO director Clem DeRosa and Villanova. During the mid-1960s, the student chairman of the Festival was Ed Bride, and Stan Kenton was their chief advisor. During the adjudication process, the festival wanted to host a guest high school band, and Kenton recommended Clem DeRosa's band from South Huntington, Long Island. Besides the guest appearance of his high school band, Clem later would adjudicate at the Villanova festival. So, the Villanova-DeRosa connection goes back for nearly the entire history of the festival.

At this year's festival, AJV Board Member Ed Bride returns to his alma mater to narrate the band's Salute to the Jazz Orchestras. There is yet another connection: the band's bass trombonist, Joe Randazzo, appeared as a member of the University of North Texas jazz ensemble (it was North Texas State, in those years), in 1966.

We hope that many followers of big band music can join us at Villanova on March 26. Band members include:

Saxophones:   Dave Riekenberg   Angela Davis,  Vito Chiavuzzo, Nate Giroux,  Claire Daly

Trombones:  Nate Mayland ,  Michael Boscorino ,  Joe Randazzo

Trumpets: Tatem Greenblatt,  Nate Eklund,  Matt Muirhead ,   John Raymond

Rhythm section: piano  Billy Test …bass Bill Moring …drums  Scott Neumann

The festival schedule for the AJRO the days including events is shown below.  For more information contact Bill Whitaker, Jazz Festival Director.

• Collegiate Big Band Festival
• Clinic/Workshop with the American Jazz Repertory Orchestra
• Villanova Band Alumni, Family, & Friends Reception (President's Lounge)
  Tickets required. More information will be available in the new year.
• Evening Concert (tickets available at the door)
• Winning College Jazz Band and the American Jazz Repertory Orchestra
  
  

• High School Big Band Festival
• Clinic/Workshop with the American Jazz Repertory Orchestra