It is my pleasure to announce that the 36th annual Head of the Lakes Jazz Festival will be held at the UMD campus on Saturday,March 7th, 2009 . This Festival will be non-competitive in nature, offering positive, learning-based experiences for young jazz ensembles and several outstanding concerts.

Our Saturday evening feature guest artist will be Dick Oatts, with UMD Jazz I . Born and raised in Iowa , saxophonist Dick Oatts was brought up in a musical family and was introduced to the saxophone by his father, Jack. He began his professional career in Minneapolis/St. Paul in 1972 and in 1977 moved to New York City and joined the Thad Jones–Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra. Since then, he has recorded and toured with small groups such as Red Rodney, Bob Brookmeyer, Mel Lewis, and Jerry Bergonzi. His big band and larger group experience include the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, Mel Lewis, Lester Bowie, Joe Lovano, Sam Jones–Tom Harrell, Paquito D’Rivera, Tito Puente, and Gunther Schuller. He has accompanied vocalists such as Joe Williams, Sara Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, and Mel Tormé. www.dickoatts.com

Also in concert on Saturday afternoon, March 7 th is the United States Military Academy Band Jazz Knights, from West Point , NY . Notable guests who have performed with the Jazz Knights include Benny Goodman, David Liebman, Jim Pugh, Scott Robinson, Emil Richards, Byron Stripling, John Clayton, Eddie Daniels, Steve Turre and James Carter.www.westpoint.edu/band/ensembles/jk.htm

In addition to Saturday performances and clinics by Dick Oatts, there will also be performnances Thursday, March 5 th &Friday, March 6 th by the Kenny Werner Trio. Kenny Werner was born on November 19, 1951 in Brooklyn , New York . He performed with Archie Shepp, the Mel Lewis Orchestra, Rufus Reid, Ray Drummond, Jaki Byard, Eddie Gomez, Tom Harrell, Joe Lovano and Toots Thielemans. Werner has received performance grants from the National Endowment for the Arts in both 1985 and 1987. He is the author of the book Effortless Mastery. www.kennywernerlive.com

The Head of the Lakes Jazz Festival will also include:

• Performances by UMD Jazz Ensembles
• 40 minutes of individualized time for your ensemble. Most ensembles perform for about twenty minutes and are then critiqued by two clinicians for another twenty minutes.
• Adjudicators. Including leading jazz educators from colleges across the country to adjudicate and clinic your ensembles and directors. Recent Adjudicators have included: Billy Taylor, Gene Aitken (UNC), Bob Kase (UWSP), Tom Matta (DePaul University), Bob Kleinschmidt (Tiffin University), John Salerno (UWGB), Terry Vermillion (St. Cloud State), Tom Pfotenhauer (UWyoming) and many others.
• Non-competitive atmosphere. This positive, learning-oriented approach has become a hallmark of the Head of the Lakes Festival. No trophies or defeats, just jazz music, hard work, and fun!
• Clinics. Numerous clinics will be given by the guest artists, UMD jazz faculty and by our adjudicators, all of whom are recognized leaders in their fields.
• Scholarships. The chance for instrumentalists to audition for a scholarship to attend the University of Minnesota Duluth as a music major!!
• Prizes. Performance certificates and prizes will be awarded to individuals who offer outstanding performances during the day.

Please print and complete the reservation form (click here) and return it with payment to the address below by the February 1st deadline so that we can hold a spot for your ensemble(s) at this year’s festival. The fee for participants is $150.00 per ensemble. We will fill performance spots on a first come, first serve basis so get your reservation form in early. Upon receipt of your registration fee, we will contact you regarding group hotel rates and other information. Click here for a printer friendly version of this information.

I look forward to seeing you this year, and to hearing your ensembles perform. If you have any questions regarding the festival, please feel free to contact me at (218)726-6327, or by email at umdjazz@d.umn.edu.

Sincerely,
Ryan Frane
Director of Jazz Studies
University of Minnesota Duluth
231 Humanities Building
1201 Ordean Court
Duluth, MN 55812

Click here for more information on Jazz @ UMD.