5th Roseville Winter Jazz Blast Showcases the Best in Middle, High School and Prof. Jazz Ensembles

ROSEVILLE, MN (October 13, 2011) – Northwestern College will be grooving to the sound of jazz when the 5th Annual Roseville Winter Jazz Blast takes place on January 14, 2012.  The day will start with performances by area high school and middle school jazz ensembles and will end with a special evening performance by JazzMN Orchestra with special guest artisit Mike Stern , Northwestern College Jazz Ensemble and the top band of the day.

WHAT: The fifth annual Roseville Winter Jazz Blast

WHEN: Saturday, January 14, 2012: Middle- and high school band festival, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; Evening performance by the Northwestern College Jazz Ensemble and JazzMN Orchestra with special guest artist Mike Stern, 7:30 p.m.

WHO: In a career that spans three decades and a discography that includes more than a dozen eclectic and innovative recordings, six-time GRAMMY nominee Mike Stern has established himself as one of the premier jazz and jazz-fusion guitarists and composers of his generation. Stern got his start as a guitar player with Blood, Sweat & Tears at age 22. Following a brief stint with Billy Cobham's powerhouse fusion band from 1979 to 1980, he moved to New York City, where he was recruited by Miles Davis to play a key role in Miles' celebrated comeback band of 1981 (which also included bassist Marcus Miller, drummer Al Foster, percussionist Mino Cinelu and saxophonist Bill Evans).  At the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal in June 2007, Stern was honored with the Miles Davis Award, which was created to recognize internationally acclaimed jazz artists whose body of work has contributed significantly to the renewal of the genre. In August 2009, Stern released Big Neighborhood which was also nominated for a GRAMMY for Best Contemporary Jazz Album.

WHERE: Maranatha Hall on the campus of Northwestern College, 3003 Snelling Ave. N, Roseville, MN 55113

TICKETS: The school band festival is free and open to the public.  Admission to the Saturday evening performance is $17 for the general public, $15 for Twin Cities Jazz Society members and $7 for students.  Tickets are available at the Northwestern College box office, by calling 651-631-5151 or 866-821-5151 or online at www.nwc.edu/web/events/ticket-office

During the day, the festival will feature up to 16 middle- and high school jazz ensembles.  The day includes clinics by professional jazz musicians and educators, as well as master classes for saxophones, trombones, trumpets and rhythm.

The all-day event will be topped off at 7:30 p.m. with a performance by the adjudicator-voted ensemble of the day, the Northwestern College Jazz Ensemble and JazzMN Orchestra.  The top three soloists from the daytime festival will be selected to play with JazzMN that evening.

'We’ve made it five years and our audience grows larger every year. Last year we had 900 attendees and based on the enthusiast response for our audience members, we fully expect to sell out in 2012,” said Julie Wearn, Executive Director of the Roseville Visitors Association.  “You can still watch the bands during the day, free of charge and we are seeing those crowds growing as well. An adjudicator told me at this past January’s festival that the future of jazz is in very good hands if these kids are any indication! Plus, if you are a jazz fan or a fan of music in general, you will not want to miss the chance to see Mike Stern performing with JazzMN. That combination alone will guarantee us a sold out event!”

ABOUT THE ROSEVILLE VISITORS ASSOCIATION
The Roseville Visitors Association was established in 2000, and markets the area’s nine hotel properties, attractions and special events to visitors, tour groups and corporate meeting planners.  True to its tagline “Perfectly Positioned,” Roseville is conveniently situated just north of downtown Saint Paul and Minneapolis, just minutes from the Twin Cities’ major museums, theatres, attractions and major league sporting facilities.  For more information, please contact the RVA at 651-633-3002 or visit www.visitroseville.com.