Leaving Southern Arizona’s summer heat for the cooler mountains of Northern Arizona, it was time to attend the Prescott Jazz Summit for a weekend of both Big Band and Jazz Music. In its 21st year, Mike Vax, Summit Director and Leader of the Stan Kenton Legacy Orchestra, managed to host another great event! With working musicians from all over the US and many from within a few hundred miles, the Summit prioritizes showcasing student ensembles and distributes funds to local music departments. The students from Prescott High School benefited from the instructions given to them on the Saturday afternoon sessions and their performance on Saturday evening was extremely enjoyable. The orchestra members go through a tune in the beginning of the classes and then break off into various rooms highlighting reeds, brass, rhythm, etc. with individual and group instructions. Then the entire ensemble reconvenes in the school’s theatre and gives it their all! The sounds of a full band starting out with “In the Mood” sure put the entire audience “in the mood” for another fantastic evening!
The previous night started off with a “Meet the Musicians” gathering and a chance to enjoy their enthusiastic camaraderie with some heavy appetizers and libations. Then it was just a short walk across the street from the Historic Hassayampa Inn to the equally historic and recently renovated Elks Thea
