Live Performing Arts Academy
Evening Concert
Friday, April 26 - 7:30pm
The California Jazz Championships 2024 Friday Night Concert event features THE NEW YORK SEVEN, a septet of extraordinary professional jazz musicians from New York City. The concert includes special guest artists, the LPAA Jazz Ensemble, and Vox Now.
Judges
his direction have performed at the Next Generation Jazz Festival, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Monterey Jazz Festival at Sea, CMEA State Convention (1993, 1999, 2001), CBDA State Conference (1999, 2001), CASMEC State Conference (2022), and the National Concert Band Festival in Chicago, Illinois and Indianapolis Indiana (1996, 1998). His honors include the Madera County Arts Council Education Award (1993), UMI-ASBDA State and Regional Distinguished Band Director Award (1997), National Band Association Citation of Excellence (1996, 1998, 2000), CBDA Distinguished Service Award (2002) and member of the National Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi. Mr. Wamhoff holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education (1984) and a Master of Arts degree in Music Performance with distinction (1997) from California State University, Fresno. He has studied conducting from Dr. Lawrence Sutherland (CSU, Fresno), Dr. Robert Halseth (CSU, Sacramento), Eugene Corporon (UNT), Frederick Fennell, Jack Stamp and Michael Haithcock (University of Michigan). Mr. Wamhoff has served on the boards of the California Band Directors Association as President, Past President, Convention Host, Exhibit Host, Bulletin Editor, and CMEA as Honor Band Host, CMEA Central Section as Second Vice President, FMCMEA as both Vice President and President. His professional associations include: California Band Directors Association (CBDA), California Music Educators Association (CMEA), and the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), Mr. Wamhoff is active as a clinician for Concert, Jazz, and Marching Bands. He is also active as a guest conductor in the Symphonic and Jazz idioms. Mr. Wamhoff has served as conductor of the California All-State High School Concert Band, California All-State Junio High School Symphonic Band, Singapore Festival Winds, San Joaquin County High School Honor Band, CMEA Capitol Section High School Honor Band, CMEA Central Coast Section Honor Band and the County Honor Bands from: Sonoma, Stanislaus, Solano, Tulare-Kings, Fresno-Madera Tracy Honor Band, and the Bakersfield City Schools Honor Band. M.J Wamhoff is also a composer, is self-published, and has published works with GPG Publications.
Joe was the primary pianist with jazz vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson from 2006-2016, and the Sacramento Jazz Orchestra since 2010. He has also performed professionally with Eddie Harris, Joe Locke, Chris Botti, Nicholas Payton, Charles McPherson, Wycliffe Gordon, David "Fathead" Newman, and Slide Hampton, and has recorded with Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, Jeff Watts, and Tootie Heath.
Dr. Gilman has twice been an International Jazz Ambassador through the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and USIA, traveling to West Africa in 1999 and East and Southern Africa in 2000. His restaurant Twin Lotus Thai features top jazz talent in Sacramento three nights each week (www.twinlotusthai.com)
Hank Allen-Barfield is a young, up and coming jazz drummer in New York City. Born and raised in Sacramento, California, Hank picked up the drums at age 10 after being influenced by his father, John Allen, who was a successful professional musician in the nineties.
Hank finished his undergraduate studies in 2021 at the prestigious William Paterson University where he had the opportunity to study with Joe Farnsworth, Bill Goodwin, Bill Charlap, Mike LeDonne, Harold Mabern and many others. Since moving to New York City, Hank’s reputation of being a hard hitting and swinging drummer spread quickly, and has since been a regular performer at clubs such as Smalls Jazz Club, Smoke Jazz Club, Dizzy’s Club, Mezzrow Jazz Club, Cafe Bohemia, The Jazz Forum, and The Django among others. Hank regularly leads his own band at Cafe Bohemia, Smalls Jazz Club and the Django, and recently has been a part of groups led by 2 time Grammy Award Winner Samara Joy, Vincent Herring, Jerry Weldon, Bruce Harris, Erena Terakubo, Mike LeDonne, Julius Rodriguez, Jeb Patton, Ray Gallon, James Morrison and a multitude of others. On top of being a full-time musician, Hank is currently pursuing his Master’s degree and graduate studies at The Juilliard School. Hank endorses Paiste Cymbals and was welcomed into the Paiste artist family with an endorsement in February of 2023.
After directing bands at Pasadena City College 1980-81, Robert became Director of Bands at De Anza College in 1981-2014, and was Northern California President of IAJE. During the 1980's, the De Anza Jazz Ensemble received three unanimous superior ratings at the Pacific Coast Jazz Festival and performed at an IAJE convention in Los Angeles. The 38th Annual Herb Patnoe Jazz Festival was successfully completed at De Anza and Robert has been inducted into the CAJ Hall of Fame for Jazz Educators. He directed the Jazz Band at St. Mary's College 2019-2022. Robert has performed as a woodwind musician playing and recording five CD's with Dave Eshelman's Jazz Garden Big Band and performed with Louie Bellson, the Count Basie Orchestra, Manhattan Transfer, George Shearing, Mel Torme, Natalie Cole, Sarah Vaughn, Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett, The Temptations, Four Tops, Frankie Valli, Ray Charles, and Frank Sinatra JR.. He has also performed with Symphony Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Marin, Oakland, Modesto, Monterey, Sacramento, and Santa Rosa Symphonies. His extensive Broadway show experience includes performing with American Music Theater of San Jose (1976-2008), New York touring shows of "Camelot", "My Fair Lady", "Sugar Babies, "Annie", "A Chorus Line", "Peter Pan", "Westside Story", "Beautiful", "Aladdin", and "Ain't Too Proud to Beg". In San Francisco on "The Producers", "Phantom of the Opera", and "Porgy and Bess".
Professional appearances as an assisting artist include studio and live sessions with such jazz & pop musicians as Tito Puente, Dave Pietro, Brian Landrus, Louis Bellson, Billy Drummond, Alan Ferber, Conrad Herwig, Lou Rawls, Jon Tchicai, Ben Vereen, Melissa Manchester, Toni Tennille, Roberta Flack, Rosemary Clooney, Jeffrey Osbourne, Carl Fontana, Paquito D’Rivera, The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, The Glenn Miller and Jimmy Dorsey Orchestras, and others.
Steve also works as a clinician and adjudicator for jazz festivals and various workshops nationwide and has directed several California high school honor jazz ensembles. In addition to maintaining an active schedule as a freelance artist, he is also the author of a popular collegiate Jazz Appreciation course available through the Kendall Hunt Publishing Company.
Matt Robinson has been an active freelance upright and electric bassist in the Sacramento Metro
Area since 2001, where he plays with many of the area's top artists. He holds music degrees from
Humboldt State University (Bachelor of Arts, Double Bass Performance Emphasis, class of 1998) and Sacramento State University (Master of Music, Double Bass Performance Emphasis,
class of 2003). He is also member of Capital Jazz Project, a Sacramento-Based non-profit
organization. Matt has served as an adjunct faculty member at Sacramento State University, Sacramento City College, and American River College, teaching courses in music theory, jazz improvisation,
music appreciation, rock and roll history, jazz combos, and applied music. Additionally, Matt
has taught numerous private bass students both in his home studio and for American River
College and Sacramento State University. In addition to performing, recording, and teaching as a freelance bassist, Matt is currently working as a full-time instructional assistant in the music department at American River College.
PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS
Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA
Bella Vista High School, Fair Oaks, CA
Berkeley High School, Berkeley, CA
California Baptist University, Riverside, CA
California Jazz Conservatory, Berkeley, CA
Downey High School, Downey, CA
Dublin High School, Dublin, CA
Dublin High School, Dublin, CA
El Cerrito High School, El Cerrito, CA
El Dorado High School, Placentia, CA
Esperanza High School, Anaheim, CA
Folsom High School, Folsom, CA
Granite Bay High School, Granite Bay, CA
Laguna Creek High School, Elk Grove, CA
Las Positas College, Livermore, CA
Lincoln High School, Stockton, CA
Natomas Charter School, Sacramento, CA
Northgate High School, Walnut Creek, CA
Pinole Valley High School, Pinole,CA
Rodriguez High School, Fairfield, CA
Sacramento State University, Sacramento, CA
Saint Mary's College of California, Moraga, CA
Seattle Academy, Seattle, Washington
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
Upland High School, Upland, CA
Valley Christian Schools, San Jose, CA
Woodcreek High School, Roseville, CA
Food & Dinning
Discounts for directors and students only
*must have student wristbands or director badges for a discount
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The Melt: Free fries when you sign up for their app.
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Pressed: 2 for $10 deal with Juice and Smoothie. & free shots with membership sign-up.
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Barnes & Noble Kitchen: ½ off an appetizer with the purchase of an entree.
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Mas Taco Bar: 10% off excluding alcohol
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Iron Horse Tavern: 10% off excluding alcohol
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Pretty Sweet: With any $10 purchase you get a free macaron
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Devil & Angel Desserts: 10% off when you buy $15 or more
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Chocolate Architect: Buy 2 get one chocolate silk square free
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Chicago Fire: 10%
Other discounts:
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Restore Hyperwellness: $20 sessions of compression Therapy, Red Light Therapy, and Cryotherapy!