Participants in the Youth Jazz Workshop at the Bird of Paradise.
Below: Vincent York
Youth Jazz Workshop Inspiring
BY LARS BJÖRN
SEMJA's
Youth Jazz Workshop at the Bird
of Paradise on April 28th taught the basics of improvisation. Saxophonist
Vincent York,
this year's clinician, likened improvisation to learning a language
and story telling. By the end of the two hour workshop he had the
assembled middle and high school students playing John Coltrane's
"Impressions" with more verve than when they started.
York was expertly backed up by a trio of
high school students: Mun Chung, Josef Deas, and Zack Saginaw. They
were modeling the level of professionalism that the younger students
no doubt hope to reach.
SEMJA extends its thanks to Vincent York,
Sandy Maconochie, and Ron Brooks for their efforts in making this
workshop possible.
photographs by Lars Björn
