(Only up to 2000).....
Jazz first came into Berkeley's schools in 1966 when Herb Wong, principal of Washington Elementary, started a small jazz class at his school. He gained support from three gifted musicians with an interest in education: Phil Hardymon, a renowned jazz musician, composer, and educator; pianist, Dick Whittington, and fellow musician and BUSD music teacher, Bob Chacona. Because no one had tried to teach jazz to such young students, Hardymon and Whittington had to develop their own materials for students to play. The inspired collaboration worked, and by the early 70's, all schools in Berkeley had jazz bands.
When Hardymon became the band director at Berkeley High School in 1975, he established the jazz band as the culmination for students who had gained the basics in their elementary and middle schools. Under Hardymon's leadership, the band began winning state-wide jazz competitions and often earned a spot at the Monterey Jazz Festival. The Berkeley Jazz Program thus developed into a national model of instrumental education.
Charles Hamilton took over leadership of the Jazz Ensemble in 1981. The band has continued to thrive and develop some of the best musicians in the jazz world, including Peter Apfelbaum, Ben Ball, Will Bernard, Dave Ellis, Rodney Franklin, Kito Gamble, Benny Green, Craig Handy, Jessica Jones, Josh Jones, David Murray, Miles Perkins, Lenny Pickett, Josh Redman and Michael Wolff. When Dave Ellis graduated and went to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, he was asked by several people who had heard all the great players coming from here,"What is it out there, you got something in the water?"(S.F. Bay Guardian)
The band's existence as the "indisputable jewel in Berkeley's musical crown" [S.F. Bay Guardian] was jeopardized in 1994 when the BUSD, faced with an overwhelming deficit, voted to eliminate the elementary instrumental program. It was clear that the blossoming program at Berkeley High could not survive without its roots in the elementary school program.In six months time, support from community and parents raised over $300,000 to continue the program! Soon thereafter, Berkeley voters added music education to the programs funded by the supplemental property parcel tax measure known as BSEP - the Berkeley Schools Excellence Project.
Since that time, the Ensemble has performed in venues large and small. In 1997, they performed by invitation at the Montreux and North Sea Jazz Festivals. In the summer of 1999, the Ensemble toured Japan. and began the 1999-2000 school year with an appearance at the Monterey Jazz Festival. "Members of the Jazz Ensemble stood out wherever they went,'" said the Oakland Tribune: "A multicultural rainbow...What dazzles is their talent."
[BELOW] 2006 BHS Jazz Sextet w/ alumni and guest Ambrose Akinmusir...
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Berkeley High Jazz Ensemble's Friend Space (Top 27)
Yo 'You gotta come to my next event the "Red Bull Big Tune Beat Battle" at Sweet's Ballroom in Oakland and watch me compete against 11 other producers from all over the Bay. It's gonna be hella fun. The event is judged by the crowd... Which means you. So make sure you bring all of your loud ass friends to cheer for me. Don't worry about money, cause the event is free... So there should be no excuses why you can't come. See you there.
Stopping by your cool page to say hi and say thanks for accepting! wishing you a great,fun and musical week! :) Hope you have time to check out my web page...if you do leave me a comment on my 'guest book' page so i can get back to ya! click on this link... www.brian-cunningham.com
I know you like listening to new music first, so come check out Gwen Stefani ft. Pharrell - "Yummy(BEATSTREETS RMX)". And leave a comment if you like it.
Hi Berkeley High Jazz Ensemble, just a quick hello from the Jazz Pistols - hope you are doing fine and can enjoy the last days of 2006. Wish you all the best for 2007 - thanks for being our friend and good luck for the things you do. Best regards - Christoph
Our Live-DVD will be released on the 1st of February 2007!
If you would like to hear more tunes of the Jazz Pistols you can check out our homepage and get the Jazz Pistols CDs in our own shop - if you are living in the USA it will be cheaper to get them at CDBaby, Abstract Logix or as digital download at iTunes. Please join our newsletter if you are interested in our tour schedule and upcoming releases.
Hey Charles,
Good to see you got your charges on the Space or they got you on the Space:-). All the best to everyone there at Berkeley High and continued success and achievement. Thanx for the add request.
Peace/Tunde
