[Dixielandjazz] Young Folks playing OKOM in the Sac Jubilee

[Justin Au]

Hope to see many of you at the Sacramento Jazz Jubil- oops, I mean Festival
this weekend.  If you want to hear some young musicians playing OKOM,
Sacramento showcases more youth bands than any other festival on the
circuit.



Due in part by the inspiration from the Traditional Jazz Youth Band Festival
( http://www.sacjazz.org/youthfestival/about.html ) and the San Juan Unified
School District’s “Traditional Jazz Project” (
http://www.sanjuan.edu/arts.cfm?subpage=122293 ), there are several NEW
youth bands performing this year for their first time at the Sacramento Jazz
Jubilee (15 total youth bands).



There are also several young professional groups and artists performing
including the great Bria Skonberg on trumpet, Jason Wanner on piano, The New
Lowdown Jazz Band, The Red Skunk Jipzee Swing Bands, and others.



My brother, Brandon, plays in the New Lowdown JB.  Almost all the musicians
in that band are products of the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society’s youth
education programs (jazz camp, youth band) and school band programs which
taught trad jazz.  Their first set is with Bob Schulz and Jim Fryer.  This
will be a hot set, two trumpets and three trombones!



I play in group called the Red Skunk Jipzee Swing Band from Morro Bay/Los
Osos/SLO.  We do a hybrid of gypsy and trad jazz while incorporating our own
sound and influences.  We are all college age and many of us also went
through the jazz camps.  Brandon and I will play together in one of the
groups at some point.



The future of OKOM depends on these young folks.  This is how jazz gets
passed on.  Please go check them out and show your support.  As American Rag
editor, Don Jones, likes to say, “We’re all in this together.”



-Justin

San Luis Obispo, CA