Date: Saturday, April 5th, 2025
Place: Terry Concert Hall on the campus of Jacksonville University.
Address: 2800 University Blvd N., Jacksonville FL 32211
Info
The JU Jazz Festival will be an adjudicated non-competitive event with ratings for each band, and awards for best soloists in various categories.
Each performing group is allotted a 30 minute performance slot. This time includes set-up and break-down. Band are welcome to perform as many selections as they like during their allotted time.
Each band will receive a 30 minute clinic immediately after your performance.
Performance spots are limited, please register early to ensure your bands performance time. Entry fee is $150.00 per group.
Professional sound and back line (amps, drums, piano) will be provided.
We are currently limiting each school to 2 performing groups. Additional groups will be added if space is available.
Food trucks and vendors will be on location throughout the event.
Adjudicators
Jeff McLaughlin
Guitarist Jeff McLaughlin creates musical soundscapes filled with passion, depth, and a progressive spirit. His playing and composition are both steeped in tradition and focused on new directions in creative music.
He has appeared around the world including the Montreux Jazz Festival, the Banff Jazz Workshop, the Ravinia Festival in Chicago, the Brooklyn Americana Festival, the NAMM Bass Bash, the Indianapolis Jazz Festival, the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, and the Philadelphia Folk Festival. He has performed as a sideman and with his own projects in famed venues such as NYC's Apollo Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, 55 Bar, Blue Note, Minton's Playhouse, Bar Next Door, City Winery, and LA's Blue Whale.
Jeff has performed with artists such as Ari Hoenig, Drew Gress, Jill Sobule, Tom Kennedy, Rudy Royston, Tina Fabrique, Ralph Alessi, Queen Esther, Jon Cowherd, Shane Endsley, Jonathan Finlayson, Jason Palmer, Michael Attias, Jerome Sabbaugh, Steve Houghton, Rachel Caswell, Chris Coleman, Brent Wallarab, and David Baker.
Jeff also served as an Associate Instructor in the Jazz Studies Department at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music where he directed the Jazz Ensemble IV, coached combos, presented lectures in jazz pedagogy and history, and taught applied jazz guitar lessons. He currently lives in New York City.
Aaron Jennings
As a successful arts administrator within jazz education, Aaron works at the intersection of education and performance, fostering a vibrant learning environment for students. His background as a jazz musician, coupled with a Master of Music from New York University in jazz studies, has empowered him to shape an impactful youth programming that nurtures young talent.
Outside of his arts administration work, he is also a professional jazz drummer, having shared the stage with Wycliffe Gordon, Mike Mainieri, Johnny O’Neal, and other local artists in Southeast region. Additionally He has also served in other industry roles including Road Manager for the Ulysses Owens Jr. Big Band. His expertise in jazz performance and program management has driven his commitment to excellence, enhancing community engagement and enriching the cultural tapestry of any community he serves through music.
Matthew Vance
Matt Vance is baritone saxophonist with seven-time Grammy-nominated recording artists Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge and is one of the top-call woodwind performers in Florida and the Southeast. He performs regularly with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and has performed with many name jazz and pop music artists throughout his career. Matt received degrees from Appalachian State University and Florida State University, studying applied saxophone, bassoon and jazz studies. He is also the Woodwind Product Specialist for Buffet Crampon USA, overseeing woodwind research & development and quality control for Buffet Crampon clarinets and saxophones, Julius Keilwerth saxophones and W. Schreiber bassoons in North America. Before joining Buffet Crampon USA, Matt served on the faculties of Florida State College at Jacksonville, the University of North Florida, Jacksonville University and Appalachian State University’s Cannon Music Camp. www.mattvancemusic.com
CLINICIANS
John Ricci
John has been a performer, jazz educator, composer, and clinician in the North Florida area for over twenty five years. He attended the jazz studies program at the University of Tennessee Knoxville where he was mentored directly by internationally recognized saxophonist and jazz pedagogue Jerry Coker and former Art Blakey Jazz Messenger Donald Brown. He then attended Florida State University earning a Masters of Music in Jazz Studies under a teaching assistantship. In that time he performed at Preservation Hall in New Orleans, and received numerous awards including a Downbeat Magazine award in 1995. John has since performed with a myriad of top recording artists, namely Marcus Printup and Chris Potter, and plays regularly in numerous club dates spanning from New York to Miami. He’s performed locally as a tenor saxophone soloist with the Jacksonville Symphony Pops Orchestra, the Four Tops, The Temptations, and in festivals including Chijazz Festival in Singapore, as a regular performer in the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, the Savannah Jazz Festival, as a guest artist with pianist/composer Donald Brown in the Knoxville Jazz Festival, headlined the Inaugural Jacksonville jazz Series with his own quartet, including an invitation to perform with his jazz trio to share the stage with guitarist Julian Lage:
"John Ricci is the one of the most outstanding musicians I've had the privilege of working with. As a saxophonist, composer, and bandleader, he so deeply embodies the music he creates and with such clarity, honesty, and soul. His music is fresh and exciting, inviting the listener as well as the players into a truly new and inspiring journey. I love his music and am grateful to have experienced it both as a listener and as fellow player."
Julian Lage
He has also appeared as a sideman and arranger on several projects, among them Angel Roman’s Mambo Blue Con Fuego, recorded on violinist-singer composer Rebecca Zapen’s first release, Hummingbird, and as a featured performer on Arranger/Composer Mica Bethea’s debut project: The Mica Bethea Big Band.
John’s recording project Holding Time received high critical acclaim, and was the debut release of some of his own very inspired compositions and arrangements and includes some of the finest musicians in the southeast. In January 2009, John was judged the winner of the jazz song category of the 8th Annual Independent Music Awards. John has taught at the University of North Florida assisting legendary saxophonist Bunky Green, and has now held the position Director of Jazz Studies at Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, FL for over 20 years. He can be found performing regularly in the Northeast Florida region.
Andrew Carroll
Andrew Carroll is an award winning pianist, composer, arranger and educator. He began piano studies at the age of four and discovered jazz piano when he was nine years old when his family moved to Central New York. With more than two decades of professional experience, Andrew has spent years listening to and studying his musical heroes in efforts of capturing the essence of transcendent musicians and composers. He has shared the stage with many of the greats in the music industry including Maria Schnieder, Jeff Ballard, Steve Smith, Jeremy Pelt, Burt Bacharach, Steve Miller, Jane Monheit, Elliot Mason, Carl Fischer, Ingrid Jensen, Steve Davis, Ralph Lalama, Gary Smulyan among many others.
Andrew has recorded two albums as a leader, “Alliterations,” and soon to be released, “Speaking of Gravity,” which features nine original compositions and arrangements. “Alliterations” reached over forty thousand listeners across the country and received acclaim in Jazz Times as well as several other music publications. The subsequent record release tour sold out several theaters and jazz clubs across Upstate New York. “Speaking of Gravity” was recorded in Udine, Italy and features Jeff Ballard on drums and Danny Ziemann on double bass.
Andrew has spent many years involved with collegiate jazz communities around the country, most recently graduating with his Master’s Degree from the Eastman School of Music. At Eastman he was part of the Eastman Jazz Ensemble and New Jazz Ensemble as well as many small student groups. He studied studio and film composition with Dave Rivello, Mark Watters, Jeff Beal and Christine Jensen, giving him opportunities to write for and conduct various chamber ensembles. Andrew’s Master’s recital at Eastman was recorded and submitted to Downbeat Magazine, winning him a 2023 Student Music Award. Andrew has taught applied piano lessons and directed jazz ensembles at Binghamton University, Le Moyne College and Cayuga Community College.
Andrew is currently working full time as a performer, recording artist and educator. He most recently started touring with vocalist/songwriter Mary Fahl who performs in select venues and opera houses across the country. Andrew is eager to perform, educate and record all over the world as he continues to grow musically and work with artists who inspire.
Jack Miller
Jack Miller is a drummer, producer, audio engineer, music educator, and author. Raised in Atlanta, Georgia, he found his passion and career in grade school through helping others with music; notably organizing and playing in benefit concerts for Leukemia raising thousands of dollars.
Jack moved to Jacksonville, FL to continue his education with drumming legend Danny Gottlieb at the University of North Florida where he received his Bachelors and Masters in Jazz Performance. While attending UNF, he studied directly under, Charlotte Mabrey, Andrea Venet, Dave Steinmeyer, and Lynne Arriale while also having the opportunity to play with many guest artists including Branford Marsalis, Bill Waltrous, Miguel Zenon, Pasquale Grasso, Bob Mintzer, Dennis Mackrel, Ignacio Berroa, Wycliffe Gordon, and Jack Peterson.
Jack has had the privilege of working with many great musicians such as, Dr. Bill Prince, Linda Cole, Doug Carn, Kevin Bales, Dave Steinmeyer, Phil Morrison, Delbert Felix, Doug Wamble, Nicole Zuraitis Gary Starling, Lyn Avenue, Sam Herb, The Equinox Jazz Orchestra, and Lisa McClendon. In addition to his accolades as a drummer, he has worked with many artists as an audio engineer, mixer, and producer including Ulysses Owens Jr., Richard Niles, Courtney Bryan, Danny Gottlieb, Lynne Arriale, The John Lumpkin Jazz Discovery Series, JW Pepper Publishing, The Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Chic-fil-A Headquarters, The University of North Florida, and The Douglas Anderson School of the Arts.
Jack is currently an award winning producer, manager, audio engineer and board member for Bold City Music Productions, LLC, and an adjunct instructor at Jacksonville University. Jack is a member of the TNR Products family.
Contact
For more information please contact:
John Ricci - Director of Jazz Studies
(904) 256-7457
jricci@ju.edu
Chris Creswell - Director of Bands
(904) 256-7399
ccreswe@ju.edu