Rich Tones Curated Jazz| November 24, 2023

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High School Jazz Ensemble

Are young students listening to and appreciating jazz? You bet! And many of them are playing it. Let's listen.

My son-in-law was curious and asked me if young kids were interested in jazz. So it just so happens that many high schools have very accomplished jazz bands. And a large number of colleges offer extensive jazz curriculum.

Jazz is alive and well with the younger generation! Check out the quality of these high school groups!

I even feature my college freshman roommate, Ian McIlraith, playing an extensive, complicated solo on his alto sax when he was 17 years old at Nathan Hale High School in Seattle, Washington. His performance was in May of 1971, about 4 or 5 months before I met him. Pretty impressive stuff!

Here's the playlist for the show:

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Year 3

Rich Rector

Rich Rector is the host of Rich Tones Curated Jazz. A one hour journey into the wonderful world of jazz music.

See stories by Rich Rector

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Rich has been around music all his life. His dad had a swing band in the 1940’s and played saxophones and clarinets. Rich played one of those clarinets in grade school band, and also took up the guitar in high school. But never was a jazz player. Instead, he listened! RichTones Curated Jazz on KPCW gives our listeners a new perspective on jazz.

While attending Stanford University Rich's roommate, Ian McIlraith, was a jazz saxophone player who was familiar with many jazz players and songs. Ian really educated him about jazz; he taught him how to listen closely for different artists’ playing styles and he introduced him to the classic jazz standards.

He honed his listening skills by attending many concerts and jazz festivals. Some of the people and places Rich remembers are Mike Stern at The Regatta Bar at the Charles Hotel in Cambridge, MA; Milt Jackson at The Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach, CA; Bill Frisell at The Blue Note in NYC; local combos at The Green Mill in Chicago; and The Blue Room in Kansas City’s Jazz District, just to name a few. In addition, Rich was able to see performances by Chick Corea, Gary Burton, Pat Metheny Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis and many more.

If you’re new to jazz, Rich Tones will introduce you to new players and sounds; if you’re already a jazz buff, Rich Tones will give you a new personal perspective on the genre.