Backcountry Jazz (BCJ) has recently formed a partnership with John Yoon, director of the Greenwich High School instrumental music program, to bring BCJ artists and programs to the Greenwich school system and systems in the surrounding area. The partnership was initiated at the invitation of twenty-two Greenwich High School (GHS) Jazz Band members who attended the BCJ November 20, 2010 concert at St. Bede’s Chapel in Greenwich.

1. Expansion of BCJ public school youth concerts to Greenwich, Stamford and Norwalk.

The Palace Theater in Stamford offers an excellent venue and gives students the opportunity to hear music in a beautiful and highly effective acoustic location. The Palace location is cost effective, centralizing the performances and reducing the over-all cost for the three communities and the musicians.

2. Workshops

BCJ artists will present student workshops, initially with the GHS Jazz Band members. We hope to also produce these events at a central location, and invite students from other communities as part of an effort to create increased communication and musical interaction among the school systems.

A high priority of the BCJ workshops will be the teaching of rhythm and percussion. It is recognized in the jazz world today that there is a universal need for schools and professional jazz organizations to rediscover and develop the great rhythmic tradition of this music. BCJ workshops will provide awareness and access to great jazz recordings, an on-going training program for young rhythm section players, and the opportunity to hear, play and study with masters of this craft.

3. Collaboration

We also plan to invite the GHS Jazz Band to perform opening sets at select BCJ concerts. These performances will be combined with coaching from one of our artists prior to the concert and possibly a guest appearance with the GHS Jazz Band.

4. Special Commissions

BCJ plans to provide commissions to prominent musicians to compose and arrange music for area student jazz ensembles, beginning with the GHS Jazz Band.