Palace City Jazz Festival - Tuesday, February 6th 2024

We pride ourselves on bringing in top-notch quality artists from not only around this area but all over the country! Professional jazz artists have honed their craft through years of training and experience. By exposing high school students to these accomplished musicians, they get to witness firsthand the highest level of musical proficiency and artistry. This exposure can inspire students and set a standard of excellence to strive for in their own musical development.

Professional jazz artists possess a wealth of knowledge and expertise that they can share with high school students. They can offer insights into jazz theory, improvisation techniques, stylistic nuances, and the history of the genre. Students have the opportunity to learn directly from these masters, gaining valuable guidance and mentorship that can accelerate their musical growth.

Our clinicians provide valuable insights into the music industry and the realities of pursuing a career in jazz. They can share their experiences, challenges, and advice for navigating the professional music world. This information can be especially beneficial for high school students who are considering pursuing jazz as a future career path.

Non-competitive jazz festivals provide a platform to celebrate the art form of jazz. They showcase the diverse styles and interpretations of jazz music, allowing both seasoned professionals and emerging artists to share their talent and creativity with a wider audience.

Non-competitive festivals focus on the artistic expression and musical exploration inherent in jazz rather than “winning a trophy”. They create an environment where musicians can freely express themselves, experiment with new ideas, and collaborate with other artists without the pressure of competition. This fosters creativity and pushes the boundaries of the genre.

Non-competitive festivals bring together jazz lovers, musicians, and the local community. They create a sense of community and camaraderie, fostering connections among musicians and fans. Festivals often provide opportunities for networking, collaboration, and mentorship, which contribute to the growth and development of the jazz community.

Listening to jam sessions allows students to witness the improvisational and collaborative nature of jazz firsthand. They can observe how musicians communicate, react, and build upon each other's ideas in real-time. This observation helps students understand the principles of improvisation, melodic development, rhythmic interplay, and the overall dynamics of a live jazz performance.

Jam sessions often bring together musicians from various backgrounds and experiences. Students can expose themselves to a wide range of playing styles, techniques, and interpretations of jazz music. This exposure helps broaden their musical horizons, enhances their appreciation for different jazz sub-genres, and expands their improvisational vocabulary.

Listening to skilled musicians in a jam session setting can be inspiring and motivating for students. It exposes them to the possibilities and potential of their own musical journey, pushing them to practice, explore, and develop their improvisational skills. Witnessing the energy and excitement of a jam session can ignite a passion for jazz and encourage students to continue their musical pursuits.

Dr. Matthew Storie is at home as both a jazz and classical saxophonist, Matthew Storie is Assistant Professor of Saxophone at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). He is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he received a Doctor of Musical Arts with a cognate in classical saxophone and Master of Music degree in Jazz Performance and was a student of Chip McNeill and Debra Richtmeyer. He received a Bachelor of Music degree in Saxophone Performance from Furman University.

Dr. Storie has had the opportunity to perform with Carl Allen, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Jiggs Wigham, Bob Moses, Sharel Cassity, Tom Walsh, Brad Dutz, Tito Carrillo, Larry Gray, Chip McNeill, Rick Simerly, Stockton Helbing, Bill Sears, and has opened for Charlie Daniels.

Dr. Madsen's duties at UNO include directing the jazz ensembles and jazz combos, coordinating the UNO Brass Day, the UNO Great Plains Jazz Festival, and the UNO Jazz Camp and teaching applied low brass, jazz survey, low brass ensemble, and improvisation. He has performed extensively in jazz, pop, and classical venues, having played with Bill Watrous, Pete Christlieb, Aretha Franklin, Frank Valli, the Jim Widner Big Band, the Omaha Big Band, the Nebraska Jazz Orchestra, the Omaha Jazz Orchestra, the Illinois Symphony, the Omaha Symphony, the Omaha Brass Ensemble, and the Missouri Symphony Society. Dr. Madsen is also in high demand as a guest artist/clinician and has performed and/or adjudicated throughout the United States and in Europe, Japan, and Brazil

DescriptiPeter Schlamb is a vibraphonist and pianist based in Kansas City, MO. He is a versatile and sought after musician who maintains a busy schedule performing locally, nationally and internationally. Peter spent several years in New York City where he attended and graduated from New School University with a degree in Jazz Performance. Peter is an active member of several ensembles including Lost Wax, Logan Richardson’s Blues People & All Night Trio in addition to leading a variety of his own groups including Electric Tinks.on goes here

Jason Johnson is originally from East Moline, Illinois and received his bachelor's degree in music education from Northern Illinois University in 1996. After graduation he enlisted in the US Navy and spent eight years in the fleet music program. While stationed in Naples, Italy, Jason performed extensively throughout Europe. Jason is a former student of Ron Modell and Stephen Squires, and has consulted with Sam Pilafian, Patrick Sheridan, Vince DiMartino, Vincent Cichowicz, and Barbara Butler. Well versed in the classical and jazz idioms, Jason has also performed with the likes of Quincy Jones, David Sanborn, and Phil Collins.

Andrew Reinartz is a musician and educator based in Sioux Falls, SD. Playing primarily upright and electric bass, he easily fits into a variety of styles including Jazz, Classical, Funk, R&B, Rock, and Folk. Andrew also does work as a producer, live/project studio recording & mixing engineer. Also an avid educator, he is Jazz Bass Instructor at Augustana University, teaches privately and as a guest clinician, as well as performing for over 50,000 students across South Dakota with the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society Jazz Diversity Project.

James (Jim) McKinney holds the title Professor Emeritus of Music from South Dakota State University. Mr. McKinney has spent over 60 years promoting Jazz Education! He has worked tirelessly advocating Jazz through Clinics,Workshops,Tours,Summer Camps and Festivals. Jim is a widely respected musician performing on Drum Set and Jazz Vibraphone. He has been a staff clinician for the Premier and Ludwig Drum Companies. McKinney’s publications on Jazz have appeared in Drum World,The Instrumentalist,The School Musician and South Dakota Musician Magazines.