Hosted at New York City's acclaimed Symphony Space, the 2020 New York City Jazz Festival will culminate with this highly-anticipated evening of jazz featuring the Cal State Long Beach Jazz Band with director Jeff Jarvis and Western Michigan University's 'Gold Company' with director Greg Jasperse.
The Cal State Long Beach Jazz Band led by Director of Jazz Studies Jeff Jarvis, the Studio Jazz Band is an important component of the comprehensive Jazz Studies program at Cal State Long Beach. In 2014 this large jazz ensemble won the Western States Jazz Festival while competing with top bands from other California universities. Jeff Jarvis has distinguished himself as a trumpeter, composer, jazz educator, and music publisher. He serves as Director of Jazz Studies at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University, Long Beach and frequently appears as an honors jazz band conductor, clinician and lecturer. Jeff is the Music Director Emeritus of the Central New York Jazz Orchestra and is a former Vice-President of the International Association For Jazz Education.
Gold Company is the internationally regarded and award-winning vocal jazz ensemble from Western Michigan University. They maintain an active performance schedule throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. Gold Company has enjoyed a multitude of guest artists over the past several years including Kate McGarry and Keith Ganz, Sunny Wilkinson, Sara Gazarek and Josh Nelson, Bobby McFerrin, Gretchen Parlato, Eliane Elias, The Manhattan Transfer, Take Six, New York Voices, The Real Group, Kurt Elling, Curtis Stigers, Esperanza Spalding, Luciana Souza, and many more.
A world-renowned composer and arranger, Greg Jasperse is sought after internationally as a clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor. Jasperse’s voice can be heard on numerous movie soundtracks including Epic; Oz, The Great and Powerful; The Campaign; Star Trek and Star Trek 2; National Treasure 2; SALT; The Last Airbender; and Real Steel, as well as the Red Hot Chili Pepper’s song “Monarchy of Roses” and Muse’s album The 2nd Law. Most recently he had the pleasure of singing at the 85th Annual Oscars with Adele on her song “Skyfall.” Jasperse is a member of two professional vocal groups – Sixth Wave and Vertical Voices. He has also performed with a variety of artists, including Rosemary Clooney, Joe Williams, Dianne Reeves, Kirk Whalum, Jennifer Holiday, Jon Secada, and Gloria Estefan.
Don't miss this exciting evening of jazz!