New World School of the Arts. April 25, 2013. 7:00 p.m.
The legendary Jazz drummer Duffy Jackson joins the NWSA High School Jazz Combos, in a dynamic evening concert. With a total of 25 students, the NWSA HS Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Jim Gasior, will perform a mix of jazz standards from the repertoire of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and contemporary composer Jeff Steinberg. The concert will take place at the William and Joan Lehman Theatre (Pawley Creative Arts Center), at the Miami-Dade College North Campus. Admission to the concert is free.
Born and raised in Jazz, Duffy Jackson has been performing since the age of four, when his father, legendary Jazz Bassist, Chubby Jackson, gave him his first set of drums. By the age of ten, Duffy had built up quite a reputation as the “Jazz Wonderkind”, making national television appearances on “I’ve Got a Secret”, “The Mike Douglas Show” and other shows. The day after high school graduation, Jackson packed his bags for California to play a three-week stint at Shelly’s Mannhole with Milt Jackson and Ray Brown. Duffy Jackson’s powerful, swinging style has driven such big name bands as Count Basie, Artie Shaw, Lionel Hampton and Illinois Jacquet. He’s also performed with such Jazz legends as Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Eckstine, Stan Getz, Buddy Rich and Harry “Sweets” Edison to name a few. Tutored by Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa and Louis Bellson, Jackson is active in the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE), and has served as artist-in-residence at Valdosta State College, The University of Miami, Youngstown University as well as guest artist/educator for the Collegiate Band Program at Walt Disney World. He conducts rhythm section and improvisational workshops for elementary, high school and college students and frequently holds Master classes for working drummers as well. Jackson is a prolific composer, keyboard player, bassist, vibraphonist and vocalist.
Under the direction of Jim Gasior, director of NWSA’s Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combos, numerous jazz students have been recognized on a national scale. Among their most recent honors, the Jazz Ensemble participated in the Thelonious Monk Institute national Peer-To-Peer Jazz Education Program earlier this year, joining other students from across the nation. In addition, the NWSA Jazz Ensemble has been selected as a finalist band, scheduled to compete in the Essentially Ellington competition in New York City in May.
William and Joan Lehman Theatre
Miami-Dade College North Campus
11380 NW 27th Avenue
Miami FL 33167
305.237.7855
nwsa.mdc.edu
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