"Ninjas Can’t Catch You If You’re On Fire" by Nathaniel Schwartz
2013 Big Band Composition Competition / Gerald Wilson Award Winner
Performed by the 2013 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra at the 56th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival on the Jimmy Lyons Stage in the Arena, September 22, 2013

Each year since 2005 at the Next Generation Jazz Festival presented by Monterey Jazz Festival, the Big Band Composition Competition is open to student composers currently enrolled in high school.

Compositions are judged by college-level music faculty, and the winning composer receives the Gerald Wilson Award, named in honor of the legendary composer, arranger and trumpeter who has been a friend of Monterey Jazz Festival for many years.

The winning composition is performed on the Jimmy Lyons Stage in the Arena at the annual Monterey Jazz Festival by the Festival's all-star student band, the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, and the student composer is given the Gerald Wilson Award and a cash prize.

2013 Big Band Composition Competition / Gerald Wilson Award Winner:
Nathaniel Schwartz
"Ninjas Can’t Catch You If You’re On Fire"
Northgate High School / Walnut Creek, CA

Guitarist and composer Nate Schwartz, 18, is a graduate of Northgate High School in Walnut Creek, California. He began playing the trumpet in 7th grade and switched to jazz guitar at age 15. "Ninjas" is his first arrangement for big band. He played in Northgate High School's Jazz Band I and Jazz Sextet; in the Diablo Valley College Night Band, and Jazzschool Advanced Jazz Workshop in Berkeley. He's been selected for honor jazz bands at the school district, county, and all-state levels, and was a finalist for the GRAMMY® Camp Jazz Session for the last two years. His musical career began when his family learned to play bluegrass music and formed a band in which Nate plays mandolin and sings. Nate began studying jazz composition at UCLA in the fall of 2013.

"Ninjas Can't Catch You If You're On Fire" by Nathaniel Schwartz

Recorded at the 53rd Annual Monterey Jazz Festival in 2010 for the Digital Music Education Project (DMEP). 

Gretchen Parlato - Artist Advice

An interview with Monterey Jazz Festival Artistic Director Tim Jackson about the 65th Monterey Jazz Festival, September 23-25, 2022. For more information, visit www.montereyjazzfestival.org

This interview took place on KCSM on September 14, 2022 with Chris Cortez. www.kcsm.org

KCSM Tim Jackson Interview, 9/14/2022

A Monterey Jazz retrospective and overview, plus an interview with MJF Artistic Director Tim Jackson about the 66th Monterey Jazz Festival, September 22-24, 2023. For more information, visit www.montereyjazzfestival.org

This interview aired on KCSM-FM Jazz 91 San Mateo, California, "The Bay Area's Jazz Station" on September 13, 2023 with Chuy Varela as the host. www.kcsm.org

KCSM Tim Jackson Interview and MJF Retrospective, 9/13/23



2014 Gerald Wilson Award Winner: Matt Wong, Prima Luce
Independence High School / San Francisco, CA

“Prima Luce” was performed by the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra at the 57th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival on September 21, 2014.

Each year since 2005 at the Next Generation Jazz Festival Presented by Monterey Jazz Festival, the Big Band Composition Competition is open to student composers currently enrolled in high school.

Compositions are judged by college-level music faculty, and the winning composer receives the Gerald Wilson Award, named in honor of the late legendary composer, arranger and trumpeter who was a friend of Monterey Jazz Festival for many years.

The winning composition is performed on the Jimmy Lyons Stage in the Arena at the annual Monterey Jazz Festival by the Festival's all-star student band, the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, and the student composer is given the Gerald Wilson Award and a cash prize.

Matt Wong, is a pianist, composer, and arranger and is a senior at the Independence High School in San Francisco, California. Matt began playing piano at age six, and his musical influences include Herbie Hancock, Thelonious Monk, Jimmy Smith, John Coltrane, Red Garland, Monty Alexander, Henry Butler, Chick Corea, and Robert Glasper.

He is currently a member of the award-winning SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Jazz Orchestra and Combo;, and the Jazzschool’s Studio Band in Berkeley. He regularly performs solo, with his own group, the Matt Wong Trio, and as a member of other ensembles in venues around the Bay Area, including the SFJAZZ Center, Yoshi’s San Francisco and Oakland, Davies Symphony Hall, the Jazzschool, the Sound Room, and Stanford University’s Bing Concert Hall. He has additionally appeared at the Blue Note in New York City, Jazz Alley in Seattle, the Deer Head Inn in Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania, and the Monterey Jazz Festival.

As a composer and arranger, his big band compositions have been performed by the Realistic Orchestra, the Berklee Rainbow Band, and the SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Orchestra. Some of his recent achievements in 2014 include being selected to the GRAMMY® Jazz Session Combo; winning both the ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award and Berklee College of Music’s Herb Pomeroy Jazz Composition & Arranging Contest; a DownBeat Student Music Award for Original Composition; and a Outstanding Soloist Award at the 2014 Next Generation Jazz Festival. He was also selected for the 2014 Brubeck Institute Summer Jazz Colony in Stockton, California.


Prima Luce / Performed by the 2014 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra (Complete)

Conversation at the 57th Monterey Jazz Festival
BLUE NOTE RECORDS AT 75:
The Jazz Label That Lives On

With Bobby Hutcherson, Robert Glasper & Don Was
Hosted by Ashley Kahn

This conversation was recorded on the Coffee House Stage on Saturday, September 20, 2014 at the 57th Monterey Jazz Festival, Monterey, California. Special Thanks to Blue Note Records! www.montereyjazzfestival.org

BLUE NOTE RECORDS AT 75: The Jazz Label That Lives On (2014)

The DownBeat Blindfold Test is a listening test that challenges the featured artist to identify and discuss the music and musicians who perform on selected recordings. The artist is then asked to rate each tune using a 5-star system. No information is given to the artist prior to the test. 

The Monterey Jazz Festival has hosted live DownBeat Blindfold tests since 1996, and are moderated by Dan Ouellette. In 1997, for the 40th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival, bassist Charlie Haden was the blindfold artist.

Recorded in Dizzy's Den at the 40th Monterey Jazz Festival, at the Monterey County Fairgrounds in Monterey, California, September 21, 1997. Moderated by Dan Ouellette.

Photograph of Charlie Haden ©2002 Monterey Jazz Festival / Michael Piazza.

Charlie Haden: DownBeat Blindfold Test at MJF40 (1997)

Monterey Jazz Festival Executive Director Colleen Bailey joined David Bean on KSQD's "New Squid In Town" music show on Thursday August 29, 2024. Find out how it all works, the history, and who’s playing at this year’s 67th edition of the longest continuously-running jazz festival in America.

KSQD Interview with Colleen Bailey, Aug 29, 2024

Tim Jackson and KSQD's Bobby Bishop join David Bean on-air to talk about Tim’s retirement as Artistic Director of the Monterey Jazz Festival and his final event this year.

KSQD Interview with Tim Jackson, September 7, 2023

HIS MOTHER CALLED HIM EDWARD, THE WORLD CALLED HIM DUKE 
WITH JASON MORAN & ASHLEY KAHN (2024)

The year 2024 marks a double anniversary: 125 years since the birth of Edward Kennedy Ellington, and 50 years since his departure. Pianist Jason Moran and music historian Ashley Kahn join forces to examine Ellington’s enduring legacy and to help explain why, after all these years, his influence remains pervasive, why his music still sounds fresh and ceaselessly modern, and how his career continues to serve as a guiding light for artistic freedoms and racial pride and self-determination.

This conversation took place on Sunday, September 29, 2024 in the Pacific Jazz Cafe at the 67th Monterey Jazz Festival.

His Mother Called Him Edward, The World Called Him Duke with Jason Moran & Ashley Kahn (2024)

Conversation: Crescendo in Blue — Vinyl Past, Vinyl Future with Don Was, Julia Keefe, Brandee Younger, Steven Duncan & Ashley Kahn (2024)

Join Don Was (bassist and president of the famed Blue Note label), Julia Keefe (acclaimed vocalist, bandleader, actor, and educator), Brandee Younger (acclaimed performer, composer, educator, and concert curator), Steve Duncan (Owner of Cured Vinyl, RSD Essentials Curator and Record Store Day Partner), and author-journalist-historian Ashley Kahn as they dig into their collective experiences in the music industry to speak on the future jazz recordings, physical formats, and the enduring value of vinyl as a delivery system for popular music, and jazz in particular.

This conversation took place on Sunday, September 29, 2024 in the Pacific Jazz Café at the 67th Monterey Jazz Festival in Monterey, California. 


Vinyl Past, Vinyl Future with Don Was, Julia Keefe, Brandee Younger, Steven Duncan & Ashley Kahn (2024)

Songs for My Father — Soundtracks and Jazz with Kyle Eastwood & Ashley Kahn (2024)

Bassist and bandleader Kyle Eastwood speaks on the role of music — and specifically jazz — in the world of film and soundtracks. It’s a world he knows much about being one called on to create music for movies, a longtime film buff, and the son of famed actor and director (and jazz lover) Clint Eastwood. Kyle’s passion for jazz and filmmaking will be discussed and explored with audio and video excerpts and a focus on his father’s films (Don’t be surprised if you see Monterey Jazz Festival in one of those historic clips!). Moderated by Grammy-winning music historian, author, professor and producer Ashley Kahn.

This conversation took place on Saturday, September 28 in the Pacific Jazz Café at the 67th Monterey Jazz Festival in Monterey, California.

Songs for My Father — Soundtracks and Jazz with Kyle Eastwood & Ashley Kahn (2024)

ROUND MIDNIGHT: A film discussion with Maxine Gordon, Bobby Hutcherson & Ravi Coltrane Hosted by Ashley Kahn.

ROUND MIDNIGHT was a film by Bertrand Tavernier starring Dexter Gordon. This event was part of celebrating "Dex@90" at the 56th Monterey Jazz Festival on September 21, 2013 in the Jazz Theater.

ROUND MIDNIGHT: A film discussion with Maxine Gordon, Bobby Hutcherson & Ravi Coltrane (2013)

Jazz: An International Language
Featuring Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, David Spears, and Albert McCarthy, moderated by Ralph J. Gleason.

This event took place on Saturday, October 4, 1958 at 12:30pm in the Education Building at the Monterey County Fairgrounds during the inaugural Monterey Jazz Festival.

Jazz: An International Language with Dizzy Gillespie and Louis Armstrong (1958)

2015 Gerald Wilson Award winner Matt Wong conducts "Against the Current" at the 58th Monterey Jazz Festival, September 20, 2015 with the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra. Photo ©Monterey Jazz Festival / Cole Thompson.

Matt is the first double-winner of the Gerald Wilson Award.

Each year since 2005 at the Next Generation Jazz Festival, the Big Band Composition Competition is open to student composers currently enrolled in high school.

Compositions are judged by college-level music faculty, and the winning composer receives the Gerald Wilson Award, named in honor of the late legendary composer, arranger and trumpeter who was a friend of Monterey Jazz Festival for many years.

The winning composition is performed on the Jimmy Lyons Stage in the Arena at the annual Monterey Jazz Festival by the Festival's all-star student band, the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, and the student composer is given the Gerald Wilson Award.

Matt Wong, 17, is a pianist, keyboardist, composer, and arranger. At an early age, he developed an appreciation for jazz and blues, and began playing piano at age six. His musical influences include Herbie Hancock, Brad Mehldau, Robert Glasper, Billy Preston, and Bill Holman.

He performs as a solo act and with his own group, the Matt Wong Trio, and is a member of many ensembles based in San Francisco. He has performed in a variety of Bay Area venues including the SFJAZZ Center, Yoshi’s Oakland, Davies Symphony Hall, the Great American Music Hall, Stanford University’s Bing Center in Palo Alto, and the Monterey Jazz Festival. He has also performed at the Vienne Jazz Festival in France, the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, the Umbria Jazz Festival Italy, the Blue Note in New York City, Jazz Alley in Seattle, and the Deer Head Inn in Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania.

Matt also composes and arranges for big band and orchestra, as well as for smaller ensembles. His big band compositions have been performed by groups including the Realistic Orchestra, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, SFJAZZ High School All- Stars, Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, Berklee Rainbow Band, and Jazzschool Studio Band.

Matt will be attending a music conservatory in New York City beginning fall 2015. Born and raised in San Francisco, Matt feels fortunate to have grown up in an environment that supports jazz and fosters musical collaboration and experimentation.

Matt's most recent accomplishments include 2015 DownBeat Student Music Awards (Jazz Instrumental Soloist, Original Composition – Small Ensemble and Large Ensemble, Jazz Arrangement, and as a member of three winning ensembles), 2015 Jazz at Lincoln Center Essentially Ellington Student Composition/Arranging Contest Winner, 2015 Berklee Herb Pomeroy Jazz Composition and Arranging Contest, 2015 YoungArts Finalist, 2014 and 2015 Gerald Wilson Awards (Monterey Jazz Festival); 2014 ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Awards, 2014 GRAMMY Jazz Combo (piano/keyboards).


Against The Current - Matt Wong

Recorded at the 54th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival in 2011 for the Digital Music Education Project (DMEP). 

Richard Bona - Artist Advice

Recorded at the 54th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival in 2011 for the Digital Music Education Project (DMEP). http://dmep.montereyjazzfestival.org/dmep

Robert Glasper - Artist Advice

Vince Mendoza - Primary Influences

Herbie Hancock - Artist Advice

The Next Generation Jazz Orchestra plays “Omnibus” by Los Angeles pianist Luca Mendoza at the 59th Monterey Jazz Festival. Mendoza received the 2016 Gerald Wilson Award for the winning piece from the Next Generation Jazz Festival’s composition competition. The performance was on Sunday, September 18, 2016 in the Arena at 12:30pm. Mendoza was also accepted to the 2016 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra. Photo ©Monterey Jazz Festival / Craig Lovell.

Mendoza, 16 is a junior at Crossroads School in Los Angeles. In 2015, he received an LA Music Center Spotlight Award for piano performance, a DownBeat Student Music Award for composition, and was a National Young Arts Foundation winner. For the past five years, Luca has also participated in Colburn Musical Encounters, which fosters music education throughout Los Angeles inner city schools. He studies piano with Alan Pasqua and Rina Dokshitsky, and is the son of composer and arranger Vince Mendoza. His other awards include first or honorable mentions in the Southwest Youth Music Festival and Glendale classical competitions, as well as Outstanding Solo Award at the 2015 Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival. He has also recently performed chamber music with the Elizabeth Mandell Music Institute during a live radio broadcast at the LA County Museum of Art. 

Each year since 2005 at the Next Generation Jazz Festival, the Big Band Composition Competition is open to student composers currently enrolled in high school.

Compositions are judged by college-level music faculty, and the winning composer receives the Gerald Wilson Award, named in honor of the late legendary composer, arranger and trumpeter who was a friend of Monterey Jazz Festival for many years.

The winning composition is performed on the Jimmy Lyons Stage in the Arena at the annual Monterey Jazz Festival by the Festival's all-star student band, the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, and the student composer is given the Gerald Wilson Award.

Live at the 2016 Monterey Jazz Festival

Luca Mendoza "Omnibus" at the 59th Monterey Jazz Festival (2016)

The DownBeat Blindfold Test with Christian McBride, interviewed by Dan Ouellette, took place at the 59th Monterey Jazz Festival on Sunday, September 18, 2016 in Dizzy's Den on the Monterey County Fairgrounds. 
www.montereyjazzfestival.org

An edited transcript can be found in the January 2017 issue of DownBeat magazine. www.downbeat.com

The DownBeat Blindfold Test is a listening test that challenges the featured artist to identify and discuss the music and musicians who perform on selected recordings. The artist is then asked to rate each tune using a 5-star system. No information is given to the artist prior to the test. 

The 2016 DownBeat Blindfold artist was Christian McBride.

DownBeat Blindfold Test with Christian McBride (2016)

Kenny Barron and Regina Carter's performance of "Don't Explain," (written by Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog Jr.)on the Jimmy Lyons Stage in the Arena at the 52nd Annual Monterey Jazz Festival on September 18, 2009. 

This performance was part of the Monterey Jazz Festival All-Stars' set, which featured Kenny Barron, Regina Carter, Russell Malone, Kiyoshi Kitagawa, and Johnathan Blake.

Kenny Barron & Regina Carter, "Don't Explain" at MJF52 (2009)

Following up on a panel discussion at the Monterey Jazz Festival’s 60th Anniversary in 2017, Women in Jazz Part II, The Conversation Continues discussed the gender equity question in jazz and issues women face in the entertainment and education industries. 

The panel discussion featured MJF61 performers Melissa Aldana, Tia Fuller, Ingrid Jensen, Cécile McLorin Salvant, and Bria Skonberg, and is hosted by Suzan Jenkins, the Chief Executive Officer of the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County, Maryland.

This event took place in the Pacific Jazz Cafe at the 61st Annual Monterey Jazz Festival on Sunday, September 23, 2018 in Monterey, California.

Women in Jazz Part II: The Gender Equity Question (2018)

Ahmad Jamal discusses his primary influences and recordings he would recommend a student of jazz listen to. Ahmad also shares a tip for jazz musicians on any instrument.

Recorded at the 53rd Annual Monterey Jazz Festival as part of MJF's Digital Music Education Project: http://www.montereyjazzfestival.org/dmep


Ahmad Jamal - Artist Advice

Chris Botti - Primary Influences

Chris Botti - Artist Advice

Dave Brubeck - Primary Influences

Dave Brubeck - Artist Advice

Recorded at the 51st Annual Monterey Jazz Festival in 2008 for the Digital Music Education Project (DMEP).


Wayne Shorter - Primary Influences

Recorded at the 51st Annual Monterey Jazz Festival in 2008 for the Digital Music Education Project (DMEP). 


Wayne Shorter - Artist Advice

Recorded at the 53rd Annual Monterey Jazz Festival in 2010 for the Digital Music Education Project (DMEP). http://dmep.montereyjazzfestival.org/dmep

Wynton Marsalis - Artist Advice

Recorded at the 55th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival in 2012 for the Digital Music Education Project (DMEP). 

Eric Marienthal - Primary Influences

John Santos - Primary Influences

Melody Gardot - Primary Influences

Melody Gardot - Artist Advice

Pat Metheny - Primary Influences

Pat Metheny - Artist Advice

2019 Big Band Composition Competition / Gerald Wilson Award Winner
Bryce Hayashi, "The Place I Call Home"

Performed by the 2019 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra at the 62nd Monterey Jazz Festival, September 29, 2019

Trumpeter Bryce Hayashi is a student at Northgate High School in Walnut Creek, California. He is a member of the award-winning Northgate Jazz Band and the highly-acclaimed SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Big Band. In 2018, Bryce played lead trumpet with the California All-State High School Honor Jazz Band, and in 2017 he held the lead trumpet chair in the California All-State Middle School Honor Jazz Band. He is looking forward to attending a music school where he can focus on the use of music in the visual arts.  

Each year since 2005 at the Next Generation Jazz Festival, the Big Band Composition Competition is open to student composers currently enrolled in high school.

Compositions are judged by college-level music faculty, and the winning composer receives the Gerald Wilson Award, named in honor of the late legendary composer, arranger and trumpeter who was a friend of Monterey Jazz Festival for many years.

The winning composition is performed on the Jimmy Lyons Stage in the Arena at the annual Monterey Jazz Festival by the Festival's all-star student band, the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, and the student composer is given the Gerald Wilson Award.

More information: https://www.montereyjazzfestival.org/ngjf/big-band-composition-competition-and-gerald-wilson-award

62th Monterey Jazz Festival 

"The Place I Call Home" by Bryce Hayashi

An interview with Monterey Jazz Festival's Executive Director Colleen Bailey about the Virtual 63rd Monterey Jazz Festival taking place on YouTube from September 25-27, 2020. for more information, visit www.montereyjazzfestival.org

This interview aired on KSCO's show "Raising the Standards" with Mike Jacobi on September 12, 2020.

ksco.com/shows/39610-raising-the-standards

KSCO Interview with MJF's Colleen Bailey, September 12, 2020

The 68th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival will take place at the Monterey County Fairgrounds September 26-28, 2025.

Popular tracks by Monterey Jazz Festival