April (10): World-class saxophonist/flutist and CJC Associate Professor Dann Zinn leads an all-star group in concert, including Grammy-winner, pianist Rachel Z and Weather Report veteran, arranger-composer-drummer Omar Hakim. Jeff Denson rounds out the group.May (27 & 28): Noted as “possibly jazz’s premier player” by the New York Times, and lauded as playing “the best tenor saxophone of his generation” by his longtime collaborator Ethan Iverson, Mark Turner Is joined by Jeff Denson and Gerald Cleaver in two concerts slated for Friday and Saturday of Memorial Day weekend.
June (10 & 11): The world premiere of bassist/composer/vocalist Jeff Denson’s “World of Possibilities” will feature the world’s foremost pipa virtuoso and leading ambassador of Chinese music, Grammy-winner Wu Man, and multi-instrumentalist, Grammy-winning jazz legend Paul McCandless. Grammy-nominated guitarist Liberty Ellman and CJC’s Gerald Cleaver on drums complete The Jeff Denson Ensemble.
CJC Founding President Susan Muscarella commented, “The partnership with JAMBAR was created for the purpose of promoting our respective organizations’ mutually beneficial vision, mission, goals and objectives. JAMBAR envisions a world where the organic food movement is more accessible and affordable, where people recognize how eating organic affects every living thing in a positive way, and where people put energy into reclaiming authentic human connections by celebrating music and active living. The California Jazz Conservatory proudly endorses JAMBAR for its commitment to promoting a healthy mind, body and spirit.
“We closely align with JAMBAR’s values of authenticity, quality and philanthropy by honoring and promoting the historical and cultural heritage of jazz; by setting and maintaining the highest artistic and academic standards; by seeking and embracing the cultural richness of a diverse student body; and by providing scholarship opportunities to deserving students.”
JAMBAR’s partnership underscores the company’s commitment to “promoting organic nutrition, while invigorating people’s lives through active living and music.” JAMBAR, hand-crafted by founder Jenny Maxwell (co-founder of PowerBar®), plans to activate the partnership with sampling, sales, promotion, and other marketing efforts aimed at reaching CJC’s students, jazz fan audiences, and workshop attendees.
Maxwell added, “Playing in a jazz ensemble at the California Jazz Conservatory has impressed upon me the importance music plays in building community. While studying and performing jazz at the CJC, I learned first-hand how music promotes creativity and fosters togetherness. It inspired me to give back to the community by donating a significant portion of net profits from the sale of JAMBARs to organizations like the California Jazz Conservatory. We’re pleased to partner with the CJC, we’re excited to see the lineup for ‘JAMBAR Presents,’ and we’re looking forward to enjoying some great jazz in 2022.”
The California Jazz Conservatory was founded as “The Jazzschool” by Muscarella in 1997 in its original Berkeley location at 2375 Shattuck Avenue. After moving to 2087 Addison Street in Berkeley in 2001, the school has expanded to now include two campus buildings, 2087 and 2040 Addison, directly across the street from each other in the heart of the Downtown Berkeley Arts District. CJC awards Bachelor of Music and Associate of Arts degrees in Jazz Studies, as well as a Master of Music in Jazz Studies.
The “JAMBAR Presents…” partnership kicks off a series of events planned for the celebration of CJC’s silver anniversary year, with the milestone officially marked with a Silver Anniversary Gala, slated for September 17, 2022, with details to follow. Other silver anniversary efforts include the publication of California Jazz Conservatory: A 25-Year Retrospective, a look back at the history of CJC; the debut of a commissioned piece in honor of the milestone year; and the formation of all-star combos featuring faculty, alumni and current CJC students.
About the California Jazz Conservatory
The California Jazz Conservatory (CJC) is the only private music conservatory in the country solely devoted to the study and performance of our country’s treasured African American art form, jazz. In addition to offering Bachelor of Music and Associate of Arts degrees in Jazz Studies, CJC is launching a new degree program, Master of Music in Jazz Studies: A Master’s degree for the 21st Century Composer-Performer, in fall 2022. Applications are available at cjc.edu/apply. Jazzschool is the Conservatory’s community education program, offering over 100 Classes and Workshops each quarter, both online and in-person, depending on the Class or Workshop. The “JAMBAR Presents…” concert series featuring visiting and Bay Area artists will launch in March, 2022. For more information about CJC, please visit cjc.edu.
About JAMBAR
In 2021, Jenny Maxwell founded JAMBAR with a mission to fuel her community through healthy, delicious alternatives for snacking and active living. Made from only premium organic ingredients, JAMBARs feature ancient grains, authentic sweeteners from nature and high-quality proteins. The company donates 50% of after-tax profits to organizations that support the transformative pursuits of music and active living. Learn more at www.jambar.com or call 1-877-JAMBARZ. Follow @eatjambar on Twitter and Instagram, and @eatjambars on Facebook.
