My first attempt to hear the music was trying to enter the school’s theatre where a performance by the Sacramento State Jazz Ensemble was underway. There was a line waiting to get in because, I was told, the auditorium was full, and they were only letting people in as others inside left. After waiting about 10 minutes, I decided to move on to the other Festival site, so I headed off on the 7-mile route to Rolling Hills Christian Church in El Dorado Hills where all of the choral and some band and combo competitions took place.

When I arrived at the church campus I was in awe of the beauty of the structure and the natural light-filled lobby leading to the auditorium. I chose to sit in the back risers for the acoustical advantage, even though the seating was a little awkward. It required climbing over the legs of about 20 or more people as there was only one way into the rows and that was the aisle farthest from the center. The acoustical benefit was affirmed when I saw some youngsters in the spot behind me with cameras and microphones. We agreed we were in the best spot to hear the music clearly.

The technology in the auditorium was impressive. There were two large screens above the stage to the left and the right showing close-up real-time video of the musicians. I wondered why one of those screens was not used to display the name of the band and the music being played along with the director's and the soloists' names. Both screens were not needed for the close-ups because you could see either one of the screens from anywhere in the room. It would have been particularly handy for me to have such a display outlining the details of the performance as we viewed it, since I rarely understood the names of the soloists or much of anything that was announced. Since there were no programs, the lists below of the pieces I heard are somewhat incomplete.

The Man Behind the Jazz Festival.  I found out that Curtis Gaesser is the director of the Jazz Festival, and I set out to learn more about him. The more I discovered, the more I became impressed with the importance his work has had in our community. Mr. Gaesser and the groups he leads have received multiple awards, convincing evidence that we are lucky to have some of the best high school musical groups in the U.S. right here in Folsom. Curtis Gaesser played saxophone in the jazz band at Ponderosa High School and went on to graduate from Sacramento State University where he concentrated in both classical and jazz performance. He began teaching in the Folsom/Cordova School District in 1984 and currently directs the Folsom High School Marching Band, Orchestra, Jazz Choirs, Jazz Bands, Concert Band, Color Guard, and Drum Line. I asked him for a statement as to what he felt the public should know about the Folsom Jazz Festival, a tradition he started in 1990. His reply: "I think the important thing is that thousands of students come to our great city to play jazz and compete against the best programs in the state. It is heart-warming to see today's youth so engaged in learning our American pastime and the pursuit of excellence."

Mr. Gaesser is also the director for the Folsom High School Music Boosters, a nonprofit dedicated to raising money for Folsom High music students. One of the biggest costs for the students is travelling to competitions and other musical events in order to take advantage of the opportunity to hone their skills and get valuable feedback from judges. They have made several trips to Europe over the years, but monetary restraints make these invaluable trips often prohibitive. You can support the school's music department and enjoy their great music at fundraising events like the Annual Crab Feed and the Folsom Wine and Jazz. For further information go to www.folsommusic.org. You can read my review of the Folsom High School jazz choir conducted by him in the companion review I have written about the choral competition. (Click here to open the review in a new window.)

The Combo Competition.  If you do not head over to the Combo Competition and take in at least one group, you are really missing something. I went in as an afterthought towards the end of the competition, and I’m glad I did. I saw serious kids in small groups, playing selections of their own choosing in a wide variety of jazz styles. But that's not even the best part. The judges are excellent musicians and teachers pulled from all over California, and they spend a few minutes after each group plays to give them verbal feedback. Just being there, you experience a brush with excellence while watching the youth take in the feedback from their mentors. You could be watching a musical giant in the making. If you are a musician or artist yourself, you can surely walk away having learned something applicable to your own craft. I heard comments from the judges such as, "Each part tells a story, building on one another," and " Ask yourself what is the language of my instrument?"

“Bent Nails” by Snarky Puppy, a difficult piece to play because of complex rhythmic patterns, was well executed by Enterprise High School Combo I. Another combo played Pat Metheny's “Song for Bilbao.” I watched 4 groups play, and compositions by a group called Snarky Puppy turned up twice, played by 2 different combos. One combo I observed tried out several different styles of jazz and were told by the judges that they might consider honing in a little more on what style they wanted to play. It turns out that the two judges are top-notch musicians in their own right.

The Featured Concert. The end of the day is topped off with a featured concert, followed by awards for the winners of each competition. The hall was crowded with groups of kids sitting on the floors in the back for want of seats. The energy was high as the kids waited for the announcements of the winners. While waiting, the big treat of the night is a featured internationally known musician. This year, it was Ben Wendel and his group of musicians from New York City; Taylor Eigsti on piano, Eric Harland on drums, and Harish Raghavan on bass. Wendel is a saxophonist and an electrifying composer.

The concert featured some of his developing works on a series of 12 pieces, one for each month of 2015. The combo played a piece from that series dedicated to saxophonist Joshua Redman and another piece dedicated to his pianist, Taylor Eigsti. They also played “Jean and Renata,” a song Wendel wrote and dedicated to a friend, another piece in 5/4 time called “Unforseeable” and a piece called “Still Play.” While introducing “Unforseeable,” Wendel asked the audience if they had played anything in 5/4 time, and the response was large roars coming from many corners of the room. Wendel said, "That to me is amazing, because when I was in high school, I only played in 4/4."

The intellectual impact of Wendel's music was strong. The emotional connection, the spine-tingling litmus test, was not as impactful. All in all, a great concert and unbelievable for the price of the ticket for the day's event.

Final Tip. If you are after a top-quality musical experience at an affordable price, you hit the jackpot. You have an especially good chance of seeing top-quality jazz performances if you go to see the winners of the previous year. Definitely include any of the groups from Folsom High School, which is not allowed to compete because they are the host school. Also, don't miss out on the evening show, included in the price of your ticket, where the Festival showcases internationally known talent. And here they are, the top ranking high school bands of the 2015 competition:

Folsom High School I Division AAAA total score: 2937
(host band does not compete)
Northgate High School I Division AAA total score: 2928
Valley Christian High School I Division AAA total score:2877
Rio Americano High School I Division AAA total score:2865
Berkeley High School I Division AAAA total score:2865
Marin School of the Arts I Division AA total score:2852
Albany High School Division AA total score:2835
Downey High School I Division AAAA total score:2830
El Cerrito High School I Division AA total score:2805
Folsom High School II Division AAA total score:2720
(host band does not compete)

Top ranking combos:

#1 Berkeley HS I
#2 Rio Americano HS I
#3 Folsom HS I
#4 Berkeley HS II
#5 Berkeley HS III
#6 Valley Christian HS I

So when the 2016 concert comes around, look up the program online and print it out. Take it with you to the Festival, pay $12 ($9 for seniors and students) and choose some of last year's winning bands and combos. If you do, I can assure you that you'll have a great experience. But don't forget: it isn't about winning a competition. All of these kids are winners simply by being there, and your support is going to be felt whatever school you choose to tune into. And the choices are many: over 100 bands and choirs from all over California. And by all means, don’t miss seeing Folsom High School’s entries – they are truly amazing!