USC Jazz

Hey there!

Looking for F and Bb Blues playalongs for you and your students? Look no further, and while you're at it, learn the Jazz Girls Day® Theme, (which is also a blues) written by Professor Lauren Meccia.

Huge thanks to the incredible team at USC Jazz + The University of South Carolina School of Music for investing in jazz education.

Wishing all of you a bright and successful new school year!

Yours in Swing,
USC Jazz Studies

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBwQaE_VVIUYNKZP6OBoDamGcmfcvb1BP&si=8KR2E_OpQUIcJ3WG
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Recorded at USC Jazz Studies Headquarters on July 29, 2024
Audio + Trumpet: Matthew White
Vox, sax, composition: Lauren Meccia
Piano: Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Bert Ligon
Bass: Craig Buttterfield
Drums: Colleen Clark
Film/Editing: Jay Overbay

Jazz Girls Day® Theme + Blues Playalongs Playalong with USC Jazz Studies on the Jazz Girls Day® Theme in both Bb and F. The Jazz Girls Day® Theme is a blues!

Taking a moment to congratulate everyone that made last week’s Gamecock Music USC Jazz Camp such a huge success. 34 young people from all over our state and beyond, at various skill levels, together for four days playing some deep music and making connections that will last a long time.

Community is a big part of what music is about, so thanks to Jennifer Jablonski, Jennifer Mitchell and their staff for scheduling so many great events for the students in the hours surrounding music making.

Improvised music embraces chaos and taking chances. It makes the music thrilling and in the moment. We want students to experience it that way, but supported by experienced pedagogy rooted in planning, compassion, teamwork, and adaptability. This is even more important for young people that are improvising and playing this music for the first time. Teaching and stewardship is a responsibility we take seriously.

So congrats and THANK YOU to my amazing colleagues Colleen Clark Drums, Lauren Meccia and our wonderful student teachers Nathan DuVall, Geordan Raisler, and Mason Collins.

Music!

Gullah elders are 'singing the old songs' at Spoleto Festival USA “Lowcountry: South Carolina Music in the Gullah Tradition” concert premieres June 2 at College of Charleston Cistern Yard with modern jazz and chamber music.

We're so proud of you, Nigel Ouzts! You're going to do incredible things!

Matthew White
Lauren Meccia
Colleen Clark

Today's spotlight is on Nigel Ouzts, who is receiving a Master's degree in USC Jazz Studies. Congratulations on this outstanding achievement, Nigel! We wish you all the best in your future endeavors. 🤙🎓

Calling all jazz musicians that are rising 7-12th graders! Join us at the jazz portion of the first ever Gamecock Music Camp! Colleen Clark will be leading the ensemble!

Click the link below to learn more!

https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/music/community/summer_programs/gamecock_music_camp/index.php

Matthew White
Lauren Meccia
The University of South Carolina School of Music
University of South Carolina

We're so proud of our graduating M.M. in Jazz Performance major, Malik Pratt! Learn more about Malik via University of South Carolina's write up!

USC Jazz
Colleen Clark
Matthew White
Lauren Meccia

Class of 2024 As the Class of 2024 prepares to walk across the commencement stage, graduates leave the University of South Carolina with memories of enduring friendships, newfound passions, supportive mentors and life-changing experiences.

Check out Colleen Clark's thoughts on yesterday's momentous Jazz Girls Day and what it means to her and USC Jazz!

Thanks for the coverage, Post and Courier! We very much appreciate your investment in our program by continuing to share the news and happenings around USC Jazz! There's still time to donate to our Jazz Girls Day Campaign: https://crowdfunding.sc.edu/project/41721

The new blood of USC’s Jazz Program is forging a gender-inclusive vision in SC Women represent a fraction of jazz musicians, but a camp for young girls from USC's jazz program in Columbia is aiming to change that with a national program.

Today is our big day! Please share and donate if you can!

We currently need 12 more donors needed to unlock a $1,000 reward specifically for Jazz Studies - Curt Rone Challenge.

If you want to give to Jazz Girls Day, that counts towards this challenge. Just choose other on the dropdown and type Jazz Girls Day!

We appreciate all of the support!

https://give4garnet.sc.edu/giving-day/79611/donate?des=440020&dept=79623

Matthew White
Lauren Meccia
Colleen Clark

Give 4 Garnet 2024 | Donate Giving Day Powered by ScaleFunder

Want to check in on our adjudication festival? Hear from our fantastic middle and high school jazz participant bands on the livestream.

Each band performs and gets a clinic from GRAMMY award winning musician, MiMi Jones Music! We've already had stellar performances from: Lewisville High School, Meadow Glen Middle School and Lewisville Middle School. We'll be here until 4:30 today!

Matthew White
Lauren Meccia
Colleen Clark
The University of South Carolina School of Music
USC Jazz
University of South Carolina

2402308 Jazz Festival participant bands 11:00 AM Lewisville Middle School Jazz Band11:35 AM Meadow Glen Middle School Jazz Band12:10 PM Lewisville High School Blue Cat Jazz12:45 PM Ridge Spring- Mo...

Want to check in on our adjudication festival? Hear from our fantastic middle and high school jazz participant bands on the livestream.

Each band performs and gets a clinic from GRAMMY award winning musician, ! We’ve already had stellar performances from: Lewisville High School, Meadow Glen Middle School and Lewisville Middle School. We’ll be here until 4:30 today!

Link in the bio!

In celebration of Women's History Month, Colleen Clark and the team are so excited to announce the official launch of their first ever University of South Carolina Jazz Girls Day fundraising campaign!

USC's Jazz Girls Day is in its third-year and now has included 11 events in 8 different states (with three annual events in South Carolina), reaching 243 participants. Our 2030 vision is to partner with other educational and community institutions to hold a USC Jazz Girls Day event in all 50 states.

This program is funded by grants and private donations, until now! Registration is free and all participants receive a free educational packet (which is part of our University of South Carolina Jazz Girls Day specific curriculum), tee-shirt, certificate, and are fed lunch on the day of the event. The jazz faculty and our collaborators donate time and host facilities to support this initiative. New funding will keep the program running, help travel and accommodation costs to pilot the program in new states, and allow JGD to grow its curriculum, guest teachers, and community outreach.

If you feel inspired or inclined, please share and donate to this impactful cause.

https://crowdfunding.sc.edu/jazz-girls-day

The University of South Carolina School of Music
USC Jazz
Matthew White
Lauren Meccia
Tayloe Harding

Jazz Girls Day Help University of South Carolina raise $10,000 for the project: Jazz Girls Day. Your gift will make a difference!

We’re SO excited to host GRAMMY winning bassist at the 2024 USC Jazz Festival ft. Mimi Jones!

This concert will be in Johnson Hall located at the Darla Moore School of Business. Admission is free and the concert features Mimi with the Left Bank Big Band and the USC Jazz faculty.

See you on Friday, March 8th at 7:30pm!

We're SO excited to host GRAMMY winning bassist at the 2024 USC Jazz Festival ft. Mimi Jones!

This concert will be in Johnson Hall located at the Darla Moore School of Business. Admission is free and the concert features Mimi with the Left Bank Big Band and the USC Jazz faculty.

See you on Friday, March 8th at 7:30pm!

MiMi Jones Music
Matthew White
Lauren Meccia
Colleen Clark Drums
The University of South Carolina School of Music

Join us for our USC Jazz clinic for participating directors at the !

Koger Center for the Arts
The University of South Carolina School of Music

Jazz Girls Day: USA continues as Colleen Clark hosted Jazz Girls Day: Arizona with the great Michael Dease, Katie Thiroux and Gwendolyn Dease! We had a blast in Phoenix (as you can see from the pictures)! Thanks so much to The Nash for hosting us (and was the first club to take this on!)

Want to help support Jazz Girls Day? Stay tuned for an extra special opportunity in March :)



Matthew White
Lauren Meccia

Next up: Jazz Girls Day: MO
Sign up here: https://fmp.music.sc.edu/fmi/webd/JazzGirlsDay?homeurl=https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/music/community/community_events/jazzgirlsday.php