The Tucson Jazz Institute (TJI) is a newly formed organization devoted to producing the finest young jazz musicians using a successful educational model developed by its three partners – Scott Black, Doug Tidaback and Brice Winston. All three are working professionals in the jazz world and have brought their respective realities and expertise into a learning environment where they can blend and complement each other’s strengths.Tidaback and Black already have reputations in Tucson for producing some of the finest young talent in the nation, as evidenced by student awards, invita- tions to perform at prestigious events and scholarships to some of the finest schools – Princeton, Berkley, Indiana, USC, NYU, ASU and Duke to name just a few. Winston, an international performing and recording jazz artist, sees this merger as extremely positive. He directed JazzWerx the past two years and this experience has given him a greater appreciation and respect for the work and dedication exhibited by Tidaback and Black. He welcomes this opportunity to join forces and work with them to “reshape jazz education by creating a system the rest of the world can look to as a model.”

While the focus of TJI’s program is training predominantly middle and high school students in combo and big band settings, there is an adult combo class forming, a Jazz Appreciation class for everyone, and Vocal Jazz is planned for the fall. For the accom- plished, performance opportunities abound here and in festivals across the country. Tucson Jazz Society audiences will get to hear them regularly as the “warm-up” act at upcoming TJS concerts and in the JAZZ ROOM – a designated performance space at TJI on Broadway. TJI is located at 6061 E. Broadway, Suite 121 in Tucson just a few doors away from Studio West Dance Studio.

One week into their summer session finds TJI expanding into the space next door to accommodate their students coming from nine high schools and 12 middle schools from the Tucson metropolitan area. TJI also houses the new office of The Tucson Jazz Society.

Placement auditions are being scheduled now for the 2009-2010 school year. Orientation will be Sunday, September 20. To learn more about TJI, its teachers and upcoming performances, visit their web- site, www.tucsonjazzinstitute.org. To schedule an audition, call 520-514-0935.

Photos copyright © 2009 by Josh Young