Embracing the joy of the jam session, without the stress of competition, more than 1,000 young musicians gathered at the 36th annual New Trier Jazz Festival on Feb. 2.
“Playing jazz music represents a certain amount of risk-taking to get near the edge, where the creativity happens,” said Nic Meyer, the music department coordinator and director of jazz ensembles at New Trier.
“Anytime you’re making objective statements about art, you’re treading in some dangerous water, especially when it comes to students,” said Meyer.
He said the goal of the festival is to hire the best clinicians to work with students, “giving them the opportunity to perform great music and be lifted up in a setting where no one wins or loses.”
Attracting 45 bands from 38 schools across Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Canada, Meyer said the festival featured non-competitive performances and instructional clinics, including master classes with members of the Count Basie Orchestra, who also performed at an evening concert at the Winnetka high school.
Determined to support young female jazz musicians, Meyer said for the second year, the festival featured a “Women in Jazz Dinner,” which brought together a group of women clinicians and 180 students.
“Jazz music is like anything else in life, and you need to see examples of those who are like yourself,” Meyer said.
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