GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles get real-world performance and recording experience during GRAMMY Week

GRAMMY.com
Melissa Blazek

When Geoff Emerick stops by your recording session and nods with approval, you know you're doing something right. The 2009 GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles received just such approval on Friday, when the legendary Beatles engineer stopped by Capitol Studios' Studio B to hear the Ensembles record a CD as part of their GRAMMY Week experiences.

On the other side of the glass, Dr. Ron McCurdy, professor of music at University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music, kept the Ensembles choir vocalists on point, gently pushing and pulling the best from them. "I just didn't hear the passion on that last one," he said quietly. "Remember, people can't see you on the recording. Pretend they can: Smile, open up your expressions, relax your arms."

David Sears, Senior Director of Education for the GRAMMY Foundation, rubbed his eyes and replaced his baseball hat on his head. "They're tired," he said to no one in particular. However, once the group settled, they nailed a buoyant version of the Johnny Mercer/Johnny Mandel classic "Emily" on the next take. Sears smiled broadly, like a proud father overseeing his brood.

Behind the board, veteran engineer Charlie Paakkari also offered encouragement as well as practical guidance on proper studio etiquette, including how close to stand to the microphones and when to unplug headphones. As soon as the mics were open, they got down to business — even more impressive considering they'd never met each other before this week.

The students — chosen by the GRAMMY Foundation from among the best high school musicians in the country — had good reason to be tired. They flew through a full slate of rehearsals, soundchecks and performances during GRAMMY week, including gigs at Spaghettini Italian Grill & Jazz Club in Seal Beach, Calif., with special guest Gerald Albright and the Vic in Santa Monica with Terence Blanchard and Kenny Lattimore. On Tuesday, the Ensembles shone under the spotlight at the GRAMMY Salute To Jazz supporting a night of cool jazz that celebrated Blue Note Records' 70th anniversary. There, they traded licks with the likes of Blanchard, Herbie Hancock, Cassandra Wilson, and Joe Lovano.

On Friday night, in a first for the Ensembles, they took to the stage at the prestigious MusiCares Person of the Year gala, which feted Neil Diamond with a tribute concert at the Los Angeles Convention Center. To top it all off, they'll be special guests of The Recording Academy at the 51st GRAMMY Awards telecast emanating from Staples Center on Sunday and will suit up afterward to play at the GRAMMY Celebration after-party.

During the session, Kate Davis' liquid basslines stood out in the combo's foundation for a lilting arrangement of Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine." A senior from West Linn, Ore., she sat in grateful disbelief as she sat next door to Capitol's famous Studio A — a favorite of Frank Sinatra's — only a few feet from Nat "King" Cole's piano. Davis was thrilled to meet Natalie Cole at the GRAMMY Salute To Jazz event. She told Cole that her parents used to put her 1991 album Unforgettable … With Love on "repeat" to lull her to sleep as a child. Cole laughed and thanked her for the story.

"I'm learning how much a professional experience this week has been," she said between sips of tea. "We have to be ready to go, and ready to focus, at all times. Still, I'm so excited to get to play with so many people my own age who are at such a high level. It's inspiring." She paused. "I'm just looking around at where I am, and I'm speechless."

Michael Mayo, a junior from the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, sings bass in the choir. He, too, quickly became aware of his fellow students' gifts. "This week has made me realize I need to up my game as far as my devotion and effort," he said with a laugh. "These guys are good."

The GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles are a collection of extraordinarily talented high school students from across the country, each selected through a rigorous audition process. Featuring both vocalists and instrumentalists, the Ensembles are comprised of a choir, a big band and a combo band. This year, 30 students were fortunate enough to win positions in the group and take part in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform at various events during GRAMMY Week.

The Jazz Ensembles represent one of the GRAMMY Foundation's many educational initiatives for young musicians, which includes GRAMMY Camp, a two-week intensive summer workshop that enables students to explore various music careers, and GRAMMY Career Day, a program that brings together music professionals with students for meaningful panels and discussions about music and the business surrounding it.

In addition to the rich experience of performing with their peers and meeting music professionals from whom they can seek guidance, the GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles students get yet another benefit: They are eligible for more than $2 million in scholarships to further their music education from colleges and universities that partner with the program including the Berklee College of Music, Manhattan School of Music, the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, and USC's Thornton School of Music.

(Read our GRAMMY Week event blogs.)