YouthJazz.us

SESSION 7 • MEMORIAL DAY BREAK • SEASON 8
2026-05-24 13:30 - 18:00 (America/Chicago) | KS
Regular weekly assigned ensemble rehearsal. Preparation for album recording sessions, festivals, and other community performances. Rehearsals are scheduled for 90-minutes each week but typically may be slightly shorter or longer in reality.

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SESSION 8 SEASON 8
2026-05-31 13:30 - 18:00 | KS
Regular weekly assigned ensemble rehearsal. Preparation for album recording sessions, festivals, and other community performances. Rehearsals are scheduled for 90-minutes each week but typically may be slightly shorter or longer in reality.

Youth Jazz Alumni Ensemble performance at the 2026 TeamSmile KC Gala
2026-06-04 17:00 - 19:30 | KS
Performance Group:Kansas City Area Youth Jazz Alumni All Star Quartet

Houston Smith, lead clinician, alto saxophone (2012)

Eric Kaplan, guest clinician, Nord B3 (2012)

Paxton Learned, bass (2026)

Nicholas Pedigo, drum set (2026)

Event: TeamSmile 20th Anniversary Celebration and Gala

Date: Thursday, June 4, 2026

Time:

The Band will be set up by 5:00 pm

Performance begins when the guests arrive- circa 5:30 pm and ends at 7:30 or earlier at the direction of event leadership.

Location:Crowne PlazaDowntown Kansas CityStarlight Ballroom/ 28th Floor

1301 Wyandotte Street Kansas City, MO 64105

SESSION 9 SEASON 8
2026-06-07 13:30 - 18:00 | KS

KCKCC JAZZ CAMP
2026-06-08 08:00 - 2026-06-11 17:00 | KS
June 8 – June 11, 2026

Kansas City Kansas Community College JAZZ CAMP

For more information, email camp coordinator Brett Jackson at bjackson@kckcc.edu

Featured Clinician

Adam Larson

Clinicians

Doug Auwarter

Justin Binek

Ray Demarchi

Chris Hazelton

Aaron Linscheid

Doug Talley

The Ottawa University Jazz Camp
2026-06-14 00:00 - 2026-06-18 23:59 | KS
Attention, jazz lovers: The Ottawa University Jazz Camp is open for registration!

Aspiring jazz musicians, ages 12 & up, please join us from Sunday, June 14 through Thursday, June 18 for a fun and formative experience.

Scan the QR code on the flyer below, or visit https://www.ottawa.edu/jazzcamp to sign up.

#music #musiceducation #jazz #jazzeducation

SESSION 10 SEASON 8
2026-06-14 13:30 - 18:00 | KS

SESSION 11 SEASON 8
2026-06-21 13:30 - 18:00 | KS

SESSION 12 SEASON 8
2026-06-28 13:30 - 18:00 | KS

SESSION 13 SEASON 8
2026-07-12 13:30 - 18:00 | KS

SESSION 14 SEASON 8
2026-07-19 13:30 - 18:00 | KS
Ensemble Dress Rehearsals for the Recording Sessions

Regular weekly assigned ensemble rehearsal. Preparation for album recording sessions, festivals, and other community performances. Rehearsals are scheduled for 90-minutes each week but typically may be slightly shorter or longer in reality.

2026 FELLOWS ALBUM RECORDING SESSIONS #1
2026-07-26 10:00 - 18:30 | Allegro Recording, 3600 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri, 64111, United States
See the detailed production time schedule for the specifics that will apply to your ensemble. Make note of call times and other unique details from your specific ensemble clinicians. Thanks.

Update: 2026 Recording Sessions

We’re recording at Allegro Recording in midtown KC.

Steve McBride is our engineer for the 2026 FELLOWS album.

We have 2 dates reserved

Two ensembles each day

Four hours each ensemble

July 26 : 10am to 2:00pmThe Ahmed Alaadeen Ensemble

July 26 : 2:30pm to 6:30pmThe Bill Crain Ensemble

August 2: 10am to 2:00pmThe Bobby Watson Ensemble

August 2: 2:30pm to 6:30pmThe Leon A. Brady Vocal Ensemble

The 2026 FELLOWS album is the 8th professionally recorded and commercially released album by the Youth Jazz program. This music is available worldwide at all of the platforms.

TITLE: 2025 Fellows (ARC-0906)

2026 FELLOWS ALBUM RECORDING SESSIONS #2
2026-08-02 10:00 - 18:30 | Allegro Recording, 3600 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri, 64111, United States
Update: 2026 Recording Sessions

We’re recording at Allegro Recording in midtown KC.

Steve McBride is our engineer for the 2026 FELLOWS album.

We have 2 dates reserved

Two ensembles each day

Four hours each ensemble

July 26 : 10am to 2:00pmThe Ahmed Alaadeen Ensemble

July 26 : 2:30pm to 6:30pmThe Bill Crain Ensemble

August 2: 10am to 2:00pmThe Bobby Watson Ensemble

August 2: 2:30pm to 6:30pmThe Leon A. Brady Vocal Ensemble

The 2026 FELLOWS album is the 8th professionally recorded and commercially released album by the Youth Jazz program. This music is available worldwide at all of the platforms.

TITLE: 2025 Fellows (ARC-0906)

COMMUNITY PERFORMANCE
2026-08-22 13:30 - 16:00 | 515 Music Hub, 515 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, Missouri, 64108, United States
YOUTHJAZZ ALUMNI CONCERT + NEXTGEN JAZZ JAM SESSION

JOIN US for two great sets of live jazz featuring next generation artists and some of the finest musicians in town at 515 MUSIC HUB: Kansas City’s New Home for Live Music & Local Artists. FREE ADMISSION!

YouthJazz.us Alumni bring your instruments and play some of your favorites. SET LIST TBA.

VENUE LOGISTICS

Backline includes drum kit (BYO: Cymbals, Pedals and Snare),

6-foot Baby Grand Piano

and PA system

THEY have a driveway and a garage door we can raise to assist with ease of load-in. THEY like to open doors to the public 30 minutes prior to start time, so if we start performances at 2, THEY suggest WE arrive around 12:30. WE provide our stage plot for our current jazz combo configurations so THEIR sound and stage crew (of 2) can prepare for OUR arrival. After WE’ve loaded in, WE’ll need to move OUR vehicle to parking areas. All of it is free, and at this time of day, there should be good parking availability. The stage area has professional lighting. Audience seating capacity is limited. No meal is provided.

SAVE THE DATE 8/22

Featuring 2026 Fellows with other program artists from Our Alumni Network,

+some of Our Clinicians, along with stellar jazz pianist and UMKC Professor, Roger Wilder.

PRESS KIT DOWNLOADS

KCAYJ SHORT BIO – 222 WORDS PDF

KCAYJ EXTENDED BIO – 600 WORDS PDF

KCAYJ PROMO POSTER JPEG

KCAYJ ALUMNI GIG PHOTO 1 JPEG

KCAYJ ALUMNI GIG PHOTO 2 JPEG

FELLOWSHIP AUDITIONS
2027-02-21 14:00 - 20:00 | Kansas City Kansas Community College, 7250 State Ave, KansasCity, Kansas, 66112, United States
OUR Fellowship Audition is a VERY brief 15-minute process.

THE AUDITION

PERFORMING ALL 12 MAJOR SCALES IN 60 SECONDS OR LESS

IMPROVISE OVER 12-BAR JAZZ BLUES IN THE KEY OF F

PERFORM A REAL BOOK STANDARD WITH IMPROVISATION

DRUM SET (ALL GROOVES: BOSSA, SAMBA, FUNK, SWING, BALLAD, ETC.)

CANDIDATE INTERVIEW

WE USE THE iREAL APP TO ACCOMPANY AS APPLICABLE.

HOW TO REGISTER

CALL (913) 250-5141. AFTER THE TONE SPEAK SLOWLY AND CLEARLY THEN LEAVE (1) YOUR FIRST NAME, (2) YOUR LAST NAME, (3) YOUR MOBILE PHONE NUMBER, (4) YOUR AUDITION INSTRUMENT, (5) YOUR HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE AFFILIATION, (6) YOUR PRIVATE INSTRUMENT TEACHER NAME.

YOUR AUDITION TIME

MR. B WILL CALL YOU BACK TO SCHEDULE YOUR AUDITION.

LEARN MORE
