I love this town. ARTS & CULTURE JAZZ, ELEVATED

Idyllwild Arts hosts the 29th Jazz in the Pines Festival and Student Clinic

by Cat Makino

The annual Jazz in the Pines Festival is returning to Idyllwild. From July 3-15, a flock of jazz musicians will head up the mountain—led by three-time Grammy Award-winning trumpeter John Daversa and his Big Band.

The event serves as a fundraiser for Idyllwild Arts and its summer program. Idyllwild Arts is an internationally acclaimed arts high school for gifted young artists in music, dance, theater, film, fashion design, visual arts and creative writing. Ticket sales support scholarships for students whose families cannot afford the school’s tuition.

“Every environment has its own vibrations; the mountains in Idyllwild are on sacred lands,”

Daversa said. “The honesty and humanity of the place comes out in the music, which inspires people. You will leave the festival feeling better than when you came.”

Daversa has been part of the school’s summer program for nearly six years. “The students come here with such a purpose, so hungry and receptive,” Daversa said.

The composer, arranger, conductor, bandleader, producer and educator has a unique musical style which combines rock, blues and gospel. He’s worked with numerous legendary musicians including Moonchild, Fiona Apple, Burt Bacharach, Joe Cocker and Andraé Crouch.

Daversa said he’s come to appreciate adversity.

“Challenges are our greatest gifts, and our gifts are our challenges,” he said. “Challenges provide the opportunity for us to learn who we really are, revealing our true inner strength and wisdom by how we move through them.” saxophonist, received a scholarship to the academy three years ago. It changed his life.

Daversa is just one of the many talented performers coming to Idyllwild. The festival will feature live music by Marshall Hawkins’ Seahawk MOJO, the Euphoria Brass Band, Joshua White, Sherry Williams, Yve Evans, Rose Colella, Tom Hynes, Dan St. Marseille, Bob Boss, Tina Raymond and various Idyllwild Arts students.

Colella, an acclaimed jazz vocalist, is the festival’s curator. She said she’s always wanted to build a bridge between the professionals and the next generation of jazz artists.

“It is the most special and beautiful festival I have ever performed in,” she said. In fact, she moved from Chicago to Los Angeles to be closer to Idyllwild to produce this event—and others in the future.

“The original point of the festival (according to) its co-founder, legendary bassist and teacher Marshall Hawkins, was to be centered around the students by giving these young musicians a chance to work and play alongside some of the great musicians of contemporary jazz from all over the country,” Colella said.

“It gave me confidence and forced me to be independent,” he said. “I could explore my passion for music and meet wonderful and talented people from all over the world.”

He said he learned about Idyllwild Arts at Jazz in the Pines when he was a freshman at Palm Desert High School.

“I started taking private lessons twice a week with Paul Carman, a professor of jazz studies and saxophone teacher, who encouraged me to apply for a scholarship,” Tanner said.

After graduation, Tanner went to the University of Southern California for a year and is transferring to the Conservatory of Amsterdam.

The festival includes open master classes and book readings/signings. Guests can join the conversation as Idyllwild Arts president Pamela Jordan interviews world-renowned artists for her podcast One World. One Idyllwild. The Series

The Jazz in the Pines Festival and Student Clinic will take place July 3-15 at various locations, including the Idyllwild Arts campus, Ferro Restaurant, Middle Ridge Winery, the Grand Idyllwild Lodge, the Creekstone Inn, Harvey House and Café Aroma. Ticket prices vary. For tickets or more information, visit idyllwildarts. org/jazz-in-the-pines.

Carson Tanner, a local student and The John Daversa Big Band.