On Friday afternoon, we finished off the Fifth Annual University of Washington Jazz Workshop with a student concert in Brechemin Auditorium on the UW campus. This teaching experience is always one of the highlights of my summer, and this year was no exception. I usually end up working with the beginners, which is always tough because their levels tend to be so varied, but they end up sounding like a real band when they opened the concert with Duke Ellington's "C Jam Blues" and "Take the 'A' Train". I always end up learning new things about playing and teaching, and I'd like to think the kids go away with something, too! If you know some late middle or high school kids interested in learning more about playing jazz, or just want to see what we've been up to out at the UW, visit the
UW Jazz Workshop website and watch the highlights video from this year's workshop.