Evergreen Jazz Festival education
Featured Clinician: Jeff Barnhart
Jeff Barnhart is an internationally renowned pianist, vocalist, arranger, bandleader, recording artist, ASCAP composer, educator and entertainer. The 21st century has found Jeff constantly appearing as a soloist and band pianist at parties, festivals, clubs and cruises throughout the world. Jeff is in constant demand as a participant in international jazz and music events as either a soloist or as pianist in All-Star Jazz ensembles. Jeff has recorded as both pianist and vocalist on over 120 full-length albums. He averages 40 weeks a year on the road, bringing his music to all corners of the globe. “When it comes to talent, speed, versatility, creativity, mastery of multiple genres and just plain entertaining zaniness, Jeff Barnhart stands alone”.
piano: hank troy
Hank Troy has been the pianist with the QCJB since 1981. In addition to being a spectacular player, he is the secretary/treasurer for the Queen City Jazz Foundation. In this capacity Hank helps with the behind-the-scenes activities of the band, such as helping to produce the band's annual concert. He is a nationally recognized expert as a pianist for silent movies and has traveled the country doing the same. As leader of the Queen City Ragtime Ensemble, Hank promotes Ragtime Jazz, the great American music that was the precursor to the traditional jazz that the band performs today.
Trumpet: ANDY SCHUMM
Andy Schumm was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he first began playing piano at the age of six. Taking up the trumpet when he was in high school Andy would go on to study trumpet and cornet at the University of Illinois. Developing a style heavily influenced by Bix Beiderbecke, Andy Schumm found his calling as a vintage jazz icon who frequently tours the world with various groups.
Trombone: Eric Staffeldt
Eric Staffeldt holds a Master of Arts degree from the University of Denver. He also writes and arranges music for the Queen City Jazz Band in addition for a number of local groups. Professor Staffeldt is the current director of the University of Colorado Denver Claim Jumpers. Eric is a freelance musician as well as a regular performing member of several Denver area ensembles, ranging in style from classical to salsa to jazz. Eric’s patient teaching style accommodates students at all levels.
Tuba: Bill Clark
Bill Clark earned degrees from the University of Colorado and Northwestern University where he had the privilege of studying with Chicago Symphony tubist Arnold Jacobs. After bit of Public School teaching, Mr. Clark became a full time performer playing in Las Vegas, Miami, Cape Cod, Atlantic City and New York. He also began a part-time career in higher education that lasted forty-five years moving from Denver University to Metropolitan State and finishing at CU Denver. Eventually he earned the title of Associate Professor of Music at the University of Colorado Denver at the ripe old age of 60. Bill’s student band there, the Timbuk-Two-Plus-Five, was crowned “The 1982 Southern Comfort National Collegiate Dixieland Champions” at the IAJE convention in Chicago. The T-B-2+5 traveled extensively in 1982 appearing mostly on television shows. After 1982, Bill’s collegiate band enjoyed many years of local, national and international success. They toured Europe several times, played at major U. S. jazz festivals, and in the early 1990s were called back for encores at the Moscow Conservatory. Professor Clark’s teaching is very important to him and his alumni enjoy productive careers in venues from small clubs to the Red Rocks Amphitheater.
Reeds: JUSTIN ROGERS
Justin Rogers is a Colorado based Composer, Saxophonist, and Pianist with a Master’s Degree Jazz Composition from the University of Denver where he studied with Dave Hanson. Justin’s educational background also includes Bachelor of Music Degrees in Music Composition, Saxophone Performance, and a minor in Criminal Justice/Criminology from the Metropolitan State University of Denver where he studied with Dr. Fred Hess, Mark Harris, Dr. David Farrell, Cherise Leiter, and RJ Miller. Justin is an active performer and composer, primarily based in the Denver-Metro area. His expertise lays in Big Band Composition, and traditional jazz saxophone stylings, with much emphasis on the works of Sidney Bechet. He has also received several awards for his musical accolades including the Ron Cope Scholarship, the President’s Academic Achievement Award (MSU Denver), the Max DiJulio Prize for Composition, the 3’71” Composition Prize, and the MSU Denver Faculty Composition Prize.
Vocals: Wende Harston
Wende Harston, is the complete package as she sings, dances and acts. Her acting career includes multiple portrayals of the part of Ma Rainey in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. She has appeared in many national feature films and performed in a made-for-TV film series. Wende’s informative show “Great Female Singers of 30s 40s and 50s” is big hit at national jazz festivals and her Gospel singing has inspired thousands of jazz fans from coast to coast. Wende has written two songs for the Queen City Jazz Band, The Mercury Café Boogie and Big Tall Handsome Man. Wende is a pro, always at the top of her game. And as a teacher she expects results and cares about each and every student.
