Darien's 5th Annual Jazz Jamboree Jazz Festival

The 5th Annual Jazz Jamboree Jazz Festival took place at Darien High School on Friday, March 1st.  The festival featured 10 high school Jazz Ensembles from CT and NY performing their music for judges and each other. Participating Jazz Bands from King School, Fairfield Prep, Port Chester, Hamden, Norwalk, Wilton, Fairfield Warde, Westport Staples, Greenwich and Brien McMahon competed and received coaching from judges John Mastroianni and Earl MacDonald from the Jazz Department at the University of Connecticut. Greenwich High School placed first, Hamden High School placed second, and Staples High School placed third. The Gerry Mulligan Outstanding Musician Award was given to Greenwich High School pianist, Lucas Gazianis. The Darien High School Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Jonathan Grauer, performed as exhibition only for the participating bands and judges.

Soloists Jack Armstrong and Doug Werner perform with the Darien HS Jazz Ensemble at the 5th Annual Darien Jazz Jamboree Festival on Friday, March 1st.

John Yoon, the director of the Greenwich Jazz Ensemble accepts the first place award from Darien HS Jazz Director Jonathan Grauer.

Greenwich pianist, Lucas Gazianis was awarded the festival's Gerry Mulligan Outstanding Musician Award. Pictured with Lucas L-R, Jonathan Grauer, and judges Earl MacDonald and John Mastroianni from UCONN.