Though only in its third year, the I-19 Jazz Festival at Sahuarita is already drawing young performers from communities far outside the I-19 corridor.
The free festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Sahuarita Unified School District Auditorium, 350 W. Sahuarita Road.
More than 20 middle school and high school bands from communities from all over the state are expected to perform.
"It should be a big deal down here because there will be bands and kids coming in from all over the area," said Sahuarita Councilman Roger Minor, a jazz fan who used to play trumpet.
"It's just a fun experience. I grew up in the big-band era. It's nice and it's fun to see young people carry on the tradition of big-band music," he said.
The bands performing at this year's festival include first-time participants Cienega High School, located in Vail at 12775 E. Mary Ann Cleveland Way.
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In addition to performing for their peers, the young musicians will get feedback from judges including percussionist Robin Horn from the University of Arizona School of Music.
That feedback was Sahuarita High School senior and saxophone player Chris Harrison's favorite part of last year's festival.
"They had really cool clinicians last year. They helped us a lot," he said.
Harrison, 17, plays saxophone in his high school's jazz band and has played at the festival each year. The jazz band at Sahuarita High School, 350 W. Sahuarita Road, has performed at the festival since the first one, which included nine bands.
Now the festival draws school jazz bands from other communities, but when local music instructor Lou Rodriguez started the festival in 2006, he did it to bring together young musicians from Sahuarita and other I-19 communities such as Green Valley and Nogales.
After the first festival, word of the event spread, drawing in 19 bands and 700 attendees its second year, said Rodriguez, who is also band director at Anza Trail School, 15490 S. Rancho Sahuarita Blvd. Attendees ranged from Sahuarita parents and students to retirees from Green Valley.
The Anza Trail School Band is hosting the event, and proceeds from the event, such as from concession sales and entry fees, will help pay for group music lessons at Anza Trail.
Sahuarita residents Rodriguez and his wife, Jill, are dedicated to making the festival a success. Jill helps out by being the festival's spokeswoman.
The hard work of teachers such as Rodriguez keeps music programs and other "niches" for students in the schools, despite underfunding for school districts, said Tom Murphy, a member of the Sahuarita Unified School District's governing board. He has two children in the Anza Trail School Band.
"To keep everything alive is tough without the dedication and the passion of the teachers that keep it going," he said.
If you go
What: Third Annual I-19 Jazz Festival at Sahuarita, sponsored by the Chicago Store.
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 8.
Where: Sahuarita Unified School District Auditorium, 350 W. Sahuarita Road.
Admission: Free.
For more information: Call festival spokeswoman Jill Rodriguez at 307-4100.
About Brian Bromberg …
Tucson native Brian Bromberg had intended to attend the Third Annual I-19 Jazz Festival as Sahuarita's guest artist, but a rare opportunity came up.
He is nominated for a Grammy Award and has to do Grammy-related activities that weekend.
Bromberg has known the festival's organizer, Lou Rodriguez, since childhood because Rodriguez used to play in a band with his older brother.
Bromberg — a 47-year-old bassist, composer and producer who now lives in Los Angeles — has been playing music professionally since he was 13 years old, and now it's paid off in the form of the prestigious nomination.
"I was very blessed that I knew I wanted to be a musician. … So many people go through life not knowing what they want," he said.
Bromberg was playing shows in bars long before he was old enough to stay in them after the performances. He played concerts two to three nights a week, while still in junior high.
Though he can't attend the Feb. 8 jazz festival, he said he hopes it's a success.
"I think education is great. Without it, if we don't teach the next generation about music, it's going to go away," he said.
