The BCC Jazz Band

The Bellevue Community College Jazz Band has been in existence since the 1970s.  The growth of the program the last two decades has been unparalleled in the Northwest.  They took first place honors, or were finalists, at the prestigious Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Moscow, Idaho, the Fullerton (California) Jazz Festival, and the Reno International Jazz Festival many times.  In recent years the band has chosen to seek other more rewarding venues that are both musically and culturally rewarding for our students.  Their first European tour took them to Paris, France where they performed at the International University, the Opera House, the Montpernasse Train Station and other venues.  In 2000 we visited Berlin, Germany where we were invited to perform at the Kulturbaurie Jazz Club, The Willie Brandt Haus, Quasimodo’s Jazz Club, The Blue Note Jazz Club and the Genoa Jazz Festival as well as at a local University.  In 2001 our tour took us to Munich, Germany where we performed at some of the local schools as well as at Gerry’s Swingland (Jazz Club).   Beijing, China was our destination in the Spring of 2002 and by request, 2003.  Throughout the year the band also performs at local jazz clubs such as Jazz Alley, Tula’s Jazz Club and the Triple Door  In Seattle Washington (State), Red Kelly’s in Tacoma, WA., and at Jazz Bones Club in Tacoma,  Washington. 

In addition to their concert tours they host an annual Invitational Jazz Festival, which has become one of the most popular festivals in the State.  In February they hosted thirty-two of the top Jr. and Senior High School Jazz Bands who compete for top honors.  This included Garfield, Roosevelt,  Mountlake Terrace, Shorewood and other high schools.   In the words of three of our distinguished adjudicators, “they have never heard so many outstanding Jazz Bands at one festival.” 

In addition to the competition at the festival, the BCC students get an opportunity to perform with some of the nations top jazz artists.  These have included John Faddis, Jay Thomas, John Fedchock, Dick Oaats, Dave Pietro, Milo Peterson, Randy Brecker, Jeff Hay, Jim Snidero, Eddie Daniels, Jack Toker, Conrad Herwig, the North Texas One O’Clock Band, Mr. Brian Lynch, and Jiggs Whigham,  Jim Snidero and The United States Airmen of Note from Washington D.D...

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HAL SHERMAN
Read the Seattle Times Article:  Hal Sherman - The dean of high-school jazz

Hal Sherman is one of the most experienced educators in the field of jazz education.  He has spent over forty five years teaching in public schools and various universities. His groups at Kent-Meridian High School gained national and international recognition as a result of their success in competition and performance.  For fifteen years he hosted the “Kent-Meridian Collegiate Jazz Festival” at the Seattle Opera House and played to “standing room only” audiences.  The band backed such prestigious artists as Bill Watrous, Clark Terry, Frank Rosolino, Dianne Reeves, Bobby Shew, Don Menza, Louie Bellson, the Four Freshman and others.  By invitation his groups performed at the prestigious Montreaux International Jazz Festival, The Wichita Jazz Festival, The National Canadian Jazz Conference and numerous State, Regional, and National Music Educator Conferences in the U.S. and Canada.

Hal was Director of Jazz Bands at the University of Puget Sound for seven years and accepted a similar position at Bellevue Community College in 1995.  He served on the staff of the Stan Kenton Summer Workshops for seven years.  He has been Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Summer Fine Arts Camp for the past 20 years.  Hal is well known for his in-depth knowledge of jazz literature which he reviews and evaluates continuously. 

He has the distinction of being the first Jazz Educator to receive the Charlie Bird Parker Foundation Award for Excellence.  He was also the recipient of the first National Band Association’s Outstanding Jazz Educator Award.  Mr. Sherman has also written articles for the Instrumentalist Magazine, and the International Association of Jazz Educator’s Journal.  He is also the author of three books related to Jazz Band Techniques and Materials.

Phone: (new) (425) 564-4059

Fax: (425) 643-2690

E-mail: halsherman@comcast.net

lpatnoe@bcc.ctc.edu