Jazz Band News!

Many positive developments are underway in the jazz dept. at Bishop O'Dowd.
Jazz Band will be performing at the CMEA and the Amador Jazz Band
Festivals in the coming year. We will also be performing at the Living Lab event, for the O'Dowd Crab Feed, and at the new building dedication at St. Theresa school.

We will be getting our beautiful new jazz band polo shirts very soon.
I know everyone will get a kick out of the design...we won't tell you until
you see it and special thanks to Evan Monroe and Priscilla Gurrea for their help
on making the shirts happen!

Several of the students were curious about starting a lending library for jazz related materials. I've spoken with the library people and this will be happening so
jazz band will now have its own section to borrow from in the library.

Finally, we have two new courses approved:
Beginning Jazz Band and Basic Music Theory.
I'm very honored and excited to be teaching these important classes next fall
so get your friends to try out for jazz band, having two levels will really allow us
to expand the program!

Have a great holiday season and we look forward to seeing you in the new year!
Mr. Randolph

Christmas Concert Photos! on December 10th the Jazz Band gave its annual Christmas Concert. Thanks to Beverly Juan we have some wonderful photos...

O'dowd Jazz Band Christmas Concert This Wednesday Dember 10th!

Hello Everyone, this Wednesday O'Dowd Jazz Band will be presenting its annual Christmas concert featuring many talented soloists, vocalists, and a special appearance by the Bishop O'Dowd Jazz Combo. See you this Wednesday night December 10th at 7:30pm!

Dunsmuir House Concert

On Sunday December 7th, O'Dowd Jazz Band played at the historic Dunsmuir Estate.
We had an amazing time in a beautiful setting. Special thanks to Beverly Juan for the
wonderful photographs, Lori Candelaria for "putting this together", and to the parents who really helped us get all the equipment up to the estate.

Noon Concert on 11/20/08

On Thursday November 20th Jazz Band played the 2nd of what promise to be many noon concerts this school year. The band played fantastically and we were treated to the debut of not one but 2 vocalists: Sean Lindorfer singing "Blue Skies," and Stephen Fong singing "Every Day I Have the Blues!" Lots of great solos were played and between sets the rhythm section launched into an awesome impromptu funk jam...check out the photos and feel free to add a comment if you like!

Famous Alumnus Frank Martin gives a rhythm clinic!

On Monday November 3rd the O'Dowd Jazz Band was thrilled to have Frank Martin stop by to do a clinic on rhythm and groove. Frank is a distinguished alumnus of O'Dowd. As a keyboardist, arranger, and producer, he has an amazing resume including work with the likes of Sting, Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder, and Madonna! A down to earth person, he
showed the students his unique approach to the groove of music using body movements and
syllables based on animal names. Mr. Martin really opened everyone's eyes to the fact that no great music can be made without a good groove!
(See photos)

Welcome To the 2008-2009 O'Dowd Jazz Blog!

Hello everyone! I'm sure you all had a great summer but now comes the real fun. We are all set for a very exciting
year with the Bishop O'Dowd jazz band. For the first time, we have not only full but overflowing horn sections! Thanks to everyone for participating in the audition process. I am always on the look out for new talent so if you want to learn about jazz or audition for jazz band, I definitely want to meet you! This year we are creating a "Jazz Club" which will engage in various activities such as master classes, sectional rehearsals, improvisation studies, sight reading sessions, and beginning jazz classes. Therefore, even if you did not get into jazz band please join jazz club and you will be able to participate!
Feel free to add a comment.
Looking forward to seeing and hearing you!
Mr. Randolph

Jazz Band News!

Hello Everyone and congratulations on a great school year! I want to thank everyone for working so hard and for having a great spirit throughout. It has truly been a pleasure working with all of you. Below you will see some recent photos of us both at a noon concert and at Anna's. I have a recording of us at the Spring Concert which I will post on the website as soon as possible. I will be meeting with other teachers over the summer to compare notes and to get more ideas on how to expand our program.
As always feel free to add comments. Your input is very important!
Have a great summer,
Mr. Randolph

Photos of Jazz Band Performing at Anna's

Jazz Band Recent Noon Concert Photos

Welcome to the Bishop O'Dowd Jazz Blog!

Hi there, welcome to the Bishop O'Dowd Jazz Blog! I'm putting up some videos of our recent appearance at the CSUEB Jazz Festival and a video of a young John Mclaughlin playing some amazing guitar with the Johnny Carson tonight show band. Feel free to post your comments. Please keep them clean and supportive. This is a great way to interact and share ideas!
Thanks,
Mr. Randolph

Jazz Band Performing Perdido at CSUEB

Here is a video of us performing Perdido at CSUEB Jazz Festival featuring a smokin' piano solo by Ian Mcardle and some swingin' bass lines by Thomas Semow
(thanks to Joe Omega for the video!)

Jazz Band Performing Canteloupe Island at CSUEB

Here we are performing Herbie Hancock's Canteloupe Island at CSUEB Jazz Festival
complete with great solos by Liam Zarri, Rafi Ronquillo, Ian Mcardle,
and great drumming by Cooper Freeman
(thanks again to Joe Omega for the video)

John Mclaughlin with the Tonight Show Band

Here is an awesome segment of a young John Mclaughlin playing with the Johnny Carson Tonight show band "back in the day"...the man has chops...