Having long respected the work of educator Dave Adams with young students in the eastern area of the state, I was pleased when he indicated he wanted to bring a team of five budding jazz musicians to Jazz Day--the youngest admitted to this traditionally high school-age event. Each of them learned and played wonderfully during the day, including a young man getting a lot of attention these days: eleven year-old trumpeter Tyler Lindsay, who also sat in with the VCU JO I on the very brisk "Cherokee." He was no stranger to the tune, having already been practicing it for some time towards a national trumpet competition. But then, he's already sat in with such legends as Jimmy Heath, Slide Hampton, Chick Corea, and Paquito D'Rivera at the most recent IAJE Conference.

If you visit Dave Adams' web site at <http://www.youngrazzcalsjazzproject.com>, you'll hear and see what great work he's done with so many students over the years, in Virginia and elsewhere. I recognize the names and faces of a number of students who have later played in the VCU Greater Richmond High School Jazz Band and even enrolled in VCU. Bravo to Dave and to all the directors who give their time and energy to students studying jazz in the middle and high schools!
If you are a high school jazz band director and wish to nominate exceptional students for next year's Jazz Day, stay in touch with VCU Jazz as the school year begins in the fall.