Trumpeter Joe Gransden's jazz camp has a new location. The fourth annual Joe's Jazz Camp takes place at Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center, May 31-June 5.
This year’s theme is “The Great American Songbook and Beyond.”
Camp students are ages 13-19 with all levels of experience on wind instruments, drums, piano, guitar and bass.
“For the first time we will also have vocalists,” said Gransden.
The Atlanta-based trumpeter and his 16-piece big band have performed on notable stages, locally and around the world. However, he has made Sandy Springs his home base, playing at the Performing Arts Center on numerous occasions, and nearby Café 290 on the first and third Monday of each month.
His jazz camp was previously held at Cambridge High School in Milton for about 80 students.
“The Performing Arts Center provides space for more to attend,” said Gransden. “We want as many [students] as possible.”
He has a team of 13 acclaimed musicians to teach master classes and lead jam sessions. Among them are trombonist and camp artistic director Lee Watts; pianist Kevin Bales and bassist Neal Starkey.
During camp week, students will perform concerts in big bands and smaller jazz ensembles in the arts center’s 50,000 square-foot Byers Theater. A schedule of class activity is on the camp website.
Camp costs are $455, full day; and $255, half day for students only available after summer school classes. Lunch will be provided by local restaurants, Gransden said.
“We’ve had people around Atlanta who give scholarships, donating $100 to $1,000,” the musician said. “They might say, ‘I want $100 to go to a jazz trumpeter; or ‘I want this amount to go to a female vocalist. It can be directed however they want.’”
Visit joesjazzcamp.com.
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