Medfield High's Jazz Band Opens MEMO's Summer Concert Series Thursday

The Medfield High School jazz band will perform in the first summer concert of MEMO's series at the Gazebo park adjacent from the Medfield Public Library Thursday at 6 p.m.

What better way to kick-off another summer in Medfield than with a summer concert and picnic at the Gazebo Park adjacent from the Medfield Public Library? MEMO's, The Medfield Employers and Merchants Organization, annual summer concert series returns to Medfield this Thursday with the performance of an award-winning band. The Medfield High School jazz ensemble will open the summer concert series with a performance this Thursday. The group was invited to compete in the Charles Mingus and Essentially Ellington High School Big Band competitions this spring in New York and recently performed at its annul Jazz Night at the high school. They should be well-practiced and warmed up to open the 10-week series at the gazebo. The group is led by Doug…

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Medfield Music Director Doug Olsen to perform at Zullo Gallery on June 8

Needham Bank is sponsoring the June 8 fundraiser at the Zullo Gallery featuring Medfield Music director Doug Olsen.

After witnessing the talents first-hand of Medfield's jazz students at the recent Jazz Night, Needham Bank has put its support behind Music Director Doug Olsen’s fundraising show for the Zullo Gallery on Friday, June 8, in addition to the MEMO concert series kicking off with the jazz band’s performance at the Gazebo on June 14. “The Medfield jazz band has had an amazing year, and the students are fortunate to have Doug Olsen leading it. He is both a dedicated director and a talented musician in his own right,” said Steven Walls, branch manager of Medfield Needham Bank. “The Zullo show on June 8 with Doug in his jazz quintet will not only help the gallery, but give the community the rare opportunity to see his own talents on the trumpet. We…

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Medfield's Jazz Night Draws Crowd of More Than 400

Highlights of the night included three-time Grammy-nominated trombonist Conrad Herwig showcased his powerful, flawless trombone solos with Medfield's various jazz band students accompanying him.

Three-time, Grammy-nominated trombonist Conrad Herwig showcased his talents last night for more than 400 attendees at last night’s Jazz Night presented by Needham Bank and held in the Medfield High School Lowell Mason Auditorium. Jazz Night, an annual fundraiser for the Medfield Music Association, also featured the award-winning Medfield High School Jazz Band 1, as well as Jazz Band 2, Jazz Choir and Blake Middle School Jazz Band.   Highlights of the night were Herwig’s powerful, flawless trombone solos with Medfield’s various jazz band students accompanying him. The students were clearly in awe at the presence of such a prominent musician sharing the stage. The Jazz Band 1 repertoire included songs performed at the Charles Mingus and …

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Medfield High School Jazz Band Takes Home Ellington Solo Awards

Editor's note: The following article was submitted by Chris McCue.

It was another successful trip to New York for the Medfield High School Jazz Band. At the Essentially Ellington Jazz Competition this past weekend, MHS jazz band member and senior Kabir Thatte had the thrill of being congratulated by jazz great and Ellington judge Wynton Marsalis for earning the outstanding soloist award for vibraphone. In addition, sophomore Alex Rosenfeld received an honorable mention for trumpet. The awards ceremony at Lincoln Center’s renowned Avery Fisher Hall on Sunday, May 6, capped off a weekend of workshops and competitions, including the Medfield jazz band's performance on Saturday, May 5. The competition was judged by Marsalis and four other jazz luminaries. Medfield High School was one of just 15 jazz bands …

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Watch Medfield High School's Jazz Band Perform Live in NYC Saturday

Tune in here at 3:20 p.m. Saturday to watch the Medfield High School Jazz Band perform live in the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band and Festival in New York City.

Live from New York, it's Medfield High School! The Medfield High School Jazz Band left town Thursday for New York City to perform in Saturday's Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band and Festival at the Lincoln Center and you can watch the band's performance live!  On Saturday at 3:20 p.m., the MHS Jazz Band will take the stage at the Lincoln Center to perform in the Exhibition and Competition Part I of the Essentially Ellington festival and thanks to the folks at Essentially Ellington, Saturday's performance will be streaming live for all to see. Find the link to the performance by clicking here! So be sure to tune in here (and follow the link provided above) at 3:20 p.m. to watch the Medfield High School Jazz Band perform live. They…

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Medfield High's Jazz Band Leaves Thursday for NYC Competition

Medfield Music Director Doug Olsen and several members of the MHS Jazz Band tell Medfield Patch what makes the program so successful as they prepare to compete in Saturday's Essentially Ellington Competition in NYC.

With their bags and instruments packed, the Medfield High School Jazz Band is headed back to New York City for the second time this school year. On Thursday, the Medfield High School Jazz Band leaves for the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition and Festival in New York City. Medfield is one of 15 finalist bands from around the country to participate in this prestigious competition. Medfield will perform on Saturday at 3:20 p.m. at Lincoln Center and will be streamed live through the Jazz at Lincoln Center webcast at http://www.jalc.org/ee2012  (link to be live on Saturday). Log on to Medfield Patch Saturday to watch the band perform live. “Getting into Ellington has been a four-year goal and I cannot wait to see what it …

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Medfield Jazz Night to Feature MHS Jazz Band and 3-Time Grammy Nominee Conrad Herwig

Medfield's annual Jazz Night, presented by Needham Bank, will feature the Medfield High School Jazz Band and Grammy-nominated trombonist Conrad Herwig on May 30 at 7 p.m. in the Lowell Mason Auditorium of Medfield High School.

This year’s Jazz Night, presented by Needham Bank, will feature internationally renowned, three-time Grammy nominee and New York jazz trombonist Conrad Herwig, who will perform with the award-winning Medfield High School jazz band, at the Medfield High School Lowell Mason Auditorium at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 30. Herwig has performed and recorded with such jazz greats as Miles Davis, Frank Sinatra and Tito Puente. He currently performs with the Mingus Big Band. The Medfield High School Jazz Band took home the first-place “Big Band” award at the Mingus competition in New York last year; earned an outstanding soloist award at this year’s Mingus event; and is only one of 15 high school jazz bands selected from across the country and Canada …

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Letter: Medfield High School Jazz Band Reaches Fundraising Goal

Medfield Music Director Doug Olsen writes in to thank everyone who helped the Medfield High School Jazz band raise the $12,000 needed to participate in the Essentially Ellington competition in New York City in May.

Dear Editor, Thanks to local businesses, groups, community members and music supporters, we are thrilled to announce that we have officially met our goal of raising $12,000 to send the Medfield High School Jazz Band to the Essentially Ellington competition at Lincoln Center next month. In my 20-plus years here in Medfield, I have had the pleasure of not only seeing our Medfield students grow and develop musically, but I’ve witnessed the unwavering community support of the entire Medfield Music Program. On behalf of the Medfield Music Department and the Medfield Music Association, we would like to thank the organizations or groups listed below that supported the “Dollars for Duke” campaign. It should be noted that we received several …

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Five Things You Need to Know Today

5 Things for the Weekend: Jazz Around Town, Rail Trail Info and Easter Services

Here's a look at the weekend ahead for April 7-8.

Weekend Forecast: Saturday's weather, according to the National Weather Service based in Taunton, calls for mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. North wind between 8 and 15 mph. Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. North wind between 5 and 9 mph. Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 55. Northwest wind around 9 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. Southwest wind around 8 mph. Weekend Events in the Area: Jazz Up Your Day Saturday Around Town: As part of the “Dollars for Duke” campaign to send the Medfield High School Jazz Band to the Essentially Ellington competition at Lincoln Center, May 4-6, jazz band members will be taking part in “Jazz ‘Round Town” on Saturday, April 7. …

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'Jazz Up Your Day' on April 7 to Help Send MHS Jazz Band to NYC

The Medfield Music Association has launched a “Dollars for Duke” campaign to raise funds to help cover the anticipated $12,000 cost of the Medfield High School jazz band trip to New York City for the prestigious Essentially Ellington festival and competit

As part of the “Dollars for Duke” campaign to send the Medfield High School Jazz Band to the Essentially Ellington competition at Lincoln Center, May 4 to 6, Jazz band members will be taking part in “Jazz ‘Round Town” on Saturday, April 7. Members of the band will be giving public performances at various locations around Medfield on Saturday, April 7, kicking off with a 9:30 to 11 a.m. performance at Blue Moon. They will also be playing in front of Needham Bank from 10 to 11:30 a.m., and at Lovell’s from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The last performance of the day will be at the Gazebo from noon to 1:30 p.m. All performances will take place rain or shine. In keeping with the campaign theme, Jazz Band members will be using top hats to collect both …

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