Doc Rutherford Practices What He Teaches : Jazz: The appearance of the Orange Coast College instructor’s Big Band Super tonight will spotlight his role as educator.

Charles (Doc) Rutherford is at it again. The Orange Coast College jazz instructor has released “Big Band Super,” a recording that documents the 1987 edition of his 22-piece ensemble consisting mainly of his students from the college (see accompanying review). The 1991 edition of Big Band Super plays the El Matador restaurant in Huntington Beach tonight, with guest saxophonist Lanny Morgan.

Rutherford is probably best known for having organized the Orange Coast Jazz Festival held each year between 1969 and 1986. But his most lasting contribution to the jazz world undoubtedly has been as an educator. “He was very important to my musical development,” says Eric Marienthal, the saxophonist known for his work with Chick Corea’s bands, and who records under his own name for GRP.

“He even helped me find the instruments that I needed when I was first out of high school,” Marienthal recalls. “Through him I met many of the musicians, like Don Menza and Louie Bellson, who helped me with my professional career. If it wasn’t for him, there probably wouldn’t be a program at OCC.”

Brandon Fields, former saxophonist for the Rippingtons, says the chance to play in Rutherford’s ensembles was critical to his musical development. “There were a lot of great players involved, and I was exposed to a higher level of music than what I was used to.”

Others who have participated in Rutherford’s Orange Coast jazz ensembles--such as composer, saxophonist, big-band leader and fellow instructor Tom Kubis--are just as complimentary. “He’s literally responsible for hundreds, if not thousands, of great musical careers over the years,” Kubis says.

“He always pushed the right thing at the right time, like making the saxophone players pick up the flute and clarinet. I remember the day he brought in a Thad Jones recording and made us sit down and listen to it, saying this is the way things are going to be from now on.”

Kubis, whose arrangements have been played by Quincy Jones and Les Brown as well as by college ensembles around the country, still brings in new material to try out with Rutherford’s band.

“He was the first guy to say to me, ‘You write and we’ll play whatever you write,’ which gave us an opportunity to hear what we were actually doing. If he knew you could do something, he was on you all the time. He pushed hard but got good results.”

Sitting in his modest office in the OCC music building, surrounded by photos of his favorite jazz musicians and memorabilia from past jazz festivals, Rutherford brushes aside his own accomplishments, preferring instead to talk about the musicians and students he has worked with over the years.

He remembers that Marienthal, who began playing in Rutherford’s ensembles before he was out of high school, “could always hold his own against anybody, no matter who we brought in. . . . I’ve had all these great players come through the college. Now I’m hiring their bands for concerts.”

Rutherford came to Orange Coast in 1967, the same year he graduated with a doctorate in music from North Colorado State.

In 1969, he organized the first Orange Coast College Jazz Ensemble Festival, a one-day event that featured 26 visiting school bands and guest saxophonist Corky Corcoran. By 1972, 85 college and high school bands participated.

Over the years, the bands at the festival included those of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Woody Herman and Buddy Rich. For the festival’s 10th anniversary, Dizzy Gillespie, Phil Woods, Ray Brown, Shelly Manne and the Mel Lewis-Thad Jones Orchestra performed.

As Jim Carnett observed at the end of his essay in that year’s program: “If things have come this far in the first 10 years, what will the festival be like in 1988?”

Sadly, there would be no festival in 1988. Budget cuts at the college ended the school’s financial support for the festival in 1980.

The event continued for a number of years under the auspices of the Coast Jazz Society but, despite strong support from the community, it folded in 1986.

“We always had great support from the college administration,” Rutherford says. “They believed in jazz and weren’t afraid to put the money up for it. And there were people in the community who really worked their tails off. They’re the ones who really made the jazz society. But we just couldn’t handle it after we lost the funds from the college.”

Rutherford is still involved booking music into the college and elsewhere in Orange County. He helped line up the talent for the Hyatt Newporter Jazz Festival this past summer and arranged for guest artists to appear with his various ensembles.

Still, the appearance of his Big Band Super tonight will spotlight his role as instructor.

* Charles (Doc) Rutherford’s Big Band Super plays tonight at 8 p.m. at El Matador, 16903 Algonquin St., Huntington Beach. Tickets: $5. Information: (714) 846-5337.