Jazz Education

I just read Don Heckman’s excellent 1999 jazz year in review article (“Was the Glass Half Full or Half Empty? Both, Actually,” Dec. 26) I have to respectfully disagree that it “took some effort to find a high school or college jazz program” 20 years ago.

Jazz and music education programs were thriving in the ‘70s, particularly in Southern California. High school jazz ensembles from John Rinaldo in Eagle Rock, Roger Rickson in Corona, Galen Vogel in Huntington Beach, Reseda, Corona Del Mar and elsewhere played at jazz festivals and competitions throughout the state. Current musicians from those programs include alto saxophonists Eric Marienthal and Ted Nash, bassist John Pattitucci, Grammy-winning orchestrator Randy Kerber and drummer Chad Wackerman, as well as local musicians Jeff Bunnell, Andy Martin, Bill Liston, Gordon Goodwin and Roger Ingram, to name just a few.

For something like 40 years, Chuck Wackerman in Seal Beach has had kids playing jazz starting in the fourth and fifth grades. I was a product of that wonderful environment and went on to tour with the Buddy Rich Big Band and the Harry James Orchestra and play with the L.A. bands of Louis Bellson, Ollie Mitchell and Matt Catingub.

College programs were prevalent then as well, notably with John Prince at CSULB, Joel Leach at CSUN, Doc Rutherford at Orange Coast College, Tom Kubis at Golden West College, as well as programs at Chaffey College and Long Beach City College and, of course, the nationally recognized programs at North Texas State and Berklee College of Music. Throughout the ‘70s, the Stan Kenton Orchestra was in residence at weeklong clinics during the summer at Cal State Sacramento and OCC.

MIKE PLUMLEIGH

Tiburon