Jazzschool Studio Band with Special Guests – The Jazz Garden Big Band

This remarkable evening features two generations of Bay Area big band excellence, led by the same visionary: Dave Eshelman. The Jazzschool Studio Band, comprised of the Bay Area's finest high school jazz musicians, will share the stage with Eshelman's veteran Jazz Garden Big Band, presenting "From Brazil to the Beatles."

The Jazzschool Studio Band represents the future of jazz — these young musicians sound mature beyond their years, delivering incredible arrangements and fiery solos that span both exploratory and traditional territory. Under Eshelman's direction, they've earned national recognition from DownBeat magazine's annual student music awards and performed at prestigious festivals including North Sea, Umbria, Montreux, and Vienne. The evening will feature two student arrangements by pianist Max Roston-Saul and drummer Mike Morales, showcasing the next generation's compositional talents.

The Jazz Garden Big Band, now in its 45th year, features some of the Bay Area's most active freelance musicians — many have performed with the band for decades. DownBeat describes Eshelman as "a substantive composer and an even better arranger," and his band delivers contemporary mainstream jazz with a twist. Their program spans an impressive range: Brazilian rhythms, Beatles classics, African influences via the Caribbean, and compositions from Duke Ellington to Chick Corea. The emphasis is on free-flowing improvisation framed within driving, colorful arrangements that appeal to both seasoned jazz listeners and newcomers.

Eshelman, a trombonist, composer, and former Director of Jazz Studies at Cal State East Bay, brings together these two ensembles for a rare intergenerational celebration of big band music. His Jazz Garden Big Band has recorded multiple albums for the Sea Breeze label and performed at major festivals including Monterey and San Jose Jazz. The evening showcases both the rich legacy and bright future of Bay Area jazz education and performance.