On April 15, 2010 the Sherman Theater will be filled with the sounds of swing music with local high school musicians and the COTA Festival Orchestra performing music from the Al Cohn Memorial Jazz Collection. A special treat will be the appearance of “Blue” Lou Marini of SNL and the Blues Brothers fame. The concert is at 7:30 PM tickets are available at the Sherman Theater box office for $15.00 and $5.00 for students.

This will be a unique educational experience for young jazz musicians from the Pocono Mountain East, Delaware Valley and Stroudsburg Area School Districts. Each band is preparing music from the Al Cohn Collection and will be participants in a workshop/clinic with members of the Festival Orchestra and special guest “Blue” Lou Marini. They will then perform with Mr. Marini and evening will close with a set by Lou and The Festival Orchestra.

Lou Marini is no stranger to either the Poconos or the music of Al Cohn. About Al, Lou states, “To me, his charts are the embodiment of a natural inherent swing. They just feel right and natural to play. They reflect his intelligence and great sense of humor and above all, they swing.” Lou has performed with the East Stroudsburg High School (South) band in 1985 and with the University band in 2000.

It’s been said a person can be described by the company he keeps.  When wind player Lou Marini, Jr. is introduced on stages and recording projects worldwide, it’s amidst luminaries like James Taylor, Aerosmith, Eric Clapton, Buddy Rich, Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett, Stevie Wonder, Doc Severinson, Blood Sweat & Tears, Steely Dan, Woody Herman, Steve Tyrell, the Rolling Stones, and the Dan Akroyd and John Belushi cult phenomenon, The Blues Brothers, born out of Saturday Night Live, where Lou’s signature wailing sax is imitated to this day.

COTA CampJazz an educational outreach program of the Delaware Water Gap Celebration of the Arts Fund for Young Musicians will benefit from a portion of the proceeds from the concert This program, the 4th annual, held from July 26 – August 1 in Water Gap, provides an opportunity for young musicians to study the art of jazz improvisation by working in small groups with the jazz masters of the COTA organization.

Dedicated to preserving all forms of jazz from all eras, the Al Cohn Memorial Jazz Collection (ACMJC) was founded in 1988 to honor the life and legacy of Al Cohn—legendary saxophonist, arranger, composer and conductor, and long-time Pocono resident.  The collection is housed in Kemp Library on the ESU campus and consists of jazz recordings, oral histories, sheet music, photographs, books, videos, and original art and memorabilia, all generously donated over the years by supporters from around the world.

The COTA Festival Orchestra has performed at the annual COTA Jazz and Arts Festival throughout its 31-year run, and has twice toured Europe as the Phil Woods Big Band.  The members include: Nelson Hill, Jay Rattman, Tom Hamilton, Bob Keller, and Jim Buckley (saxes); Ken Brader, Danny Cahn, Eddie Severn, and Patrick Dorian (trumpets); Rick Chamberlain, Fred Scott, Kevin Haines and Jim Daniels (trombones); Eric Doney, Evan Gregor, Bill Goodwin and Marko Marcinko (rhythm).

Eager to bring this Big Band music into the heart of the community, the Sherman Theater offered to partner the “Library Alive” series.  Built in the 1920s, the recently renovated Sherman Theater is equipped to present many of today’s biggest shows.  Complete with full bar and restaurant, it offers everything needed for a complete evening of entertainment.  Audiences and performers alike have been awed by the fantastic acoustics, comfort, and historic feel of this rejuvenated downtown performance venue.

July 26 through August 1, 2010

Faculty Phil Woods - Director Rick Chamberlain - Director Jim Daniels - Education Coordinator Evan Gregor - Ensemble Coordinator Kent Heckman - Red Rock Recording Spencer Reed Caris Visentin Eric Doney Vicki Doney Bobby Avey, Piano Matt Vashlishin, Saxophone Jay Rattman, Saxophone Jesse Green, Piano Phil Woods, NEA Jazz Master (Composer) and multi-Grammy-Award-winning saxophonist Dave Liebman Bill Goodwin Bob Dorough Bob Leive and more!

Campus: Delaware Water Gap, PA Historic Sites Castle Inn (site of the COTA Festival) Presbyterian Church of the Mountain Deer Head Inn  Curriculum: (level specific) Improvisational training Small-ensemble playing Big Band Workshops Theory of improvisation and arranging for a small group Ear training Listening workshops Recording workshop and session Brown-bag lunch concerts with faculty and guests Classes with COTA Jazz Masters All-ensemble performances at the Gap's Community Concert Series, Aug. 2 (Church of the Mountain Gazebo) Field trip to explore the Al Cohn Memorial Jazz Collection at the Kemp Library of East Stroudsburg University  Housing: Housing is available at East Stroudsburg University for CampJazz students. The cost for room and board (breakfast and dinner included) is $395.00. We have the third floor of the university apartments. 4 apartments - 2 male, 2 female - 3 bedrooms each apartment double occupancy. There will be a responsible chaperone for the floor. We will match age groups. Since the other floors will be students of David Liebman's saxophone Master class - there will be plenty of music floating through the building that week.