By Ariane Lange

The Jazz Explorers and top jazz combos from other local high schools will open for acclaimed jazz trumpeter Wayne Bergeron at the third annual Harvard-Westlake Concord Jazz Festival April 12.

Members of the Jazz Explorers organized the event to benefit the Inner-City Arts Foundation, which provides inner-city children with arts education.

The festival is headed by Ian Sprague ’08, Ian Stanton ’08, Charlie Fogarty ’10 and Leland Cox ’09.

From 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. high school jazz musicians from Crossroads, Brentwood, Washington Preparatory High School, L.A. County High School for the Arts and Campbell Hall will gather for group jam sessions and a master class with Bergeron.

“One of the goals is to foster a high school jazz community,” Sprague said.

“Non-competitive jazz community,” Stanton added.

The concert, which will be open to the public and held in Rugby, will start at 8 p.m.
Money from the ticket sales will go to the charity.

Sprague said that the Explorers in charge have been planning since September, but it’s been on their minds since last year. They will be interviewed by several radio stations and are now mostly working on promotion.

The Jazz Festival was started by Jazz Explorer Jay Dockendorf ’07 and his friend Constantine Savvides.

Hal Gaba (Lauren ’08), the owner of Concord Records, was also instrumental in funding the concert and getting Bergeron to play, Sprague said. Jazz teacher Shawn Costantino has also helped them organize it.