Thoughts on the Monterey Jazz Festival's County High School All-Star Band

Tonight is arguably my favorite show of the year. The one at which we, as jazz fans, are able to eavesdrop on the future.

Today’s post is a little different. It’s actually more of a thank-you note. Thank you to the Monterey Jazz Festival for your continued support of young musicians and for your remarkable commitment to the next generation of jazz as evidenced by the Monterey County High School All-Star Band.

Thank you to our corporate sponsors and those of you, who through your kind donations make evenings like these possible.

Thanks you to the young folks in band … you are truly the cream of the crop.

And, speaking of the band, there’s one more group to be thanked and I’ll need their help to do it.

After tonight's performance at 6:30 p.m. at Town Plaza Park, when the musicians call their folks and tell them that they knocked us dead, which I hope they do and know that they will … thank them.

Express your gratitude for piano lessons and drum sets, for rides to practice and money for road trips.

Thank them and tell them from us that their investments are not only maturing at an alarming speed, but also earning dividends at a rate that they could hardly have imagined. Thank them and tell them they've done good.

Jazz tonight … jazz tomorrow