Valley Jazz Cooperative
VJC Winter Performance
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZValley Jazz Cooperative Winter Performance The Valley Jazz Cooperative’s three jazz ensembles offer their Winter Performance in Ravenscroft Hall, their first VJC concert of the year. Appearing on the program…
VJC Spring Performance
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZValley Jazz Cooperative Spring Performance The Valley Jazz Cooperative’s Indigo and Cerulean Big Bands present their Spring Performance in Ravenscroft Hall on Saturday, April 6th at 7pm. Both ensembles are directed by VJC Founder Russell Schmidt. VJC student groups typically perform a wide variety of repertoire, mixing selections from historically significant composers such as Benny Carter,…
Jazzbird Nights: VJC SENIOR SHOWCASE FEATURING JOHN WOJCIECHOWSKI (BENEFIT FOR HART PANTRY)
Jazzbird 8445 E. Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZFriday, May 3rd, at 7:00pm, Jazzbird welcomes MSW’s Valley Jazz Cooperative alongside guest artist John Wojciechowski (Benefit for HART Pantry). Featured artists (first set) include: VJC Senior Showcase Outstanding seniors from MSW’s Valley Jazz Cooperative program perform combo jazz alongside guest artist John Wojciechowski and leading area jazz musicians. Featured artists (second set) include: John Wojciechowski…
VJC SPOTLIGHT CONCERT FEATURING JOHN WOJCIECHOWSKI (BENEFIT FOR HART PANTRY)
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZVJC Spotlight Concert Featuring John Wojciechowski (Benefit for HART Pantry) The ensembles of the Valley Jazz Cooperative educational program will share the stage for the final time this season, joined by guest saxophonist John Wojciechowski. The Sapphire Ensemble (led by Paul Brewer) and the Cerulean and Indigo Big Bands (directed by Russell Schmidt) will play a wide-ranging…
VJC Alumni Band
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZValley Jazz Cooperative Alumni Band An annual highlight of the Valley Jazz Cooperative program, the VJC Alumni Band returns to the Ravenscroft Hall stage on Saturday, June 29th at 7pm! The jazz ensemble, under the direction of Russell Schmidt, features talented young musicians who were previously members of the VJC during their high school years.…
VJC Alumni Band+: Christmas Concert
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZVJC ALUMNI BAND+: CHRISTMAS CONCERT *** THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT *** Join us for a magical Christmas Concert as Valley Jazz Cooperative program alums combine forces with a handful of leading area jazz artists for the first time! The newly-formed VJC Alumni Band+ will perform big band arrangements of holiday classics, infusing Ravenscroft Hall with the Spirit of…
VJC Winter Performance
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZVJC WINTER PERFORMANCE Two of the Valley Jazz Cooperative's student ensembles share the stage for the VJC Winter Performance in Ravenscroft Hall. This matinee event is the opening VJC concert of the year, showcasing Cerulean Two (a combo) and Indigo (a big band) on the program. Both groups are led by VJC Founder Russell Schmidt.…
VJC Spring Performance
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZVJC SPRING PERFORMANCE All three Valley Jazz Cooperative student ensembles share the stage for the VJC Spring Performance in Ravenscroft Hall. This concert showcases the Cerulean Combo and Indigo Big Band (both under the direction of Russell Schmidt), as well as the Sapphire Big Band (under the direction of Paul Brewer). The VJC Spring Performance…
Jazzbird Nights: VJC SENIOR SHOWCASE FEATURING NICK FINZER (BENEFIT FOR KITCHEN ON THE STREET)
Jazzbird 8445 E. Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZFriday, May 2nd, at 7:00pm, Jazzbird welcomes the VJC Senior Showcase Featuring Nick Finzer (Benefit for Kitchen on the Street)! Featured artists (first set) include: The VJC Senior Showcase Outstanding seniors from MSW’s Valley Jazz Cooperative program perform combo jazz alongside guest artist Nick Finzer and leading area jazz musicians. Featured artists (second set) include: Nick…
VJC SPOTLIGHT CONCERT FEATURING NICK FINZER (BENEFIT FOR KITCHEN ON THE STREET)
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZVJC SPOTLIGHT CONCERT FEATURING NICK FINZER (BENEFIT FOR KITCHEN ON THE STREET) On Saturday, May 3rd at 2:00 p.m., the ensembles of the Valley Jazz Cooperative educational program will share the Ravenscroft Hall stage for the final time this season, joined by guest trombonist Nick Finzer. The Sapphire Big Band (led by Paul Brewer) and…
VALLEY JAZZ COOPERATIVE ALUMNI BAND
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZVALLEY JAZZ COOPERATIVE ALUMNI BAND An annual highlight on the VJC calendar, the Valley Jazz Cooperative Alumni Band takes the Ravenscroft Hall stage on Saturday, June 28th at 7 PM! Due to ever-expanding interest from program alums, this year’s edition will feature two different big bands, each one performing half the concert. VJC Alumni groups…
VJC Alumni Band+: Christmas Concert
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZVJC ALUMNI BAND+: CHRISTMAS CONCERT WHAT TO EXPECT Join us once more for a magical Christmas Concert as alums of the Valley Jazz Cooperative program share the stage with a few leading artists on the local jazz scene. It’s the triumphant return of the VJC Alumni Band+, which debuted last December to a sold-out house…
Jazzbird Nights: VJC Alumni Sextet
Jazzbird 8445 E. Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZWHAT TO EXPECT Making its debut performance in Jazzbird, the VJC Alumni Sextet features exceptional young musicians from MSW's Valley Jazz Cooperative educational outreach program. Focusing on Hard Bop and Modern Mainstream jazz styles, the Alumni Sextet (a.k.a. VJC Azure) affords its rotating membership the opportunity to continue to explore and develop their remarkable creativity…
VJC Winter Performance
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZWHAT TO EXPECT A pair of Valley Jazz Cooperative student ensembles share the stage for the opening VJC concert of the year. The VJC Winter Performance will showcase Cerulean (a combo) and Indigo (a big band) on the Ravenscroft Hall stage. VJC Founder Russell Schmidt leads both groups in a matinee event that marks the…
VJC Blue Hues
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZWHAT TO EXPECT The Valley Jazz Cooperative’s 10th Anniversary Season continues with the Blue Hues, featuring the Indigo Big Band and Cerulean Combo (both under the direction of Russell Schmidt) and the Sapphire Big Band (under the direction of Paul Brewer). This is the first VJC event of the year to feature all three student…
Jazzbird Nights: VJC Senior Showcase featuring Jordan Pettay
Jazzbird 8445 E. Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZWHAT TO EXPECT The annual VJC Senior Showcase event features the creative gifts of outstanding high school seniors from MSW’s Valley Jazz Cooperative educational program. During the first set, select seniors will have the opportunity to perform jazz standards alongside guest artist Jordan Pettay, a NYC-based jazz saxophonist, backed by leading area jazz musicians. During…
Jazzbird Nights: Kris Johnson
Jazzbird 8445 E. Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZWHAT TO EXPECT Kris Johnson is a trumpeter, composer, and educator based in Detroit. With contributions to six GRAMMY-nominated albums as a trumpeter and arranger, including the 2024 GRAMMY-winning Basie Swings the Blues by the Count Basie Orchestra, Kris is a recognized force in the industry. His career highlights include touring globally as a member…
VJC Spotlight Concert featuring Kris Johnson
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZWHAT TO EXPECT The ensembles of the Valley Jazz Cooperative’s main educational program (grades 8-12) share the Ravenscroft Hall stage for a final time this season. And the annual VJC Spotlight Concert is once more a fundraising event, presented in cooperation with MSW Ministries’ Music on a Mission outreach. 100% of all proceeds and donations…
VJC Alumni Band Summer Celebration
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZWHAT TO EXPECT The Valley Jazz Cooperative’s 10th Anniversary Season concludes with a Summer Celebration from the VJC Alumni Band. Now a much-anticipated highlight on the VJC calendar, the Alumni Band will perform in Ravenscroft Hall under the direction of Russell Schmidt. Again this year, due to ever-growing interest from program alums, our Summer Celebration…