Local charity, Jazz Outreach Initiative will be honoring the late Sammy Nestico who passed at age 96 on January 17, 2021. The legendary composer published nearly 600 numbers for school groups and professional big bands over his storied career. Nestico was also a professor at the University of Georgia and directed programs at Los Angeles Pierce College and other schools. He also arranged pieces for Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughn, and many others.
“There simply isn’t a musician alive today who at some point in their middle school, high school, or professional career hasn’t played a Sammy Nestico chart,” said JOI Executive Director, Donny Thompson. “We are so excited that our JOI Jazz Orchestra has chosen to honor such a prolific composer and educator for International Jazz Day on April 30th.” JOI will also be posting the video hosted on their YouTube channel to the worldwide International Jazz Day celebration day site,
The JOI Jazz Orchestra is one of many programs hosted by Jazz Outreach Initiative whose mission raises public awareness of jazz through concerts, classes, and community building. The JOI Jazz Orchestra is Jazz Outreach Initiative’s professional jazz big band comprised of Las Vegas’s “first call” musicians who also are volunteer mentors of JOI’s Las Vegas Youth Jazz Orchestra.
About International Jazz Day
April 30th of each year has been recognized by the United Nations since 2011 as International Jazz Day with a purpose, “to highlight jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people in all corners of the globe.” The day is the brainchild of internationally acclaimed recording artist, composer, and UNESCO Goodwill Amabssador Herbie Hancock. Through the JazzDay.com site, music performances will be shared simultaneously across the globe by more than 200 countries.
Links
Jazz Outreach Initiative will launch its video performance of Sammy Nestico’s classic big band composition, “A Warm Breeze” at 6pm pacific time through the following properties:
YouTube: (direct link to video) – https://youtu.be/_mKx1yV1c9Y
Facebook: www.facebook.com/JOI4Jazz
Instagram: @jazzoutreachinitiative
Twitter: @JOI4Jazz
JazzDay.com
A sneak peek will be provided to JOI’s email subscribers ahead of the official April 30th launch time.
About Jazz Outreach Initiative
Jazz Outreach Initiative is a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit charity which promotes jazz awareness, outreach programs, educational programs, concerts, and more. JOI hosts the nation’s largest annual Regional Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Festival. JOI also founded and leads the Las Vegas Youth Jazz Orchestra comprised of middle school and high school aged students from across the valley. JOI also presents educational programs at CCSD elementary, middle, and high schools with an emphasis on Title 1 “at risk” populations. Co-founders are jazz trumpet master, composer, educator, and arranger, Kenny Rampton (Las Vegas native and member of Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis) and Gary Cordell (Director of Programming, Board Member of Las Vegas Local 369 Las Vegas Musicians Union, and trumpeter/arranger/composer for decades in Las Vegas). Executive Director, Donny Thompson, joined JOI early in its foundational year and has experience in business development, marketing, finance, and holds a masters degree in nonprofit administration.
For more information on Jazz Outreach Initiative’s programs and Board of Directors Website is www.jazzoutreachinitiative.org
Facebook at www.facebook.com/joi4jazz
Instagram at @jazzoutreachinitiative
Twitter at #JOI4Jazz
JOI is a Guidestar Gold rated charity. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/81-5201389