Music
Jazz Labs Dayton Summer Camp
James Leslie (Jazz Area Coordinator) and the jazz faculty at the University of Dayton are excited to offer this summer jazz camp for middle and high school students. Jazz Labs Dayton is a summer jazz education program started by UD alumnus Hal Melia over 30 years ago, and has touched the lives of over 1000 students. This week-long summer day camp provides students with musical essentials and life skills they can use to become the best musicians and the best people they can be. Performances are family friendly and open to the public.
Besides the musical instruction, students are given opportunities to learn teamwork, leadership, self-expression and self-discovery in a positive and supportive environment
Date: June 9-14, 2024
Location: University of Dayton
For more information, please contact James Leslie
Registration information
- $355 (without lunch)
There is limited scholarship money available for attendees. Reach out to James Leslie for scholarship information.
*-Lunch will only be offered Monday through Thursday during the week.
- Section warm-ups
- Masterclasses by instrument
- Elective classes in arranging and jazz singing
- Listening sessions
- Combo rehearsals (with an emphasis on improvisation)
- Big Band rehearsals
- Faculty jam sessions
- Student concert
Lecturer, Percussion; Percussion Area Coordinator, Jazz Area Coordinator
Adjunct Faculty, Composition, Orchestration, Arranging, Jazz Bass and Modern Guitar
Adjunct Faculty, Jazz Piano
Associate Professor of Saxophone
Adjunct Faculty, Jazz Guitar
Non-UD faculty members
Zachary Granger was born in Columbus, Ohio, and began playing the trombone in the ninth grade as part of his public school jazz program. After taking trombone lessons with local guitarist and former trombonist, Jim Pelz, Zachary was changed forever by recordings of Frank Rosolino and J.J. Johnson. At 14, Zachary decided that making music every day of his life was top priority and has since evolved into a renowned trombone soloist and freelance musician. Zachary's trademark as a trombonist is the beauty of his sound, stellar technique and deep emotional connection to the music. With an ever-growing mastery of the instrument and extensive knowledge of jazz harmony, Zachary has distinguished himself as one of the pre-eminent musicians in Cincinnati and the surrounding tri-state area, not only in the realm of jazz and improvisation, but performing some of the more difficult music in the commercial music world as well.
Zachary is a fixture in the recording studios, the big band music scene and is highly sought after by many musical groups in Cincinnati and touring acts. He studied under Marc Fields, a trombonist who worked with the great Ray Charles Orchestra, for nearly eight years.
John Zappa is a performer and educator. At Northern Kentucky University, he teaches trumpet, Jazz Theory, Arranging, Jazz History, Composition, Improvisation and Jazz Appreciation as well as coaching a variety of ensembles. As an educator, Zappa has written a text book for Jazz Appreciation and developed Jazz Theory and Arranging courses to fit the needs of the students at NKU. He also developed a course called Composition For Commercial Media which blends composition with technology. Many of Zappa’s former students have gone on to successful performing careers and some as successful music educators. His trumpet students range from serious jazz players to lead/commercial players and classical players looking for better technique.
He also maintains a performing schedule and has appeared throughout the United States, Asia and Europe. Zappa’s professional credits as a trumpeter run the gambit of musical styles and ensembles. While primarily a jazz trumpeter appearing regularly with several big bands and jazz combos, he also plays with salsa bands, concert orchestras, pit orchestras and show bands. He is also an accomplished studio musician recording music for theme parks and television commercials as well recording for various album projects which have included the Grammy nominated “When Bullfrogs Croak” by Zach Morgan and “We Want the Funk” by Bootsy Collins for the movie “Undercover Brother.”