DAYJO is an invitation-only summer rehearsal big band, with full instrumentation of at least 5
saxes, 5 trombones, 5 trumpets and 5 rhythm players. It was founded by Jeff Smiley in 1988, partly as
a challenge to his advanced trumpet students who needed higher level performance experience.
There
are no formal auditions. The players are selected by band director and private lesson teacher recommendations
and/or by placement in state sponsored competitions such as the All-State Jazz Contest.
There
are two bands, DAYJO senior and DAYJO junior. For information on DAYJO Jr., click here.
Players in the senior band range in age from 16-21, with most in upper high school or early college.
Once a player has made DAYJO, they are usually invited back the following year. About 60 to 70% return,
partly because of the level of musicianship, but mostly for the music. Charts from the libraries of
Stan Kenton, Buddy Rich, Maynard Ferguson, Don Ellis and others provide the kind of challenge and excitement
only high level big band can offer - an experience that only the best players understand.
Offered as a Continuing Education class at Richland College, DAYJO rehearsals start in late May or the
first week of June and run every Tuesday from 2:00 to 4:00 until the last week of July. During the final
week there is a traditional concert with a local professional jazz orchestra, a more formal concert in
a church or performance hall (recorded), and a session in a local recording studio.
Year 2007
is the 19th anniversary of DAYJO. Since 1988, dozens of musicians have used the experience as a valuable
steppingstone to help further their musical careers.
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