Jazz greats Rachel Z, Aubrey Logan to dazzle as clinicians, entertainers at this year’s JazzFest 2024 – Temple Daily Telegram

Thousands of visitors will be in Temple this week for JazzFest 2024, including two of the world’s greatest jazz musicians.

Rachel Z, a two-time Grammy winner from New York City who has 13 albums to her credit, and Aubrey Logan, a dual-threat musician who can dazzle with her vocal and trombone skills, will be part of a big week of jazz fun and education.

“This year’s guest performers and clinicians are really special,” said Benjamin Irom, professor of music and director of jazz studies at Temple College. “We didn’t set out to have two outstanding female performers, it just happened. Females are underrepresented in the jazz world, and we have two of the best.”

In addition to performing at the festival’s evening concerts, the performers also will be conducting clinics — Rachel Z at noon on Friday, Aubrey at lunchtime on Saturday.

On Friday night, Rachel Z and her personal ensemble will be performing at the 7:30 p.m. evening concert featuring the Temple College Jazz Ensemble and the Temple College Faculty Jazz Ensemble. Tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for students.

On Saturday night, Logan will be on stage with the Temple Jazz Orchestra. While she is undoubtedly one of the world’s trombone greats, she is mesmerizing when she puts down the ‘bone and goes vocal. She loves to add in some “scat” style vocals, and her vocal speed is mind-blowing. (Homework: Go to YouTube and search ‘Aubrey Logan Can’t Touch This.’)

Rachel Z lives in Brooklyn and teaches performance theory and “other jazzy stuff” at the New School for Jazz & Contemporary Music. But, she said: “That’s just part of what I do.”

Rachel doesn’t just teach — she does. She has amassed 13 albums so far, and No. 14 comes out this month.

“My new album is called Sensual, and it hits the streaming services on March 29,” she said. “But, I have three singles that will be released that week.”

Expect to hear Sensual and the new releases at the Temple College performance.

The first single to be released will be Bodhisattva, which focuses on Rachel’s masterful storytelling and rich melodies that allow the listener to explore self awareness. The next release will be Save My Soul, which she describes as “a prayer for world peace.”

“There’s a lot of messes around the world right now, and Save My Soul seeks answers to these issues,” Rachel said.

The third single, Sensual, shares its name with the album.

“Sensual is about more than sex,” she said. “It’s about all things beautiful — big skies, sunsets, the special things in our world. These are things we need to feel good in life.”

While Rachel is accomplished on the clarinet, flute and oboe, years ago she decided to focus on vocals and jazz piano. The results have been amazing — she has two Grammy awards under her belt and more could follow with the release of Sensual.

“I’m really looking forward to my clinic,” she said. “I love getting to know young musicians. First I will analyze the need and address that. I tend to create on-the-go. I will teach them how to connect with their rhythm section and other musicians, then we will talk about how to compose a song. It should be pretty cool.”

Logan said she has been busy during the past year speaking to young musicians at colleges and high schools.

“From what I’ve observed, these young people are getting instructed right,” she said. “Their teachers are having them memorize their chord scales, use a metronome, play with dynamic contrast, etc.”

“I don’t want to be white noise, so I try to make sure I cover stage fright (how to get rid of it. The answer is a bit unconventional but it works!), communicating effectively to their audience (make sure you care about them!), improvising tips that help those chord-scales come to life, and overall survival in the ever-changing music industry,” Logan added.

“As for the show, that’s where the real fun begins,” she said. “I get to play with the Temple College Jazz Orchestra, and I’m especially looking forward to it because we have some new material freshly arranged for a big band. Carole King arranged as a swingin’ big band tune? We’re doing it. Hopefully the show will bring people to laughter and tears.”