Chabot College Jazz Studies Program

The Jazz program has attained national recognition for several decades.  It has garnered awards from Reno Jazz Festival, Pacific Coast Jazz Festival, Santa Cruz Jazz Festival and the Monterey Jazz Festival.  Through the years, the program has performed all over the U.S. including several trips to Japan. The Chabot College music program covers very unique offerings including Jazz Piano, Jazz Theory and Improvisation as well as numerous award winning Jazz ensembles on many levels.

Through the decades, some of the ensembles have accompanied such greats as Rosemary Clooney, Mel Tormè, Delfeayo Marsalis, Doc Severinsen, Ledisi, Ernie Watts, Bobby Shew, Steve Turre, Lew Soloff, Gordon Goodwin, Jamie Davis, Andy Martin, Steve Allen, Matt Catingub, Jamey Aebersold, Patti Page, Snooky Young and Pete Christlieb.

The Jazz Studies department has several accomplished alumni including:
Dave Garibaldi (Drums) performed with Tower of Power, Frank Sumares (Piano) performed with Jamey Aebersold and Bill Watrous, Ledisi (Vocalist) recording artist for Verve Records, Thomas Morgan (Bass) recording artist, Mic Gillette (Trumpet) performed with Tower of Power, Jeff Prinz (Saxophone) performed and recorded with Rosemary Clooney, Steve Bowman (Drums) performed with rock band Counting Crows, Donald Kennelly (Trombone) performing with the San Francisco Opera, Matt Fenders (Trombone) performing with Jay Leno%u2019s Tonight Show, David Enos (Bass) performed with Arturo Sandoval and David Bennoit, and Frank Martin (piano/composer/arranger) performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, Bobby McFerrin, John Handy, Ramsey Lewis, Joe, and the Slide Hampton Big Band.