As the camp kicks off on Monday, June 17, Mariano Morales and Friends, a seven-piece salsa jazz group from Albuquerque, headed by pianist Mariano Morales, will be performing 7-8:30 p.m., at Duane Smith Auditorium. 

This event is open to the public, and concert admission is $10 per person. Students attending the LAJP Jazz Camp will attend the concert for free.

Starting Tuesday, June 18, more than 50 music students from various schools across New Mexico, in grades ranging between 5-12, will be taking part in classes and clinics where they will learn about jazz history, fundamentals such as improvisation and Jazz theory, and playing in combos and big band settings. 

LAJP Jazz Camp Director William Finn states, “Jazz connects us profoundly to the whole spectrum of human experience with its rich traditions that are a part of all of humanity’s heritage. It looks to the future and invites new possibilities. At the end of the day, jazz is created in ephemeral moments where the deepest emotions from within our souls are free to speak in a way that cannot be expressed in words. As musicians and educators, we are very excited to share this beautiful art form with the next generation.”

During the weeklong camp, young musicians will perform with and learn from various professional jazz musicians and educators from around the state of New Mexico, including Arnaldo Acosta, Jeremy Bleich, Brad Dubbs, Ryan Finn, William Finn, Robert Muller, Jesse Parker, Tom Rheam and Richard Snider.

As the LAJP Jazz Camp concludes, the students participating in the LAJP Jazz Camp will perform Friday, June 21 at the Secret City Summer Concert in the Ashley Pond Park Pavilion. Student big band groups will open at 6 p.m. for Manzanares and Max Pack.