Watch and listen to the students that participated in Savannah Music Festival’s 2026 Jazz Academy program at their annual Spring Showcase concert.
Recorded on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 4pm
Ben Tucker Theater – Otis S. Johnson Cultural Arts Center
Benje Daneman, Program Director
Aubrie Racies, Program Assistant
SMFJA BIG BAND
Directed by Benje Daneman
Manteca (Dizzy Gillespie, Walter Fuller, Chano Pozo/Arr. Mike Tomaro)
- Saxes: Jawren Walton, Gram Lambert, Jackie Owens, Jirnae Berksteiner, A’Naria Hutchinson, Koby Yakabovits
- Trombones: Kameron Gatson-Townsend, Charlie Karpf, Charles Howell Jr., Christina Campbell, Gabbrielle Bryant
- Trumpets: Caleb Brodhead, Oz Yakabovits, Yohan Coaxum, Justin McBean
- Rhythm Section: Sam Karpf (Guitar), Jaden Cooper (Piano) AnneMarie Head (Bass)
- Percussion: Joshua McLean, Dion Thompson, Jackson Temple, Sam Griffin
THE CREATORS, INC.
Directed by Jaron McCarr
You Don’t Know What Love Is (Gene De Paul/Arr. Slide Hampton)
Recorda Me (Joe Henderson)
- Justin McBean – Trumpet
- Caleb Brodhead – Trumpet
- Jirnae Birksteiner – Tenor Saxophone
- A’Naria Hutchinson – Clarinet/Saxophone
- Kameron Gatson-Townsend – Trombone
- Sam Karpf – Guitar
- Christina Campbell – Piano
- AnneMarie Head – Bass
- Dion Thompson – Drums
TRAILBLAZERS
Directed by Maggie Evans
Walkin’ in Savannah (Caili O’Doherty)
- A’Naria Hutchinson – Clarinet/Saxophone
- Louisa Corbell – Trumpet
- Christina Campbell – Piano
- Liara Lewis – Bass
- AnneMarie Head – Bass
- Ny’Mia Day – Drums
THE SWING COLLECTIVE
Directed by Jaron McCarr
I Mean You (Thelonious Monk)
Haitian Fight Song (Charles Mingus)
- Gram Lambert – Alto Saxophone
- Carter Chapman – Alto Saxophone
- Charles Howell, Jr. – Trombone
- Matai Horne – Trumpet
- Louisa Corbell – Trumpet
- Taylor Asquith – Guitar
- Rian Del Sol – Piano
- Koby Yakabovits – Bass
- Isod Vital – Drums
LOW ELEMENTARY BAND
Directed by Jawren Walton
Sonnymoon for Two (Sonny Rollins)
- Aurora Micieli
- Jalen Gillon
- Liara Lewis
- Raziyiah Williams
- Tori Carter
SWEET MELODY
Directed by Jaron McCarr
Struttin with some Barbecue (Lil Hardin Armtrong)
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (Joe Zawinul)
- Ma’Laysia Moultrie – Alto Saxophone
- Ja’Breon Manigo – Tenor Saxophone
- Charley Lambert – Clarinet
- Emery McKinney – Trombone
- Vincent Chapman – Trombone
- Elyana Woods – Viola
- Sean Hayden – Piano
- Reuben Johnson – Bass
- Ny’Mia Day – Drums
THE JAZZ (SOMEWHAT) 10
Directed by Sarah Hamilton
Summertime (George Gershwin)
Accentuate the Positive (Johnny Mercer)
- Kaleb Winder – Alto Saxophone
- Madison Coaxum – Clarinet
- Frank Crain – Trumpet
- Javae Kirlew – Trumpet
- Davy Deacon – Trombone
- Amelia Head – Guitar
- Jayden Varner – Piano
- James Yarnold – Bass
- Jalen Gillon – Drums
THE AFTERBEAT
Directed by Jawren Walton
Footprints (Wayne Shorter)
Lingus (Snarky Puppy)
- Yohan Coaxum – Trumpet
- Gabbrielle Bryant – Trombone
- Oz Yakabovits – Guitar
- Jaden Cooper – Piano
- Charlie Karpf – Bass
- Sam Griffin – Drums
- Jackson Temple – Drums
SMF JAZZ ACADEMY ARTIST INSTRUCTORS:
- Aaron Jennings – Drums
- Anthony Teixera – Bass & Strings
- Eric Jones – Piano
- Jaron McCarr – Trombone & Ensembles
- Jawren Walton – Saxophone, Melodica & Ensembles
- Marc Cordray – Drums
- Marisa Webster – Trumpet
- Reggie Carson – Bass
- Sarah Hamilton – Saxophone & Ensembles
- Spencer Alexander – Guitar
SPONSORS
SMF Jazz Academy’s founding sponsors are Ron & Susan Whitaker.
SMF Jazz Academy is sponsored by Charles A. Frueauff Foundation, Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. and Savannah-Chatham County Public School System.
SMF Jazz Academy is sponsored in part by Einar & Betsey Anderson, the Walter G. Canipe Foundation, City of Savannah, Courtney Knight Gaines Foundation, Marla & Morris Geffen, Hodge Foundation and Kiwanis Club of Skidaway.
Partial support for SMF Jazz Academy is provided by Anonymous, Joe & Sue Dockman, Find Your Light Foundation, Mrs. Ellen O’Bannon and Publix Super Markets Charities.
Additional support comes from Roger & Faith Arner, Christine Collins & Marc Carignan, Beverley Cox, Peter & Karen Meyer, Monica & Albert Peetoom, Dr. Thomas Philbrick &
Susan Ketchum, The Savannah Community Foundation, Sound View Wealth Advisors, LLC and Glenn & Kari Steinberg.
SPECIAL THANKS
Jenny Woodruff, Sinisa Ciric, Evanita Wallace-Lewis, Adele McCall, Melody Rivers, Mr. Wright, Noelle Westmoreland, Jean’ne Townsend, Delandrian Aikens, Dr. Yanis Medina, Jonathan Murphy, Tom Hutcherson, Cynthia Utterbach, Barbara Harris, Janviaire Parker, Molly Lieberman, Christine Reilly, Derrick Butler, Kimberly Achenbach, Julian Childers, Scotty Henley, Dustin Biddle, District Live, First Presbyterian Church, Pooler Juneteenth Committee, DEEP Center, The Savannah Philharmonic, Loop It Up, and the SCCPSS Academic Affairs Team.
Most of all, we are grateful to our incredible SMFJA families who have helped make this semester possible!
Filmed by Josh Jasso