It's the biggest weekend of the year for Jazz at Loyola, and you won't want to miss it! Whether you're participating in Loyola Jazz Fest as a student or sitting in the audience, you won't want to miss this blow-out event!

Bring your student musicians to a great educational festival experience in the birthplace of jazz! We are pleased to announce that this year’s festival will be featuring saxophonist Bob Reynolds of Snarky Puppy as guest artists and clinicians for the 2025 Loyola University Jazz Ensemble Festival. The festival is open to big bands or jazz combos from the Elementary through College level. A panel of expert musicians/educators will be available Friday and Saturday to adjudicate your group. One of these educators will give your group a clinic immediately following their performance. Groups that receive all I’s for their performance will receive a plaque. Outstanding Musician Awards will be given to exceptional student soloists, arrangers or section leaders. Scholarships to the Loyola University Summer Jazz Camp will also be awarded. Included with the Loyola Festival on both Friday and Saturday at 12:30 p.m. are FREE Master Classes for all instruments, taught by Bob Reynolds and the Loyola Jazz Faculty. We also have some great guests joining us as clinicians.
 
Three Concerts will highlight the Festival:

Thursday, March 13th
Jazz Underground: featuring special guest Gregg Stafford

7:30 PM | Nunemaker Auditorium | Ticket required: General Admission - $20, Free for festival participants

Friday, March 14th
Loyola Jazz Faculty Concert

4:30 PM | Roussel Hall | Free admission

Saturday, March 15th
Loyola Jazz Ensemble, Crescent Collective, and Special Guests

4:30 PM | Roussel Hall | Ticket required

$20 for general admission, free for Loyola students, faculty and staff, free for festival participants

 

DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS:

February 21, 2025 by 11:59 PM.

Participation fee is $350 for big bands, and $225 for combos.

For more information, please contact Gordon Towell at gltowell@loyno.edu or 504-865-2164.

 

This year's special guest:

Bob Reynolds

Los Angeles-based saxophonist Bob Reynolds is a Grammy-winning member of the instrumental group Snarky Puppy, an award-winning composer, and a prolific recording artist with 10 top-selling solo albums to his credit.

Widely known for his work with both Snarky and John Mayer, he’s been a featured soloist with Grammy-winning instrumentalists like Larry Carlton, Chris Botti, and Jeff Lorber and worked with a host of pop artists including Michael Bublé, Idina Menzel, Josh Groban, The 1975, and USHER.

The New York Times called him “a self-assured saxophonist and an unassuming yet effective composer,” and his solo albums showcase his melodic improvisational style, tuneful songwriting, and, as the LA Times put it: “hip-swiveling” grooves. His Guitar Band album, filmed live in concert, has over 4 million views on YouTube.

A pioneer in online education, Bob has coached thousands of musicians since 2010 through his innovative Virtual Studio, and more than 76,000 people subscribe to Bob's YouTube channel where he shares behind-the-scenes videos of what it’s like balancing his music career with raising a family.

 

This year's clinicians:

Jeff Antoniuk

Jeff Antoniuk, an Eastman Saxophones, Boston Sax Shop and Rovner Artist, is an engaging and inspirational educator, composer and performer. He has performed, produced and taught across the world, and his Digging Deeper Jazz videos on YouTube have been viewed nearly four million times. Performance credits include a who’s who list: Helen Sung, Marcus Miller, Akiko Tsuruga, the English acid jazz band Incognito and so many more.

Mr. Antoniuk is the Founder and Artistic Director of www.JazzWire.net, an education platform dedicated to connecting and inspiring adult amateur and semi-pro musicians from around the world. Working with passionate musicians in over 25 countries, Jeff has created an unparalleled space, offering Growth Plans & Playing Evaluations, almost a thousand powerful videos and support material, but most importantly the opportunity to connect in a real way with fellow musicians from across the planet. 

Living in Annapolis, MD, Jeff just celebrated the 22nd  anniversary of the JazzWire Summer Summit, a jazz camp for adults in Washington DC, attended by over 1,000 people from across North America and the globe. He hosts additional Summit workshops in Edmonton Canada, Minneapolis and California.

Ronan Cowan

Ronan Cowan is a drummer and educator based in New Orleans since 2019. A native of Sarasota, Florida, he became immersed in music in high school and has since cultivated a successful career as a musician. He holds a Bachelor's in Music from Florida State University and a Master's in Music from the University of New Orleans.

Ronan has performed with well-respected artists such as Jason Marsalis, Victor Goines, Bob Dogan, Rodney Jordan, Scotty Barnhardt, Jamil Shariff, Peter Harris, Wessell Anderson, the NOJO 7, and Thais Clark.  His drive, reliability, knowledge, and flexibility as a drummer have made him a stalwart in the New Orleans jazz scene. 

In addition to pursuing mentorship by jazz masters, Ronan prioritizes playing with people and collaborating with many local bands and great musicians in his peer group. He's a passionate educator, with many of his private drum students going on to successful careers. He has taught privately and at local music schools in New Orleans. He is currently on the faculty at Loyola University and coaches several ensembles in the renowned music program at Loyola University.

Jason Mingledorff

Jason Mingledorff has become one of the most versatile and in-demand saxophonists in New Orleans since moving here in 1995. He receivevd his Bachelor of Music from the University of Alabama and his Master of Music in Jazz Performance from the University of New Orleans.

After graduation, Jason quickly began playing with a diverse collection of award-winning local bands, including funksters Galactic and Papa Grows Funk, bluesman Mem Shannon, and the critically praised Nightcrawlers Brass Band. He has also toured with country star Clint Black and performed and recorded with two of the city’s biggest exports – Dr. John (Grammy winning album The City That Care Forgot) and Harry Connick, Jr. (2008 NBA All-Star Halftime Show). Other artists and groups that Jason has performed with include the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Wayne Newton, Frankie Valli, The O’Jays, The Band, The Four Tops, and The Temptations. Jason has also appeared in the HBO television series Treme and in a recent commercial for Louisiana Tourism.

In 2006, he began teaching at Loyola University and soon became the conductor of the Jazz Workshop Band, as well as the assistant professor of saxophone studies. Jason, who has also written articles for the Saxophone Journal, enjoys spreading his love for New Orleans music to not only his students, but to audiences around the world.

Amina Scott

Amina Scott is an exceptionally talented bassist and composer. Growing up in a musically inclined family, with both her parents being music enthusiasts, she was exposed to a diverse range of musical genres, which greatly influenced her artistic development. Her interest in music peaked at an early age when her grandmother began giving her piano lessons. From then on, her love and passion for music have yet to cease. She started playing electric bass at the age of twelve and soon began playing gigs with local bands in Oakland. She switched her focus towards the upright bass after attending college at Loyola University New Orleans. In 2019, she received her Master’s degree from Florida State University under the tutelage of Rodney Jordan. She was also part of the 2017 Ravinia Jazz Program cohort under the direction of Rufus Reid, Billy Childs, and Nathan Davis.

Currently based in New Orleans, LA, Amina Scott has been a bassist for many musicians on the New Orleans music scene, as well as abroad. She has performed with artists such as Jazzmeia Horn, Chief Xian Atunde Adjuah, Don Vappie, David Murray, Johnny Vidacovich, Joanne Bracken, Nicholas Payton, Herlin Riley, and Germaine Bazzle. She currently tours with  a project, spearheaded by Dee Dee Bridgewater, called WE EXIST! as well as with the DDB Big Band where she serves as an arranger and as the bassists.

Wayne Maureau

Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Wayne Maureau was exposed to the vast musical diversity of the city at a very young age. At 5 years old, he had his first drum lesson, but it was in high school, under the tutelage of rudimental snare drum master Marty Hurley, that his talent began to emerge. During his junior and senior years, he led the marching drum line and consistently won LMEA (Louisiana Music Educators Association) and All-State competitions. In 1987, Wayne left New Orleans to attend Louisiana State University on a full music scholarship. While there, he performed with the LSU Jazz Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Quintet, Symphonic Band, and Marching Band as well as in the local club scene. In 1991, he entered the Percussive Arts Society International Drumset Solo contest and was the State winner in Louisiana. After earning a Bachelors Degree, he continued his education at Drummers Collective in New York City, studying with Ricky Sebastian, Pete Zeldman, Kim Plainfield, and Rich Thompson. Returning to New Orleans in 1992, Wayne quickly became one of the most “in demand” drummers in town, covering a wide variety of gigs from Jazz and Blues, to Latin, R&B, and Funk.

Please be aware that details are subject to change. Check back for up-to-date info, or sign up for our mailing list!    

This is a ticketed event - please purchase tickets by clicking on the link above.