February 10–13, 2027

What is Jazz Fest?
Juneau Jazz Fest is an annual festival usually held the second week of February, presented by Juneau Jazz & Classics in partnership with the Juneau School District. Visiting professional artists coach high school jazz students from across Alaska in clinics and master classes, and the students then perform in concerts alongside them. We also bring world-class artists into local schools. The public is invited to the Jazz Ramble, the Jazz Dance, and evening concerts with our guest artists.

The All-Alaska Jazz Band
The All-Alaska Jazz Band is an honor band of top high school jazz musicians from across the state, and the only honor jazz band in Alaska. Students audition to earn a spot, then rehearse during the festival with a visiting professional director and perform on the main concert. In 2027, multiple GRAMMY-nominated and -winning trombonist Alan Ferber directs the band, which opens the Saturday night concert.

How to participate
Bring your school ensemble: For more information, contact Alex Serio (alex@jazzandclassics.org) or Brian Van Kirk (brian.vankirk@juneauschools.org).
Have an artist visit your school: For more information, contact Alex Serio (alex@jazzandclassics.org).
Audition for the All-Alaska Jazz Band: The audition deadline is December 10, 2026. Scroll down to the gold All-Alaska Jazz Band Auditions box below for audition information and to download your excerpts.
Buy tickets to the concerts: See the schedule below. Tickets coming soon.

All-Alaska Jazz Band Auditions

Deadline: December 10, 2026
Who should audition: Top high school jazz musicians from across Alaska. Students selected for the band rehearse during Jazz Fest (February 10–13, 2027) with director Alan Ferber and perform on the Saturday night concert.
What to record: (1) The posted audition excerpt for your instrument of choice, downloadable below. Lead Trumpet and Lead Trombone are listed as separate excerpts. (2) Optional: a recording of yourself improvising on a jazz tune.
How to submit: The online submission form is coming soon. Questions? Contact Brian Van Kirk (brian.vankirk@juneauschools.org) or Alex Serio (alex@jazzandclassics.org).
Download your audition excerpts: Alto Sax | Tenor Sax | Bari Sax | Trumpet | Lead Trumpet | Trombone | Lead Trombone | Bass Trombone | Piano | Guitar | Bass | Drums | Vibraphone

2027 Jazz Fest Artists

Kyle Athayde Dance Party

The Kyle Athayde Dance Party is a San Francisco/New York-based big band led by composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist, and educator Kyle Athayde. A native of Orinda, California, Athayde serves as the group's leader, conductor, and principal writer, performing on vibraphone, piano, trumpet, drums, and a wide range of other instruments. The ensemble is acclaimed for its stylistic versatility, drawing on jazz and classical masterworks, salsa, electronic music, video games, and popular culture in high-energy performances of original compositions and inventive arrangements.

Members of the band include Grammy-winning and Grammy-nominated artists who have performed and recorded with Herbie Hancock, Esperanza Spalding, Michael Bublé, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, and many others. A longtime visiting faculty member at the Sitka Fine Arts Camp, Kyle is deeply committed to music education, and the Dance Party headlines the Saturday finale of Juneau Jazz Fest.

Alan Ferber

Multiple GRAMMY-nominated and -winning trombonist, composer, and arranger Alan Ferber has been called "one of the jazz world's premier composers and arrangers for larger groups" by All About Jazz NY. In 2022, he was named the top Rising Star Trombonist in Down Beat magazine's International Critics Poll. He is the Associate Director of the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop and has taught jazz studies at New York University's Steinhardt School since 2011.

Ferber has released nine albums as a bandleader, and his big band album Jigsaw was nominated for a 2018 GRAMMY for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album. He has performed and recorded with Esperanza Spalding, the Dr. Lonnie Smith Octet, the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra, Paul Simon, Sufjan Stevens, The National, Michael Bublé, and many others. At Juneau Jazz Fest 2027, Alan directs the All-Alaska Jazz Band.

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Miki Yamanaka Trio

Japanese-born pianist Miki Yamanaka has called New York City home since 2012 and has established herself as one of the leading personalities of her generation on the piano and beyond. Critics praise her "light, expressive touch and solidly crafted, mainstream approach" (All About Jazz), and her most celebrated album, Chance (Cellar Music), features her New York rhythm section. She is a leader of the New York scene through her residencies at the West Village clubs Smalls and Mezzrow, and has worked with Antonio Hart, Roger Humphries, and the Mingus Big Band.

At Juneau Jazz Fest, Miki is joined by her husband and frequent collaborator, drummer Jimmy Macbride, and by vocalist Jamile.

Jamile

With a deep and versatile voice, Brazilian vocalist, composer, and educator Jamile is carving out a unique space in today's music landscape, with a distinctive repertoire that combines modern and Brazilian jazz. "She can sing most anything" (Suzanne Lorge, The New York City Jazz Record), from wordless big band pieces to straight-ahead jazz, soul, bolero, and the music of her native Brazil.

Since moving to New York in 2017, Jamile has become one of the city's most sought-after vocalists, performing at Birdland, Mezzrow, Smalls, and Dizzy's Club. She has recorded with GRAMMY-nominated composer Mike Holober alongside Chris Potter and John Patitucci, opened for Rosa Passos, Ron Carter, and Kenny Barron at Jazz at Lincoln Center, and released two albums on La Reserve Records. She joins the Miki Yamanaka Trio for the Friday Artist Concert.

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Zuill Bailey

Zuill Bailey, widely considered one of the premier cellists in the world, is a GRAMMY Award-winning, internationally renowned soloist, recitalist, Artistic Director, and teacher. He won the 2017 GRAMMY for Best Classical Instrumental Solo for his recording of Michael Daugherty's "Tales of Hemingway" with the Nashville Symphony, and has been featured with symphony orchestras and music festivals worldwide.

He has been heard on NPR's Morning Edition, Tiny Desk Concert, and Performance Today, and performs on the "rosette" 1693 Matteo Gofriller cello. As Artistic Director of Juneau Jazz & Classics, Zuill joins the Kyle Athayde Dance Party as a special guest for the Saturday finale.

Schedule

Wednesday, February 10
Jazz Ramble. More information coming soon.

Thursday, February 11
Evening: Jazz Dance

Friday, February 12
School concerts, followed by the Artist Concert at 7:30 p.m.
Artist Concert: the Miki Yamanaka Trio with vocalist Jamile, plus Alan Ferber and members of the Kyle Athayde Dance Party rhythm section

Saturday, February 13
School concerts and the All-Alaska Jazz Band, directed by Alan Ferber, followed by the Kyle Athayde Dance Party with special guests, including Zuill Bailey, cello