Be sure to check out our Calendar for upcoming concerts and rehearsal information.
Jazz Bands
SYB's Tower Bridge Trad performs at American River College in 2023
The Sacramento Youth Band offers membership in its The River City Swingers big band and the Tower Bridge Trad combo. The bands study a variety of jazz styles including Bebop, Big-Band Swing, Latin Jazz, Funk, Blues, and Traditional Jazz. They rehearse year-round on Sundays. Music students up to age 21 with at least TWO years of musical experience are invited to join in.
REHEARSALS:
Sundays
St. Luke's Church
7595 Center Pkwy in Sacramento, 95823
Tower Bridge Trad
3:45 - 4:45 p.m.
River City Swingers Jazz Ensemble
4:45 - 6 p.m.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
email: sacramentoyouthband@gmail.com
Gabriel Carpenter, SYB Jazz Director
Mr. Carpenter is a jazz educator in the Sacramento area currently teaching jazz and orchestra at Consumnes Oaks High School in Elk Grove.
A native of New York and Kyoto Japan before moving to Roseville, Mr. Carpenter attended Granite Bay and Rio Americano high schools. He earned his Jazz Education degree from Sacramento State University and is pursuing his master's degree in Orchestral Conducting at at the university studying under the direction of Music Lecturer Ryan Murray.
Classes Mr. Carpenter has taught at Consumnes Oaks include String Orchestra, Jazz Big Band, Jazz Combo, AP Music Theory, Piano, Guitar, Drumming, Music Appreciation and Choir.
A drummer, Mr. Carpenter's mentors include Sac State Lecturer Music Rick Lotter, professonal drummers Tim Metz and Jeff Hamilton. He frequently performs in Northern California including in Sacramento, San Francisco, Stockton, Tahoe and Vallejo. In 2022, Mr. Carpenter kicked off the popular Wednesday night jam sessions at the SacYard. He is a Sacramento Jazz Education Foundation Board Member.
Outside of music and work, Mr. Carpenter enjoys playing video games, travelling, trying new foods, and spending time with his wife and two cats.
The River City Swingers Jazz Ensemble performs at the 2022 Hot Jazz Jubilee in Old Sacramento
River City Swingers Big Band
The River City Swingers jazz band is an intermediate/advanced ensemble. This band plays a wide variety of challenging jazz music while preparing for performances around the Sacramento area at jazz festivals, jazz venues, fairs and private events. Instruments include saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, bass, guitar, drums and vocals. Seating is assigned based on audition or directors discretion. This band is comprised of Middle School, High School, and College students.
Tower Bridge Traditional Jazz Combos
Our traditional jazz combos focus on group and individual improvisation in a smaller setting with no more than nine performers at a time.
These groups perform around the Sacramento area at jazz festivals, jazz venues, fairs and private events. The combos are sponsored in part by the Sacramento Tradtional Jazz Society Foundation.
Performing at the Dante Club for the Sac Traditional Jazz Society
Recent Jazz Band Performances:
Sacramento Music Festival, Old Sacramento
Hot Jazz Jubilee
Parkside Community Church Concert Series
Jazz Sundays at Elks Lodge #6
Ferry Building, San Francisco
Sac State Winter Jazz Festival
Kiwanis Jazz Festival
Traditional Jazz Youth Band Festival
Crocker Art Museum
Sacramento Veterans Day Parade
Sacramento Relay for Life
Museum of Art & History, Santa Cruz
Justin Au
Justin Au, Music Instruction Support
Justin is an alumnus of the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society's jazz education programs, one of the finest high school jazz programs in the nation. Playing a variety of jazz styles, he has toured New York, Japan, Puerto Rico, China, and Brazil. On the festival circuit, Justin has filled in on trumpet for many well-known groups, such as the High Sierra Jazz Band, Creole Synchopators, Royal Society Jazz Orchestra, Cell Block 7, Jonathon Stout, Michael Gamble, and Cornet Chop Suey. He has also appeared as a guest with numerous festival favorites.
While a resident of San Luis Obispo, he served as co-director of the official youth band of the Basin Street Regulars Jazz Society in Pismo Beach, and has worked as a clinician with student jusicians at the Traditional Jazz Youth Band Festival.
Justin currently plays at jazz festivals nationwide with the Crescent Katz and The Au Brothers Jazz Band, and can be heard regularly with various groups such as Hot City, Harley White Jr. Orchestra, The West End Stompers, Element Brass Band, City of Trees Brass Band, Peter Petty, and the Cunha Big Band. He also co-directs two middle school trad jazz youth bands in the Sacramento area.
Parker Weis performs with Parker and the Weis Guys
Parker Weis, Music Instruction Support
Take the A Train from the Hot Jazz Jubilee, 2015