The Fontainebleau Jazz Ensemble One is made up of a select group of students interested in playing big band jazz at its highest levels. The band has been recognized locally, nationally, and internationally for being one of the top high school jazz big bands in America on several occasions. Past notable performances include the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, IL, the Jazz Education Network International Conference, the French Quarter Festival in New Orleans, and as one of America’s top 12 high school big bands chosen to participate in the Swing Central Jazz High School Big Band Competition in Savannah, Georgia in 2008, 2010, 2015, and 2016, placing as high as 4th in the competition.
On the more local level the group performs at school concerts, local cultural events, local and national jazz festivals, and various special events throughout the North Shore and Greater New Orleans community. The Fontainebleau band program has also hosted numerous jazz concerts to bring professional, live jazz performances to the North Shore community. Past concerts held at Fontainebleau High School include Maynard Ferguson and his Big Bop Nouveau, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Wycliffe Gordon, The Drifters, and the Count Basie Orchestra. The band has also performed with or hosted clinics with musicians such as Wycliffe Gordon, Joey DeFrancesco, Roland Guerin, Stanton Moore, Jason Marsalis, Mark Mullins, Bonerama, George Porter, Jr., Matt Lemmler, Dan Caro, and more.
This year’s version of the Fontainebleau Jazz Ensemble One includes 9 of the 24 member 2017 Louisiana All State Jazz Ensemble, 2 members of the 2017 Louisiana All State Concert Band, and 13 of the 20 member 2018 Louisiana Music Educators Association District IX Honor Jazz Ensemble.
Alumni of the Fontainebleau Band program have gone on to attend some of the most prestigious universities in the country including the University of North Texas, Berklee College of Music, Loyola University of New Orleans, Yale, University of Tennessee, University of Notre Dame, Yale, Virginia Tech, and Louisiana state universities such as Tulane University, La. Tech University, Southeastern Louisiana University, UL Lafayette, UL Monroe, and, of course, LSU. Fontainebleau Jazz Ensemble One alumni have performed and toured with Dr. John, Betty Who, Grace Potter, Better Than Ezra, and others.
For more information about the Fontainebleau Jazz Ensemble One, the Fontainebleau High School Band program, or to make a donation to support the instrumental music program at Fontainebleau High School please visit the bands website at www.fhscrimsonband.com.