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Garfield High School Jazz celebrates the life and legacy of Quincy Jones (Class of 1950), highlighting his unique library of work and collaborations with Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, and Ella Fitzgerald.

Quincy Jones is recognized worldwide as a titan of music, but he is especially near and dear to us in Seattle, the Central District, and at his alma mater, Garfield High School. After graduating from Garfield in 1950, Jones went on to become a prolific arranger, composer, and bandleader. This performance will highlight a period from 1958 to 1966, during which Jones released several albums featuring arrangements for the Count Basie Orchestra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra. A key moment in this collaboration was the 1966 Las Vegas residency, with Jones leading the Count Basie Orchestra as they backed Sinatra. A live album, Sinatra at the Sands (1966), recorded at the Las Vegas Sands Hotel and Casino, captures this iconic moment in history. We will also perform many of Quincy’s most popular compositions from self-titled albums.

Jones passed away this past November at the age of 91, leaving behind a legacy of over seven decades in music. His career includes 28 Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, a Tony Award, and seven Academy Award nominations, along with four Golden Globe nominations. Following the 2008 remodel of Garfield High School, the auditorium was renamed the Quincy Jones Performance Center in his honor.

Under the direction of Jared Sessink, the Garfield Jazz Program continues a tradition of musical excellence, celebrating the big band works of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Quincy Jones, and others. Garfield Jazz has participated in the Essentially Ellington competition and festival 20 times, starting in 1999. The program currently serves over 90 students across three big band ensembles and a vocal jazz ensemble. Garfield High School, located in Seattle's Central District, is a public school that attracts students from a variety of backgrounds.

This performance is a fundraiser supported by the Garfield Jazz Foundation, the non-profit, all parent volunteer organization that provides the resources to nurture, sustain, and develop the Garfield High School Jazz Program. One hundred percent of your donations go directly to the advancement of our student musicians.