Concert Programs!

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A rising young talent in the Los Angeles jazz and commercial music scene, Ryan DeWeese’s

powerful sound, musicality, and stylistic versatility make him a highly sought-after performer

and recording artist. He has performed with groups such as Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band,

the Tom Kubis Big Band, John Beasley’s Monk’estra, and Joey Sellers’ Jazz Aggregation, and

has shared the stage with Sean Jones, Candido Camero, John Clayton, Terell Stafford, Wycliffe

Gordon, Donny McCaslin, to name a few. DeWeese has also recorded on Michael Bublé’s love

and Higher albums, Idina Menzel’s Christmas: A Season of Love, Beto Hale’s No Hay Marcha

Atrás, episodes of Will and Grace, Duck Tales, Animaniacs, Looney Tunes, Monsters at Work,

and the films Bullet Train, Joker: Folie a Deux, and Candy Cane Lane. In 2024, DeWeese

debuted his own large jazz ensemble, the RAD Jazz Orchestra, with their album “Ryan DeWeese

and his RAD Jazz Orchestra”. He also currently serves as a member of the Disneyland Band, the

Kyle Athayde Dance Party, the Jon Hatamiya Big Band and Nonet, the Craig Cammell Large

Band, the Afro-Peruvian Jazz Orchestra, and the Clare Fischer Orchestra.

Aside from performing, DeWeese takes great pride in his work as a music educator. Along with

his private lesson studio, he runs sectionals and clinics for various school groups and has served

as a clinician/adjudicator at the Sitka Jazz Festival, Irvine Jazz Festival, Howlin’ Wolf Jazz

Festival, and Aztec Jazz Festival. He is currently on faculty at Saddleback College and the

Lafayette Summer Music Jazz Workshop. DeWeese draws inspiration for education from his

mother, who originally sparked his interest in music education through her drive and passion for

her students. He has been fortunate to study from many great instructors including Laurie Frink,

Justin DiCioccio, Tony Kadleck, Kye Palmer, Mark Gould, Brad Davis, Rita Watson, Chuck

Tumlinson, and Jeff Jarvis, all of whom instilled in him a love of teaching music.

DeWeese received a full-tuition scholarship to attend Manhattan School of Music where he was

awarded the prestigious William H. Borden Jazz Award. After his time in Manhattan, DeWeese

returned to Southern California to pursue a Master’s degree at California State University, Long

Beach where he served as the jazz studies department graduate assistant and directed jazz

combos and the Jazz Lab Band.

Whether on stage or in the classroom, these are words that vocalist Jamie Shew seeks to achieve – to be able to project personal emotions and experiences through song. 

Jamie grew up in the Tri-Cities, a group of towns located in south central Washington State. She began her musical training at the age of four, when she was first introduced to the piano. The desire to sing was very strong for Jamie throughout her childhood; however, she was always needed as an accompanist. It was during her senior year in high school that her choir director gave her the opportunity to sing a Karen Carpenter solo. This was a pivotal moment – she was hooked. 

Jamie earned a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Washington State University and a Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance/Jazz Studies at Western Michigan University. As a graduate assistant at WMU, she had the opportunity to study privately with one of her favorite jazz vocalists, Sunny Wilkinson, and perform and record with the renowned vocal jazz ensemble, Gold Company. 

As a jazz vocalist, Jamie continues to enjoy a dynamic performance career among many internationally recognized jazz musicians such as Larry Koonse, Darek Oles, Royce Campbell, Chuck Manning, Bruce Babad, Jeremy Siskind, Kendall Kay, Mike Scott, Matt Politano, Danny Janklow, Dave Robaire, Will Brahm, Joe Bagg, Steve Cotter, Jason Harnell, Dan Schnelle, and Josh Nelson. 

In her newest CD project, Eyes Wide Open, released May 2018, Jamie uses song to tell the story of her 20-year relationship with her husband, bass player Roger Shew, and the loss she experienced when he succumbed to cancer.  The music follows the arc of her life from the early days of their relationship through Roger's illness and beyond.  Jamie's extensive musical training informs her singing.  Her timbre is warm and inviting, while her timing, phrasing, and ability to interact so well with the band reflects her years of study.  Of course, it doesn't hurt that she's playing with some of the finest musicians in Southern California including guitarist Larry Koonse, pianist and Hammond B3 player Joe Bagg, bass player Darek Oles, and drummer Jason Harnell, who are all leaders in their own right.  Jamie chose songs she had considered recording in the past, but now they took on new meanings for her.  She wrote two original compositions and selected and arranged the rest with a lot of deliberation.  Each song became a metaphor for her journey.  Eyes Wide Open is a project imbued with love and loss but eschews mere sentimentality.  Jamie doesn't just perform moving interpretations of these songs, she opens her heart and exposes the genuine, raw feelings that have propelled her to make this CD.  Her innate musicality is showcased in her phrasing and tone, but it's how she reveals the depth of the human condition that sets this project apart.  

In addition to a rich performance career, Jamie is Coordinator of Vocal Jazz Studies at Fullerton College in Fullerton, California, where she teaches private jazz voice lessons, two levels of Vocal Jazz Styling and Improvisation courses, Music Theory, History of Rock and Roll, directs two groups in the award-winning vocal jazz ensemble program, and is the vocalist for the Faculty Jazz Cadre high school educational outreach program. She is also an in-demand adjudicator and clinician for jazz festivals throughout the country and internationally, has served as the past Vocal Jazz Chair of the Southern California Vocal Association, and has directed the California All-State Vocal Jazz Ensemble.