BC Jazz Timeline
BC Jazz
1938-2024
The BC Jazz Ensemble has a long legacy in Rhythm and Swing. Through decades of performance, both on campus and in the community, the BC Jazz Band has celebrated the timeless language of jazz while fostering creativity, collaboration and a deep appreciation for the genre.
Jazz, Is a uniquely American music genre, emerging in the late 19th and early 20th centuries from the cultural melting pot of New Orleans. Blending blues, ragtime and march music, it quickly evolved into a vehicle for expression and innovation. Bakersfield College quickly became a nurturing ground for this musical genre.
With a rising demand for student entertainment, the J.C. Swing Band was solidified in 1941. Organized by Mr. Calvin Mueller and later led by Mr. John Overholtzer, the band provided lively music for dances, rallies, and assemblies.
A pivotal moment came in 1962, when a Los Angeles Laker's game held at BC created an unexpected opportunity. With no space for a marching band in the gymnasium, Ken Fahsbender assembled a big band to entertain the crowd. The performance was a hit, leading to the official formation of the Bakersfield College Studio Band.
The Bakersfield College Band program had already taken shape by 1975, and Jazz had become a vital part. The stellar reputation BC had in Jazz circles reached new heights when in 1979, the Jazz Ensemble was invited to perform at the prestigious Reno Jazz Band Festival, the oldest educational jazz festival in the western United States.
The program reached a new academic milestone in 2018, when Jazz Studies officially became a recognized path within the music major, when Professor Kris Tiner created two new classes - Jazz Combos and Jazz Improvisation. This gave students structured opportunities to explore the genre in depth.
By 2015, BC launched the first Annual Jazz Day, a vibrant celebration that brought high school jazz ensembles from across the region to showcase their talents on the BC stage.
Today, the spirit of jazz remains alive and continues to evolve at Bakersfield College. What began as a student dance band has grown into a full fledged nationally recognized jazz program that celebrates the past, challenges the present, and is composing the future.
Timeline
1938
Max Bayless and His Jaysee Swing Band was the first ensemble to earn the title of “Bakersfield Junior College Dance Band” and performed for school dances throughout the year. It was also known as the “Jaysee (J.C) Swing Band” and is the precursor to BC’s current Jazz Ensemble.
1941
The J.C. Swing Band was formed to meet students’ growing demand for a high-quality dance orchestra for events like dances, rallies, and assemblies.
1961
The J.C. Swing Band is renamed to the Bakersfield College Studio Band.
Undated
The BC Athletic Program donates proceeds to the Performing Arts Department, allowing them to purchase their first Steinway Grand Piano.
1976
The Jazz Band Performance was a musical highlight during Black History Week, where Bill Bell and his five-man combo performed two shows (morning and evening) for BC students in the College Theatre.
1979
The BC Jazz Band Plays at the Reno Jazz Band Festival.
1987
Bakersfield College hosted jazz legend and Grammy award winning artist Dizzy Gillespie as part of the Arts Ascending Concert Series.
1988
BC partnered with the Musician’s Performance Trust Fund for a Jazz Workshop Concert featuring Electric Oil Sump, a local big band. The event merged music with cultural education, drawing students from across departments to experience the historical and social depth of jazz.
2022
The BC Jazz Combos earn national honors winning two community college categories in the 45th Annual DownBeat Student Music Awards.
Bakersfield College offers a full slate of Jazz courses that are open to all musicians.
The BC Jazz Ensemble is one of the oldest college big bands in the nation and an important local musical institution. The concert repertoire spans the history of jazz, from classics by Ellington, Basie, and Mingus to contemporary works and student compositions.
For more information please visit the BC Jazz website.
Contact
Email: kris.tiner@bakersfieldcollege.edu
Phone: (661) 395-4313
