Los Medanos College is pleased to announce the new, expanded and reimagined Jazz Studies program, under the direction of Downbeat Award winner Dr. Michael Zilber (Pictured Below).

The program has augmented the already excellent faculty by adding three of the best and most acclaimed young jazz musician/educators in the Bay Area:  Jeff Marrs on drums, Erik Jekabson on trumpet and Grammy-winner Doug Beavers on trombone. All three have extensive experience playing with some of the leading musicians in the world, and will be working closely with Dr. Zilber to offer the finest jazz program of any 2 year college in the State of California.  All four core jazz faculty have spent years performing and teaching around the world, recording as leaders and sidemen, and all bring the seasoning of the New York and Boston approach to the music.  The four are also trained and experienced educators, with doctorates and Masters degrees from NYU, Manhattan, New England Conservatory and San Francisco Conservatory.  Marrs and Beavers are also graduates of Los Medanos College, so we are most pleased to have them returning full circle to the program as accomplished professionals.

Joining the core jazz faculty will be longtime LMC faculty Joan Cifarelli on piano (another former LMC grad), Mike Williams on guitar and Tim Walker on electric bass, all strong and knowledgeable musician/educators in their own right. The faculty has performed and recorded with everyone from Dizzy Gillespie to John Mayer, played leading festivals and clubs from Monterey to Montreal to Montreux, and won prestigious awards ranging from Downbeat to the Grammys. 

Michael Zilber is extremely happy and optimistic about the new direction the program will be taking.  “I couldn’t be more pleased to have young, energetic and world-class jazz musicians joining me as we move the program forward. I have always believed that the best jazz educators are also accomplished working professionals, and Jeff, Erik and Doug join Joan, Mike and Tim in epitomizing that.   We want to take the strengths of the jazz program at LMC and build on them, both with new faculty and new and exciting course ideas.  I believe that we are doing that.“

The course offerings currently include 3 levels of jazz-funk-latin workshop, a day and night big band, intro to improvisation, and jazz piano.  As well, full-time music majors may be eligible for free private lessons with all of the above-named faculty. New courses which will are planned include afro-cuban, funk-hip-hop and jazz composition/arranging. Due to Dr. Zilber’s position as artistic director of the Yoshi’s-Jazzschool Institute, LMC students will also have the opportunity to attend clinics and concerts at the fabled Yoshi’s of SF and Oakland as well as at the Jazzschool in Berkeley.