Dan Jacobs: Writings

THANK YOU!

June 14, 2005

Dear Dan,

It was great having you back for our final concert of the year. I can't express enough how much I appreciated your participation in the April 29 concert with the NMC Jazz big band. The members of the NMC bands, especially the trumpet sections, were thrilled to have you perform with us. I had Kevin Smith and his Ithaca group in my studio on Saturday and they were still buzzing about Friday's concert, and the wonderful clinic you and Bob James did for them prior to the concert.

I will always remember the impact on my develpment during my "formative years' of being on stage with an accomplished musician, whether as a soloist or playing in a section on some of my first gigs. I know for sure that this impact was felt through your presence by all of the musicians during that concert. And let's not forget the special treat our audience received!

I know we'll stay in touch for future projects. As you are contacted for performances and clinics at other school, please pass along a copy of this letter as my reference and recommendation of your professionalism and expertise.

Again, thanks!

Sincerely,

Michael F. Hunter, Director
NMC Jazz Ensembles

"Dan, just a note to let you know I've always enjoyed your work as a teacher and respected and enjoyed you as a person."
Alan Remington
Professor of Music
Orange Coast College,
Costa Mesa, California

June 3, 2004
Hi Dan,

Thank you again for taking the time out of your busy schedule to meet with my students.  Your presentation was very well received and I have overheard students commenting on how much they loved hearing you play.

It is really amazing to me the things that students pick up on when they are exposed to someone new!  They actually listen to what you have to say and they take it in and respond to it.  You have a tremendous gift with your music and I am glad you are so willing to share it with students throughout the country.  My group will benefit a great deal from the day you spent with us.  I hope you can work it in your schedule again sometime and maybe you can set in and work with my jazz band!

Thanks again for the fine musical experience for my students at NMA (Northwest Academy).

Musically yours,


Gary Stuzman
Director of Music
Northwest Academy - Achieving Excellence through Technology $ the Arts.
Charlevoix, Michigan
Gary Stutzman, Director Music Studies

May 2004

"Dan, I can’t express enough how much I appreciated your participation in the April 23 concert with the NMC Jazz Big Band and our guests, the Ithaca High School Jazz Band.  The members of the NMC band, especially the trumpet section, were thrilled to have you perform with us.  I have been in touch with Kevin Smith from Ithaca and he also sends his appreciation for what your performance meant to his student musicians.

I will always remember the impact on my development during my ‘formative years’ of being on stage with an accomplished musician, whether as a soloist or playing in a section on some of my first gigs.  I know for sure that this impact was felt through your presence by all of the musicians during that concert.  And let’s not forget the special treat our audience received!

I hope we can collaborate on another project in the future.  If you are looking to do clinics and performances at other schools, please let me know if I can send along a reference and recommendation.

Again, thanks!

Sincerely,
Michael F. Hunter, Director
NMC Jazz Big Band
Traverse City, Michigan

Dear Dan,

Thank you for coming in to Northwest Academy to work with my music students. Your knowledge of music and the outstanding ability to convey the message you have is truly a blessing to my program.

The many times that you have performed with and for my group has also been very much appreciated. It is very unusual for a person with your level of talent and busy schedule to take time out for young people. It is obvious that you enjoy sharing your special gifts with them and they appreciate your work very much in return.

I too, have enjoyed our time together performing and just talking about the music industry. I feel like I learn something new every time we are together that helps me to be a better musician and a more proficient communicator.

I feel like I am a better person today because we have met and you have become a very important part of my life.

Thank you!

Musically yours,

Gary Stutzman,
Director of Bands
Assistant Administrator
Northwestern Academy
Charlevoix, Michigan

ITHACA HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ BAND
710 N. Union
Ithaca, MI 48847

May 17, 2005

Dan Jacobs

Mr. Jacobs,

I would like to extend my appreciation to you for your fine performance and clinic with Bob James on Friday, April 29, 2005 for my Ithaca High School Jazz Band students. Your teaching and performing skills were very apparent at the clinic. Your critique and musical expertise was both encouraging and educational. My students had a wonderful time backing you on the concert later that evening. They were extremely impressed with your high level of improvisational technique, as well as the beautiful sound that you produce on your trumpet. Thanks, again, for the opportunity to learn from you, and for your encouragement to the students.

Respectfully,

Kevin J. Smith &
The Ithaca High School Jazz Band

Dan,
I can't begin to thank you for all you have done to enhance my life and my thought processes as we go through this journey together. You have soooooo many street smarts I just want you to take a bucket and put all you know in it and just dump it on me. I feel like you do that every time you set foot in my band room and any time we make music together. Wow what an empowered feeling!!!!! I am really looking forward to what comes out of the evening together tonight at the Charlevoix Auditorium. The most incredible evening of music is going to come out of it all and the best thing is what the kids will learn! CJ Toton, one of the trumpet students, came up to me after you left the other day and asked if I could hook you two up with some lessons. He wants to learn so bad that I think he would be a gas for you to work with this summer if you can work it into your schedule. Can we talk about that possibility this evening?

See you tonight!

Musically yours,

Stutz

Dan,

It's 1:00 A.M. and I am thinking more than sleeping ........ so I am at my computer and have just pulled this up!  I can't begin to thank you for all you have done to enhance my life and my thought processes as we go through this journey together.  You have soooooo many street smarts I just want you to take a bucket and put all you know in it and just dump it on me.  I feel like you do that every time you set foot in my band room and any time we make music together.  Wow what an empowered feeling!!!!!   I am really looking forward to what comes out of the evening together tonight at the Charlevoix Auditorium.  The most incredible evening of music is going to come out of it all and the best thing is what the kids will learn!  CJ Toton came up to me after you left the other day and asked if I could hook you two up with some lessons.  He wants to learn so bad that I think he would be a gas for you to work with this summer if you can work it into your schedule.  Can we talk about that  possibility this evening?

Musically yours,

Gary Stutzman, director of bands, Northwest Academy of the Arts

June 2004
"Studying with Dan Jacobs has opened alot of doors for me in regards to my playing jazz and more importantly, it has opened the doors to my life experience."

Roger Ingram, internationally acclaimed trumpeter, lead trumpet with Harry Connick, Jr. for 15 years.

June 14, 2005

Dear Dan,

It was great having you back for our final concert of the year. I can't express enough how much I appreciated your participation in the April 29 concert with the NMC Jazz big band. The members of the NMC bands, especially the trumpet sections, were thrilled to have you perform with us. I had Kevin Smith and his Ithaca group in my studio on Saturday and they were still buzzing about Friday's concert, and the wonderful clinic you and Bob James did for them prior to the concert.

I will always remember the impact on my develpment during my "formative years' of being on stage with an accomplished musician, whether as a soloist or playing in a section on some of my first gigs. I know for sure that this impact was felt through your presence by all of the musicians during that concert. And let's not forget the special treat our audience received!

I know we'll stay in touch for future projects. As you are contacted for performances and clinics at other school, please pass along a copy of this letter as my reference and recommendation of your professionalism and expertise.

Again, thanks!

Sincerely,

Michael F. Hunter, Director
NMC Jazz Ensembles
Mike Hunter, Director Jazz Ensembles - NORTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE (Jun 18, 2005)

FEEDBACK: Northwest Academy Band Director - July 2, 2005

Dear Dan,

Thank you for coming in to Northwest Academy to work with my music students. Your knowledge of music and the outstanding ability to convey the message you have is truly a blessing to my program.

The many times that you have performed with and for my group has also been very much appreciated. It is very unusual for a person with your level of talent and busy schedule to take time out for young people. It is obvious that you enjoy sharing your special gifts with them and they appreciate your work very much in return.

I too, have enjoyed our time together performing and just talking about the music industry. I feel like I learn something new every time we are together that helps me to be a better musician and a more proficient communicator.

I feel like I am a better person today because we have met and you have become a very important part of my life.

Thank you!

Musically yours,

Gary Stutzman,
Director of Bands
Assistant Administrator
Northwestern Academy
231-547-9000

Hello Dan,

Your contributions to the Orange Coast College jazz program in the way of performance and recordings were spectacular. Since I was the OCC jazz instructor for 32 years, I inevitably found myself comparing students and their performances. I have reached the conclusion that you are the most outstanding individual to attend OCC. You truely won the respect of the Jazz Department. Experiencing your burning desire to excel was remarkable. Observing your work as a teacher was exciting.

Knowing that you are using your tremendous talent to help other jazz musicians is truly gratifying.

Sincerely,

Dr. Charles Rutherford
Director of Jazz Studies OCC
Costa Mesa, California

Dear Mr. Jacobs,

Thank you so much for helping us with our Career Day for 2005. The feedback from the students was very positive. It is our custom to express our appreciation to all of those who have partnered with us in educating local youth. Please accept this certificate as a small token of the gratitude that we feel for your outstanding effort.

We wish you continued success and hope that you might consider partnering with us again in the future.

Sincerely,

Sue Kissinger
School to Work Coordinator

CLINIC AND CONCERT FEEDBACK

July 21, 2005

Dan,

Thanks again for playing with us at the Fruitport Jazz Festival on may 26, 2005. I have received wonderful comments regarding our performances together. Your solos were powerful and swingin'. Nice chops!

Also, thanks for the presentation about the music business and for the jazz improvisation clinic. It was really great how you got every member of the band to play a solo. For some of them, it was their first one ever. Sometimes, just playing that first one is the hardest. They had a lot of fun, even though it was jazz at 8:00 AM!

Thanks again,

Mike Truszkowski
Director of Bands
Spring Lake High School
616-846-5501

Dear Dan,

Your performance at the Spring Jazz concert was wonderful and I really enjoyed what you have done with Billy and the rest of the students who stepped out and did solos.  I was very proud of them and loved hearing you play and adjust to the changes in the program.  I would love to set something up to have you work with the kids and me as well.  I would like to learn more about jazz and improve.   Since I am classically trained I have very little experience in this area.  

I think that they kids are more excited now to get something going and the concert was a great success in building their interest. 

Thank you so much for your time, patience and hard work. 

Thank you again,

Jayne Bennett, Music Director
Charlevoix High School,
Charlevoix, MI

TEACHING FEEDBACK:
by Bob James

I’d like to sit in on one of Dan Jacobs' jazz improvisation classes because improvisation can be the most mysterious and the most difficult thing to teach.

In Dan’s classes, he offers a foundation, a place to start from so that it isn’t just chaos or just this big unknown situation; you end up with knowledge that you can use, so that when you have the opportunity to jump out there and start something new, you have all things to work with and it isn’t just a complete random effect.

As weird as it may sound, the more discipline you have, the more freedom you can have as well . . . there are so many directions that you can go.

Bob James, a mainstay of the contemporary jazz scene since the early ’70s, keyboardist-composer Bob James has released 38 solo albums, won two Grammy awards, and topped jazz charts as a member of the super-group Fourplay.

Dear Dan,

Thank you for coming in to Northwest Academy to work with my music students. Your knowledge of music and the outstanding ability to convey the message you have is truly a blessing to my program.

The many times that you have performed with and for my group has also been very much appreciated. It is very unusual for a person with your level of talent and busy schedule to take time out for young people. It is obvious that you enjoy sharing your special gifts with them and they appreciate your work very much in return.

I too, have enjoyed our time together performing and just talking about the music industry. I feel like I learn something new every time we are together that helps me to be a better musician and a more proficient communicator.

I feel like I am a better person today because we have met and you have become a very important part of my life.

Thank you!

Musically yours,

Gary Stutzman,
Director of Bands
Assistant Administrator
Northwestern Academy
231-547-9000

Commendation:

Trumpeter Dan Jacobs was a featured artist conducting a jazz improvisation clinic and playing at a concert at the Meadowbrook Performing Arts Center on the OAKLAND UNIVERSITY campus in Rochester, MI on June 20, 2005.

Dan's clinic and concert was outstanding and received a standing ovation from the student's in attendance.

Dr. J.R., Director of Bands

This clinic and concert of the Northwestern Michigan College Jazz Band in Traverse City, MI featuring Dan Jacobs was a real inspiration to my son and as he heads off to Central Michigan in the School of Music, his aspirations to strive to be a great musician like Mr Jacobs are front and center!
Mrs J. Land

Thanks!

Dan Jacobs was a great inspiration to the students of the 2005 Jazz Camp held in Petoskey, MI. His experience, expertise and willingness to help was very much appreciated. He was thoroughly professional in all aspects of the clinics and concerts.
Steve August, Director

Dan Jacobs was a wonderful contributor to the success of Jazz Camp 2006, in Petoskey, MI. He taught trumpet and flute to the students individually and performed professionally at the concerts to rave reviews from the students in attendance.
Steve August, Director

Dan,
Thanks so much for your work with the students at the clinic at Hart, MI this month. The concert at night was also spectacular, especially when you had to switch horns mid-solo when your valves stuck! Everyone enjoyed that. We look forward to having you return next year.