Isaiah Morfin

       Isaiah Morfin is 17 years old and has been playing the alto saxophone for seven years. He also doubles on all saxes and the flute. He played in Carnegie Hall in New York with his school Advanced Band, and has won numerous outstanding soloist and musicianship awards at Fullerton, Ridgeview High, and Western State Jazz Festivals (2003-2005). He was principal chair in alto sax for the SCSBOA Honor Jazz Bands (2004-2005), the All-State Symphonic Honor Band (2004), and the SCSBOA Honor Symphonic Band (2004).

       Although still in high school, Isaiah is currently a member of the Cal State Jazz Big Band, where he is first chair. He was the youngest performer in the 21st Annual Bakersfield Jazz Festival (May, 2007), even performing his own compositions at this prestigious event.

       Isaiah performs regularly in the L.A. area at various clubs, musical venues, and the Promenade in Santa Monica, and also plays at numerous local community events in the Bakersfield area. He has played/performed with Justo Almario, Pete Escovedo, Kenny Garrett, Carmen Bradford, Alvin Queen, and Sammy Nestico, among others. Isaiah has studied with Jeff Clayton and Bob Sheppard.

       For one so young, his list of accomplishments is truly phenomenal:    

¨ Presidential Academic Achievement Award.

¨ 2004 Jimmy Lyon’s World Scholarship award to Berklee in L.A.

¨ 2005 Stanford Jazz Workshop Director’s Award.

¨ Berklee Summer Performance Scholarship (2005-2006).

¨ Dave Brubeck’s 2005 Summer Jazz Colony (the only sax player chosen from California).

¨ “Young Saxophone Artist for 2005” selected by Unison Saxophones.

¨ 2005 NAMM Show featured artist (Anaheim, CA).

¨ “Teen Jazz Artist” on the Internet.

¨ Shelly Manne Memorial New Talent Award from the L.A. Jazz Society, 2006.

¨ Who’s Who Among Colleges and Universities, 2006.

¨ Selected for Vail Jazz Workshop and Centrum Jazz Workshop (by audition only).

¨ Spotlight Awards (L.A.) Semi-Finalist, 2006.

¨ Featured Artist on Bakersfield Television Channels 17, 23, and 29.

¨ Featured in Bakersfield Life, Bakersfield Magazine, and The Bakersfield Californian.

¨ “High School Outstanding Performance” award for Downbeat Magazine’s 30th annual Student Music Awards.

 

 

Isaiah Morfin

2007 CSUB Jazz Festival

Modern Jazz Trio

Jay Smith has performed with dozens of groups all over California, France, Italy, Germany, and Spain in a wide range of music, from bebop and gypsy jazz to latin rock and funk. He has worked with groups such as Velorio, Zambra, Marc 5, Patrick Contreas' American Gypsy Experience and currently is involved in a side project mixing traditional elements of a variety of elements of jazz with underground hip-hop that should be out near the beginning of next year.  He is a regularly featured artist at the Bakersfield Jazz Workshop.

 

Jonathan Martinez has been a staple in the jazz scene here in Bakersfield for the last few years. He's worked with Kris Tiner, woodwinds master Vinny Golia, Paul Tynan, Harris Eisenstadt and Bakersfield College groups, as well as a number of musicians in town. He finds his sound in a cross between popular music and drummers such as Elvin Jones and Art Blakey.

 

The Modern Jazz Trio is in it's second year of performing and has a new member.  Fernando Montoya joins us, taking over acoustic and electric bass duties.  Because of this new development, we are currently in preproduction on our second series of recording sessions.

 

Fernando Montoya has been playing electric bass since the age of 16. He began playing stand up bass in orchestra during his sophmore year and during his senior year was in Highland High's Jazz Band (2006). During this time Fernando began playing in Rock groups and is currently a member of the rock band Trading Company. He has played with some local jazz musicians such as Ezekiel Victor and Anjilla Piazza. His main influences are Terence 'Geezer' Butler of Black Sabbath and Krist Novoselic of Nirvana. Some of his jazz favorites include Mingus, Miles Davis and Wes Montgomery.