Fritz and Helen Renold launched this year’s Jazzaar festival at the KuK in Aarau. The first task at hand was to learn the music for the Thursday and Friday night concerts. The young musicians of the Aargau Youth Jazz Orchestra and Funk Bands worked in sections with seasoned professional jazz, R&B, and gospel musicians from America.

Trumpeter Steve Reid coached the trumpet section, Tia Fuller worked with the saxophones for the Thursday April 17 Cole Porter Night concert. In preparation for the Grooves & Moves program scheduled for Friday April 18, Michael Baker (drums), Shedrick Mitchell (keyboards), Reggie Hamilton (bass), and Vernon Black (guitar) coached the rhythm section players, and Barry Danielian (trumpet) coached the horn section.

Gospel music specialist Dennis Montgomery coached the choir for their special part in the 13 songs for the Grooves & Moves concert; 9 of which were penned by Fritz and Helen Renold, 2 by Michael Baker and 2 from Earth, Wind & Fire .

Mark Small is a guitarist, Professor at the Berklee College of Music, and serves as the editor of Berklee Today.