Hailing from California, the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Jazz Band combines the professionalism of a working big band with cutting-edge big band repertoire. The band has performed repeat engagements at major jazz venues throughout California, including the world’s largest jazz festival (the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee), the San Jose Jazz Society’s Sunday jazz series, and the Savanna Jazz Club in San Francisco. The band has also opened for saxophonist Don Byron and comedian Bob Newhart. Guest artists that have performed with the band include DJ Logic, Taylor Eigsti, Mary Fettig, Arturo Sandoval, Bill Watrous, Mel Martin, Bobby Shew, Clark Terry, Red Holloway, Louie Bellson, Billy Childs, Kevin Mahogany, Thelonious Monk, Jr., Bruce Forman, and James Carter.
The band is directed by Dr Paul Rinzler, a renowned jazz pianist, author, composer, and educator who joined the Cal Poly State University (San Luis Obispo) faculty in 1997 as Director of Jazz Studies. Rinzler has been awarded several National Endowment of the Arts grants, including a Jazz Performance Grant and was the accompanist for a jazz choir recording (“Hot IV”) that was nominated for a Grammy award.
The Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Jazz Band will be travelling to London in June 2016 to give a unique series of concerts. They will be performing at the Vortex on the 15th June 2016.