California State University, Stanislaus (Stan State), very own Jazz band will feature renowned Jazz drummer Carl Allen on Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. in Bernell and Floral Snider Music Recital Hall. 
The Jazz Studies program in the Music department brings in a guest artist annually during their Jazz Festival in the Spring; however, Carl Allen reached out to Joe Mazzaferro, Director of Jazz Studies in the Music department, over the summer in hopes of sharing his work and experience with the Jazz Band.
Knowing the many facets Carl Allen has gone through, including his performances with Freddie Hubbard, J.J. Johnson, Branford Marsalis, Kenny Garrett, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson to name a few, Mazzaferro could not say “No” to an amazing opportunity.
“He is a part of Jazz history,” Mazzaferro said.
According to Mazzaferro, the value of a guest artist, especially for college level musicians, provides an opportunity for students to be exposed to professionals who have valuable knowledge, stories and lessons they can share with them. Their ability to inspire that conveys into the student’s music paves a stronger road to understanding the necessity of hard work, effort and professionalism.
The notion of bringing a guest artist, with merit like Carl Allen, to the Central Valley also feeds into growth in appreciation for the arts.
“To me it brings credibility to the region. When someone comes to your area like that. When you hear them play, hear them speak, see what they’re about, raises credibility in your area. You’re welcoming that knowledge into your community and hope it will help you grow,” Mazzaferro said.
Part of Carl Allen’s contribution to sharing his love and caliber with the students is by hosting a workshop. The first workshop will be with the musicians on Dec. 1, including an open rehearsal in Snider Hall the same evening. On Friday at 9 a.m, he will be talking to the Jazz history class in M22 of the Music Department.
According to Mazzaferro, Allen will share his experiences, stories, lessons he has learned, and about the business side of music with the students.   
Regardless of the type of guest artists that have performed at Stan State, the biggest impact Mazzaferro has observed with the students is the amount of inspiration that grows among all students. Meaning, they are inspired to go beyond the realms of practicing or realize they have much work to do.
“Usually the kids are motivated in one way or the other,” Mazzaferro said.
From inside the Jazz Band, Samantha Hernandez-Paramo (freshmen, Music Performance), explains how she is able to perform with a guest artist that can help her grow as a performing artist.
“I think the thing that I’m most excited about is just being able to play with another international artist, because I have played with a few before even before I came to Stanislaus. It’s a great and thrilling experience, because it’s like, ‘Oh my God! They’re so talented, I can look up to them! Look!’” Hernandez-Paramo said.
Among the vast opportunities of bringing in a guest artist– such as growth in appreciation for the arts, inspiring the students, and audience engagement in workshops—the process of learning the music of the guest artist as a Jazz ensemble is always a challenging and learning experience.
Many of the motions in learning music comes with extreme mental and emotional focus. At most times, both focuses lead to physical exhaustion from the amount of perspiration and dedication put forth into the music. Other times, there is a lot of frustration in playing the music successfully together.
“As a group, I feel like putting in an effort was one of the hardest things we ever had to do. A lot of people lack energy sometimes and it makes it a little difficult to work with, because it’s 2 p.m., it’s Wednesday, you’re tired, it’s been a[n] okay-ish long day, and the fact that Joe [Mazzaferro] has to revive us sometimes takes time away from the actual practicing. You’re there to rehearse and learn other people’s parts, not just learn your part,” Hernandez-Paramo said.
Aside from the challenges of playing with an ensemble, especially a young Jazz band with almost new members—according to Mazzaferro—there is ample room for learning within the ensemble.
“This month or so has proven to me that we are capable of working together as a group harder than we have ever worked before to get to another level and just be great,” Hernandez-Paramo said.
In the video attached to this story, a sneak peek of the Jazz band rehearses a couple of tunes during one of many rehearsals. The video also shows photographs of the musician’s intense focus in preparing the music for their concert.
As Carl Allen exposes his experience and merit with the students and audience at Stan State, everyone will have an opportunity to take home a few words of wisdom, listening inspirations, or a new favorite jazz tune.
The Music department will most especially—according to Hernandez-Paramo—grow and strive farther to become a stronger program.
“I feel like this will help music students in general, because it gives them someone to look up to even though they may not listen to Jazz. It just shows that you can aspire to be this amazing artist and still work as a teacher, a job, or something. It puts the whole music thing into perspective and it gives you something to aspire to be,” Hernandez-Paramo said.
For more information or purchase tickets, visit www.csustan.edu/music.