Surprise! Jazz Great Wynton Marsalis Shocks, Then Jams with Vaca High Jazz Band

VACAVILLE, CA - It was Saturday afternoon and the Vacaville Jazz Festival was in full swing as the Vaca High Jazz Ensemble entertained the crowd. That's when someone got up from the audience with his trumpet and joined in with the stunned students. You could say it took band director Andy Herout by surprise.

"At first, I was like, who is this guy sitting in with the band? The kids worked really hard for this festival," Herout said. "I was about to kick him out." However, this guy was good. Really good. And as it turns out, there was a reason for that. It was nine-time Grammy winner jazz musician Wynton Marsalis. Marsalis told the band later that he was on his way to Monterey when he saw the sign for the Jazz Festival and decided to check it out. Then, he decided to join in.

"Really the chances...I mean, one of the best jazz musicians in the United States just walking up and sitting in with your band is pretty unheard of," Herout said. The audience was thrilled, but probably not half as much as the band members themselves. "That day and the next, I still couldn't believe I got to be lead alto in Wynton Marsalis' band! I'm going to send that to every college I apply to," said Alto Sax player Derek Fong.
Marsalis, by the way, is playing Friday night at the Mondavi Center in Davis.
Source: http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=67559