Friday, February 2, High School for Recording Arts has an early release student schedule to accommodate a ¬? day of Staff Development and Training.

Students will follow a modified schedule that day with Pick Me Up at 11:00 and Lunch at 12:00. Students will be dismissed after lunch at 12:30.

This letter is being given to students and mailed home also.

First day of second semester begins Monday, January 29, 2007. For important test dates coming up, check the posting below. Other dates of note include:
February 13 & 14 - St. Paul Public School Charter Sponsor Review Visit
February 16 - Staff Development; NO SCHOOL
February 19 - Presidents Day; NO SCHOOL
February 22 - Parent Night - Conferences and Project Presentations

Jazz greats Delfeayo Marsalis and Ricky Gordon recently visited High School for Recording Arts and shared with our students the virtues of knowing and appreciating America’s only true musical art form, jazz. Both jazz greats were in town for a two-night, sold-out gig at the renowned Dakota Jazz Club. While in town, Delfeayo also began plans for instituting a jazz series starting this June at the Minnesota Orchestra. Plans are underway for HSRA students to be involved in this great program.

After producing his first recording at age 17, Delfeayo Marsalis attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music, majoring in both performance and audio production. He has since produced over 75 major-label recordings–several of which have received Grammy awards and nominations–including works by his brothers, Branford and Wynton Marsalis and dad Ellis, Harry Connick, jr., Marcus Roberts, and Spike Lee. His production skills earned a 3M Visionary Award in 1996 and a cover article for the industry source, Mix magazine in 1997.

As a trombonist, Mr. Marsalis has toured internationally with legendary jazz artists Art Blakey, Abdullah Ibrahim, Elvin Jones, Slide Hampton and Max Roach, as well as touring with his own modern jazz ensemble. During a tour with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, he was filmed as part of the Ken Burns documentary, ” Jazz.” He has released two solo albums to critical acclaim, Pontius Pilate’s Decision in 1992 and Musashi in 1997 and is a mainstay on the New Orleans modern jazz scene. Along with late trombone master J.J. Johnson, several music reviewers have labeled Mr. Marsalis as one of the freshest modern voices on the instrument to arrive in the 90’s.

Ricky Gordon (aka, Dirty Red) is a great percussionist who has toured with many notable jazz greats including Delfeayo and his brother Wynton. Additionally, he is a great composer and has written music for Spike Lee. Ricky has also been an active member of the High School for Recording Arts in New York planning team.

To read more about their Twin Cities show, click here.