Maryland, US – The Maryland Summer Jazz Festival returns on July 14 for its eighth exciting season of workshops and jams for musicians and public concerts for jazz lovers. Events take place through July 27, 2012.

Drawing adult learners and listeners from coast to coast, the top-rated event features jazz recording and performing artists on stages and in classrooms. Events can help avid adult learners raise the bar on their singing and playing. Some are inspired to go on to professional music careers, others become solid weekend warriors.

Headlining the festival this year are three Canadian jazz artists known internationally as cutting edge performers and charismatic educators energizing the jazz genre. They are trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, guitarist Matthew Stevens and saxophonist Jeff Antoniuk.

Raised in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Jensen attended Berklee College of Music. The trumpeter soon became known for her pursuit of excellence. She performed in the New York subway (long before the Joshua Bell experiment), and has appeared in numerous festivals around the globe, working with greats such as Maria Schneider, George Garzone and Terri-Lynn Carrington. Marian McPartland said Jensen plays “with all the brilliance and fire of a true virtuoso.”

The career of guitarist Matthew Stevens is soaring. The Toronto-born musician was uncommonly dedicated as a teen and, like Jensen, went on to study at Berklee College of Music. He graduated in 2004, Summa Cum Laude and was given the coveted Jim Hendrix Award. He has been recognized by critics at the New York Times, LA Times and Billboard Magazine and been featured in the jazz press. Touring extensively, he has shared the stage with Christian Scott, Jason Moran and Esperanza Spaulding.

Raised in a large Ukrainian family, internationally respected saxophonist Jeff Antoniuk grew up in Nigeria and Western Canada and worked the overnight shift in a factory to earn tuition for the renowned jazz program at University of North Texas. He was touring other continents even before he was awarded a master’s degree in jazz performance and West African ethnomusicology.

Antoniuk has won accolades as a composer and modern jazz musician. A recipient of grants from both the Canada Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, he is a major figure in the Washington, DC jazz scene. He has appeared at the Annapolis Jazz Festival, Juneau Jazz & Classics and the Edmonton International Jazz Festival. He is a master teaching artist with Washington Performing Arts Society (WPAS) and is the artistic director of Maryland Summer Jazz.

Jazz Camp

At the heart of the festival is a three-day jazz camp. Each day includes intensive instruction for students from 16 to retirement age. Instructors are performing and recording artists, including many university jazz professors. Attendees can hear these fantastic players in concert, and then work directly with them in small group combos grouped by ability level.

Classes help gifted amateurs and semi-pros bring their skill and technique up to the level of working musicians. Playing with others provides critical networking opportunities. Over a dozen popular jazz bands have come together through the camps.

The program also nurtures gifted high school and college students intent on music careers. Scholarships and internships encourage young talent. Electives on such topics as Latin Jazz, vocal styles and rhythm section techniques allow them to progress instead of falling back in the summer.

By popular demand, attendees have a new option this year to take a pre-camp clinic on “The Music of Maryland Summer Jazz” on Saturday, July 14. Participants will get a head start on the camp repertoire of beginner through advanced tunes.

Concert Highlights

The world-famous Blues Alley jazz club in Washington, D.C. traditionally hosts a Maryland Summer Jazz concert on the eve of jazz camp. This year the concert takes place on Tuesday, July 24. Guest star Ingrid Jensen joins Jeff Antoniuk & the Jazz Update for two riveting shows. Another major concert occurs on July 27 at the conclusion of jazz camp. Held on the campus, at Saint Mark Presbyterian Church in Rockville, Maryland, the event includes a student concert at 7:00 p.m. and an All Star Concert at 8:30 p.m. For additional events, visit the website.

Stellar Guest Artists

Nine artists will teach and perform this season. Maryland Summer Jazz welcomes back bassist Tom Baldwin and vocalists Felicia Carter and Alison Crockett to the faculty. New to the festival lineup are multi-woodwind artist Pete Baren Bregge, pianist Fred Hughes, and drummer Marty Morrison.

Image Courtesy of   Jeff Antoniuk

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British Columbia has recently become the new popular spot for some of the largest fracking sites within North America. While the exhausting debate continues to unfold all over the U.S., the unpopular and seemingly unsafe drilling methods continue to be used in Canada.

The non-profit independent media institute AlterNet found that early last year, the largest fracking site in North America was opened by Apache in British Columbia. The site alone used 259 million gallons of water and 50,000 tons of sand to frack 16 gas wells side by side, and the company boasted that it was ”nearly four times larger than any project of its nature in North America.” While they have now opened larger sites, it still remains one of the largest of its kind.

The effects of hydraulic fracturing are not completely understood, however communities across Canada have already complained about water contamination. Mirroring their neighbors to the south, many communities across the U.S.A. have experienced that selected water contamination is the largest concern related to fracking.

In a recent survey by Canadians.org, 62% of Canadians said they support “a moratorium on all fracking for natural gas until all the federal environmental reviews are complete.” Without the environmental reviews being complete, and the companies right to not disclose the chemicals used in the process, it is clear that the Canadians are uneasy with the current uncertainty.

The Council of Canadians states that the Harper government has begun two separate reviews on the process. The first review was requested by Environment minister Peter Kent, asking the Council of Canadian Academies for a scientific examination of the potential environmental impacts of the development of Canada’s shale gas resources. Meanwhile the second review, also ordered by Kent, was requesting department officials to examine any potential environmental consequences of shale gas development.

These reviews could be significant for either the further development of fracking, or the eventual shutting down of these potentially dangerous sites. However, according to The Council of Canadian Academies spokeswoman Cate Meechan, the company is waiting for a formal written request by Kent and then an expert inspection can take up to 18 months, leaving the completion of such a review until April 2013.

Taking frustration levels to a new high, Kent has also claimed that he could stop fracking in New Brunswick, and possibly across the rest of the country, however it does not appear he will intervene anytime soon.

“[While] the exploitation of natural resources is not actually regulated by Ottawa, the federal government could step in and restrict the practice if the review by Council of Canadian Academies finds certain environmental ‘triggers’, such as the chemicals involved posing a threat to waterways with fish,” Kent explained.

“If there is a need for a certain sort of action, we certainly under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act have that authority and wouldn’t hesitate.” He continued,”…If we were to find that there was significant broad environmental risk, then we would have to consider ways of acting to limit or control it.”

So while it seems hydraulic fracturing could be stopped, Canadians are left to wait for the completion of the environmental reviews, while fracking companies continue to drill for natural gas.

Image Courtesy  of   http://www.flickr.com/photos/progressohio/

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Yes, we all know this: right now is the best time of the year. For many of us in the northern hemisphere, the flowers are blooming as we’re taking out shorts and tank tops from the back of our closet after a long cold winter. The Caribbean’s, especially, are known to be a winter escape, packed with tourists from North America and Europe during the months of December through February. For many places along the Equator, it’s currently a storm season- making it difficult for water sports, and more importantly, possible delayed or canceled flights.

These islands on the list below come alive in summer, when events and major festivals sprung up while restaurants and cafes are bringing out chair and tables for outdoor seating. The weather just couldn’t be better.

Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Being the largest island off the west coast of North America, Vancouver Island is composed of many different ecosystems making it one of the best places for outdoor activities. Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, for instance, allows you to explore the incredible wilderness.  Central Island area allows visitors to enjoy water activities and fishing, since this region is primarily made up of sandy beaches, ocean, and lakes. If you’re more interested in the local gourmet scene, then head to the Cowichan Valley, where there are plenty of wineries, farmer markets, and fresh seafood docks. More of a city vibe fan? No problem, Victoria, a city located in the South Island, has all the things you’re looking for.

Iceland, Europe

Iceland, considered to be Europe’s largest national park, is indeed a great destination for both summer and winter. Moreover, it is an ideal place for photographers, painters, or those who are interested in a beautiful, unspoiled landscape. You won’t find much development in Iceland, comparing to major European cities, yet it has enough metropolitan city atmosphere for a comfortable and convenient stay as there are plenty of restaurants, hotels, bars, and attractions. Once in Iceland, try not to miss its famous thermal swimming pools or spas. Activities such as glacier trekking, whale watching, midnight golfing, and salmon fishing are also easily reached from Iceland’s capitol, Reykjavik.

Hong Kong, China

What could have been a better time to visit Hong Kong if not summer, when the goods go on sale and events are popping up everywhere. The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival is one of the most anticipated annual festivals in the city. It’s a three day competition during mid-June in which each team races their dragon boat. Here, spectators can enjoy a party scene, where cold beverages and tasty snacks are served. Not your thing? Other hot events are Summer Pop Live in Hong Kong, Lan Kwai Fong Beerfest, and Hong Kong Restaurant Week. Most people I know, even myself, tend to go to Hong Kong for unbeatable shopping deals and mouthwatering Hong Kong style dishes. Don’t miss out on a bowl of roasted duck noodle soup or Hong Kong style congee. “It’s certainly the type of place you go for good food and shopping, and not so much about nature and outdoor activities.”

Bora Bora, South Pacific

First island on this list that has the kind of sand and sea most of us would look for, transparent blue ocean and white sand beach. Why visit Bora Bora in summer? Well, since the island is in the southern hemisphere, our summer is their winter when the weather is at its best: less rain, lower humidity, and not crazy hot. Though never have been there myself, a friend of mine who visited this incredible place told me “No doubt, it’s beautiful. It’s a place for a complete relaxation, but it comes at a price. We stayed at a hotel where our bungalow is built over the water. Couldn’t have asked for a better honeymoon location” Here, visitors can enjoy endless water activities (snorkeling, diving, canoeing, jet skiing – really, you name it) or, you can explore the island on foot. If you’re a little bit more adventurous, don’t miss out on the shark and ray feeding excursion, which was said to be the most popular activity in the island.

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