The Sonoma Valley Jazz Society operates as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, sustaining itself through the generous donations of local residents and businesses. Our dedicated board comprises entirely of volunteers. Over the past 35 years, we have consistently delivered exceptional Jazz performances in the Sonoma Valley. Each year, we provide scholarships to talented local jazz students. Notably, we've recently initiated a collaboration with Sonoma State University (SSU), renowned for its outstanding Jazz Program. The selection of two students was guided by the recommendations of the faculty, acknowledging their exceptional dedication to their respective instruments. We aspire to nurture and expand this partnership with SSU on an annual basis.

This year’s recepients areJoesph Campbell (drums) and Blake Biller (guitar).

Joe Campbell Bio

Joe Campbell is a 23 year old multi-instrumentalist, composer, music theorist, and arranger from

Cotati, California. At 11, he picked up his first instrument, the violin, which he quickly opted out

of, switching to the alto saxophone at 12. During this time, he also began experimenting with the

piano. At 13, he began playing the drums as well as the guitar. Joe played the drums and alto

saxophone in school throughout his middle school years from ages 12-15. In high school, he put

down the alto, and played drums and percussion in school full time. At 16, he began playing the

bass, which for a while, he considered his main instrument, although still playing the drums. In

the summer of his junior year of high school, Joe attended the “Groove School” summer camp

at Berklee College of Music in Boston. There, he studied with drummer Skip Hadden, who

recorded with Eddie Gomez, Dewey Redman, and Weather Report to name a few. For 2 days,

they studied jazz-fusion drumming, and specifically, polyrhythms. This experience made Joe

want to study jazz music deeply, and focused his journey from that point on. The next year, his

senior year of high school, Joe would be awarded the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award from his

school, representing excellence in jazz. His mission in music now is to bring people together. To

Joe, music is the glue of spirits, and in order to share in its beauty, he believes we must share

our music with the world, study it deeply, and engage in discourse regarding it. The concept is

along the lines of the great Roy Hargrove’s quote: “if you take care of the music, it will take care

of you”. Studying the music, sharing the music, and discussing the ideas behind it, are all part of

Joe Campbell’s process, and for him, it makes the act of playing music much more than a

self-involved hobby, but a mission, to better the world and our fellows.

Blake Biller

Blake Biller is a 19 year old Jazz Studies major from Marin County. He first picked up the guitar

at age 9, inspired by the rock acts of the 70s. Early on in his career, the discovery of Jerry Gacia

and the Grateful Dead introduced Blake to improvisation, something which he strived to become

fluent in. Everything changed when Blake’s dad, a local jazz drummer, played him Breezin’ by

George Benson for the first time. He immediately fell in love with the sound, realizing that jazz

was what he wanted to master. He attended Marin School of the Arts where he spent 4 years in

the jazz and rock programs, working with former Frank Zappa bassist Scott Thunes, as well as

trumpeter Bill Theurer who performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, and Aretha Franklin to

name a few. His time there deepened his passion for music, introducing him to many great

musicians and teachers. His influences include Joe Pass, Monk, Charlie Parker, Kurt

Rosenwinkel, Allan Holdsworth, Pat Metheny, and Pat Martino. Blake chose to attend Sonoma

State to study under local guitar legend Randy Vincent, whose teaching has brought Blake's

playing to new heights.

Last year we gave out two more scholarships to Louis Sheppard, trumpeter, and Luke Gibson, guitarist.

In 2023 we gave out two scholarships; one to Saxophonist Estella Zea and Pianist Jomei Greer.

How the Sonoma Valley Jazz Society gives back!

• Present a variety of international, regional, and local jazz artists in live performance.

• Produce four free jazz concerts in the Sonoma Plaza.

• Present Latin Jazz annually to promote our Latin community.

• Assisted local jazz artists with grants during COVID.

• Provide scholarships for continuing jazz studies at the high school or college level.

• Provide jazz clinics for local high school jazz band.

• Support local jazz musicians with gigs, grants, and promotional assistance.

• Collaborate with other arts organizations in Napa Valley and the Greater Bay Area.