Jazz: Oakland Jazz Choir

Pacifica Performances Presents: 
The Oakland Jazz Choir

The Oakland Jazz Choir has been an East Bay Area institution for over 20 years. During this span the group has taken many shapes, sizes and forms but the common denominator has always been the same: Joy of expression, using the voice to communicate the triumphs, as well as the turbulence, of the human spirit. While jazz forms the base of their musical concept, OJC ventures far from that base, but always putting a jazzy twist on the material. Artistic director Ben Flint, a native of Memphis TN, is steeped in gospel, jazz and R&B, and applies his wide musical experience toward finding a uniquely Oakland sound. Choir membership includes 16 singers, as diverse in age, religion, and race as their hometown Oakland demographics. Yet their focus is small, narrowing in on cool original and standard jazz material, arranged and/or written specifically for their collective voice. 
They are a non-profit group with the mission of bringing choral jazz to underserved audiences in the Bay Area and beyond and are one of just a few community jazz choirs in the nation singing cool original, and standard jazz material in a distinctive choral jazz setting.