Clarence Acox, Jr.

{{Infobox musical artist | name = Clarence Acox, Jr. | image = | alt = | caption = | image_size = | background = non_vocal_instrumentalist | birth_name = | alias = | birth_date = | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | origin = New Orleans, Louisiana | instrument = [[Drums, Piano ] | genre = Jazz | occupation = Band director, jazz drummer | years_active = | label = | associated_acts = | website = | notable_instruments = }} Clarence Acox, Jr. is a band director and jazz drummer. He is a native of New Orleans, and has been heard in a variety of settings in the Northwest.

He is Director of Jazz Bands at Garfield High School,^[1] where he has taught since arriving from Southern University in New Orleans in 1971, initially hired to rejuvenate the school's marching bands.^[2][3] Under his tutelage since 1979, the Garfield Jazz Ensemble has won every major competition on the West Coast, including competitions in Nevada, California, Oregon, Idaho, and Washington.^[2]

The Jazz Ensemble has made ten European tours, performing at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, the North Sea Jazz Festival^[4] in the Netherlands, Jazz á Vienne in France, and the Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy, as well as many concerts in Paris, and Innsbruck, Austria. The band has also been a finalist in the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition and Festival held at Lincoln Center in New York City for eight successive years as of 2008. The Jazz Ensemble won the Second Place Trophy at the Ellington Festival in 2002^[5] and 2008^{[citation needed]} and the First Place Trophy in 2003 and 2004,^[6] as well as 2009 and 2010, making it the only group in the history of the competition to accomplish this feat four times. Rival Roosevelt High School has won three competitions.^{[citation needed]}

Acox was named Educator of the Year by Down Beat magazine in 2001.^[1][2][4] In 2003 he was presented the Impact Award by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the organization that sponsors the Grammy Awards.^{[citation needed]} In 2004 the Seattle Music Educators Association recognized him as its Outstanding Music Educator.^[7] In 2007 he was presented the Mayor's Arts Award by Seattle mayor Greg Nickels.^[1][8] In 2008 Seattle Metropolitan magazine named him one of the 50 most influential musicians in the history of Seattle music.^[2] In 2010, he and Roosevelt High School's Scott Brown shared the Impact Award at Seattle's second annual City of Music Awards.^[9]

Acox is a regular on the club scene in the Seattle area. He has performed with the Floyd Standifer Quartet (now Legacy Quartet) at the New Orleans Creole Restaurant since 1987.^[1][3][10] His powerful and swinging drum style also drives the local Roadside Attraction big band^{[citation needed]} and the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, which he co-founded in 1995 with University of Washington saxophone instructor Michael Brockman.^[3][11][12]

Awards and recognitions

• 1991 – Musician of the year presented by Earshot Jazz Society
• 1994 – Inducted into the Earshot Jazz Society Seattle “Hall of Fame”
• 2001 - Educator of the year presented by Downbeat Magazine
• 2003 – Impact award recipient presented by The Recording Academy
• 2004 – “Outstanding Music Educator” award presented by Seattle Music Educators Association
• 2007 – Mayor’s Arts Award presented by Seattle Mayor Gregory Nickels
• 2008 – Named one of the 50 most influential musicians in Seattle music by Seattle Metropolitan Magazine

2010 -  Contribution To The Community award by Inside Out
2010 – Impact Award presented by City of Seattle
2011 – Inducted into the WIAA (Washington Interscholastic Activities Association)    
                Hall of Fame 
2011 – Outstanding Achievement In The Arts award by Artsfund

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Garfield High School Jazz: Clarence Acox Jr., Garfield High School. Accessed online 2 February 2009.
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Steve Wiecking, "Clarence Acox, Jr.", Seattle Metropolitan, December 2008, p. 62.
3. ^ ^{a b c} Rebekah Denn, Meet conductor Clarence Acox, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, May 15, 2000. Accessed online 2 February 2009.
4. ^ ^{a b} Jazz Journalists Association
5. ^ "Jazz At Lincoln Center Announces Winners Of Its Seventh Annual Essentially". All About Jazz. 2002-05-13. http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=1354. Retrieved 2010-06-20. 
6. ^ "JALC Announces North America's Best H.S. Jazz Bands!". All About Jazz. 2004-05-25. http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=3727. Retrieved 2010-06-20. 
7. ^ Clarence Acox, Origin Records. Accessed online 2010-01-30.
8. ^ Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs "2007 Mayor's Arts Awards announced"
9. ^ Seattle Times staff, Carlile, Schwarz, school jazz bandleaders honored by City of Music Awards, Seattle Times, 2010-09-20. Retrieved 2010-09-27.
10. ^ New Orleans Creole Restaurant: LEGACY QUARTET with CLARENCE ACOX
11. ^ Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, Artistic directors
12. ^ Bowers, Jack (2002-08-01). "CD/LP Review: SRJO Live". All About Jazz. http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=10267. Retrieved 2010-06-20. 

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