David Huttner began playing drums 10 years ago but only recently started appreciating the complexities of jazz.
The 22-year-old drummer, who plays with a five-member group called 48 Fingers, hopes to get more experience and brush up at a free workshop in Burnsville today.
Grammy-nominated musician Greg Adams will be conducting the jazz workshop and jam session at the city’s trendy youth center, The Garage. The session will be the first at the center.
“People who know jazz are very excited,” said Eric Billiet, The Garage manager.
About a dozen musicians from 11 to 22 years old registered for the clinic to learn techniques for trombone, saxophone, piano, drums and more.
Huttner, of Savage, says he’s still new to jazz and hopes the workshop’s jam session with the jazz guru will help him, especially with his solo skills.
“It puts a lot more emphasis on talent of an individual musician, as opposed to the overall sound of a big band,” he said. “You have to be able to take solos and to listen and communicate with a small group.”
Huttner discovered the workshop while searching online for details about Art and All That Jazz, a Burnsville festival at Nicollet Commons Park where Adams will play a sold-out show Saturday.
Adams, of Los Angeles, said Thursday, “I always like to do these clinics because I’m a firm believer in public education and music in the schools.”
Adams, a solo trumpet player, began dragging a horn around at age 5 but didn’t begin playing it until he was 10. He became a music arranger in high school.
“It was just something that came natural to me,” Adams said.
In 1970, Adams helped found the jazz band Tower of Power, a five-piece horn ensemble that played with legendary musicians, such as Santana, the Rolling Stones, Madonna and Elton John. Adams was in the group for 25 years before leaving to begin a solo career 12 years ago. He also received Grammy and Emmy nominations for his work.
Adams instructs about a dozen jazz workshops a year for young musicians throughout the nation, offering them as a bonus when he performs, he said.
“In so many school districts, they just have so little to offer in music,” Adams said. “If you can speak the language of music, it’s like speaking French, Spanish or Italian.”
His lessons during the jam session even include hip-hop techniques.
“My clinic is really happy-go-lucky. It’s easy, casual,” Adams said.
It can be difficult for young musicians today to find an outlet to improve their jazz skills, Huttner said. Having a jazz festival and free workshop “really helps young people that are trying to find ways to learn about it and gain experience.”