Giancarlo Anderson Revives SBVC Jazz Band After 25 Years
In May, concert attendees at San Bernardino Valley College listened to something that hadn’t been heard on campus for a quarter of a century: Jazz.
Giancarlo Anderson and his talented students are responsible for bringing the genre back to SBVC. He started teaching classes on popular American music in spring 2024, and when he inquired why it appeared that no one was teaching the jazz combination in the catalog, Anderson was asked if he wanted to do it.
“I had to get word out that there’s a jazz band,” said Anderson, a percussionist who has played with jazz greats Bobby Sanabria and Poncho Sanchez.
When classes started, his students were eager to play, and Anderson incorporated styles like Latin and Brazilian jazz and pop so they could engage with other musical traditions and cultures. “I welcome everyone who wants to join the band,” he said, and it is his goal to build their confidence. In addition to the band's SBVC performance, they have also been invited to play at a jazz concert in San Bernardino.
“Students are getting experience being in front of a crowd – that builds their character,” Anderson said. In return, the community receives “high-quality music and the energy of young artists giving it their all. It’s a win all around.”
Anderson aims to bring more musicians to campus for master classes and concerts, offer additional classes, collaborate more with other departments and grow the band. He credits the ensemble's success so far to his students' hard work and support from other instructors, SBVC's Arts and Humanities division, administrators, and family and friends. With their first concert under their belts, Anderson knows his students’ capabilities and has high expectations of them.
“I already have two songs that might be demanding, but I’ll see what they can do,” he said.
For information about SBVC’s Music Department and events, click here.
