In creating the School of Jazz Online Les Rose brings over 40 years experience as a performer, educator, and evolving student of jazz. Born and raised in New York City, Les earned a B.A. in music from Queens College and an M.A. in education from Brooklyn College. While at Brooklyn College Les had the rare opportunity to study with Eddie Daniels as an adjunct to Prof. Paul Shelden. He soon became one of the busiest performing musicians on Broadway and in the society ballroom scene. Les pursued private jazz instruction from legends like Frank Foster, Lee Konitz, Mike Longo, and his greatest influence, David Gross.
A move to Los Angeles in 1984 propelled Les into the Hollywood studios, working with Mike Post on the A-Team and Hardcastle & McCormick, and Jack Tillar on the PBS series National Geographics. Staying busy in a variety of settings, he recorded an album with the Los Angeles Jazz Workshop directed by Bill Yeager, entitled, “Shopwork Shuffle,” he toured with TV legend Steve Allen and performed with the top band leaders of the day. Les continued his jazz studies with L.A. jazz stars Mike Garson, Charlie Shoemake, and Vince Trombetta.
In 1989 Les accepted the position of band director at King City HS and quickly fit into the jazz scene in Monterey, playing with the Monterey Peninsula Jazz Orchestra and performing his own original composition, “The Latin from Manhattan” at the 1993 Monterey Jazz Festival. Later that year he began a 23 year tenure in the Santa Barbara Unified School District. There he produced award winning music programs at La Colina JHS and most notably, Dos Pueblos HS. While holding down this teaching position Les continued to perform and record. In 1998 he co-produced and recorded his own CD, “Jump, Swing, Boogie”, an homage to the Count Basie/Lester Young collaborations of the late ‘30’s. His 2007 release, “Jazz Takes” was a dedication to great standards in a quartet setting.
2009 was a banner year for his Dos Pueblos jazz ensemble. He led them to a first place finish at the Reno International Jazz Festival, and recorded a CD, “The Kansas City Suite,” the music of Benny Carter - by any standard, a huge undertaking for a high school group. During his 16 year tenure at Dos Pueblos he hosted numerous jazz luminaries as clinicians and guest artists. They include Jimmy Cobb, James Moody, Charlie Shoemake, Bob Mintzer, Tom Scott, Dr. Bobby Rodriguez, Marcus Roberts, the Brubeck Institute, the SF Jazz Collective, and the Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra.
Jazz education is not generally a profession that one chooses for personal accolades. Yet Les is proud to have been selected as a quarter finalist for the first ever Grammy Music Educator Award in 2013.
Les retired from full time teaching in 2016 but promptly started a part-time jazz program at Santa Ynez HS, bringing his knowledge and enthusiasm to a new generation of students. For the past three years his Santa Ynez group has been performing at the Jubilee by the Sea in Pismo Beach, and achieved a second place finish at the 2020 Dos Pueblos Jazz Festival - the same festival he hosted for 16 years.
While he continues to perform and teach this latest project, the School of Jazz Online is a synthesis of all his experience, and represents his deep commitment to the study of jazz. After successfully teaching this curriculum at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, and for the Santa Barbara City College School of Extended Learning, he has converted selected to an online format and it has proven to be equally effective. Les is excited about bringing his skill and passion to the global jazz community.
