Louisiana Association for Jazz Education
		Jay Haydel                                           Inducted 2007  Jay's career started on Bands Street in the heart of New Orleans.  With a pair of drum sticks and an array of cardboard boxes and pot covers.  The drum sticks were given to him by his dad in his first "Martin" trumpet case.  Jay's dad wanted him to be another "Harry James" but Jay had his own thoughts about drums.  Ah/la Gene Krupa.  His dad made him practice the trumpet as much as he played the drums. A native New Orleanian, Jay majored in Music Education at Louisiana State University and Nicholls State University.  He received his Master's Degree in Music Education from Loyola University.  Jay is enjoying his thirty-sixth year of teaching, and has maintained an active schedule as an adjudicator, clinician, musical conductor as well as guest conductor throughout Louisiana and the southern states. Musical organizations under his leadership have consistently been sited for musical excellence receiving "Superior" ratings at both local and state festivals during his tenure as a teacher.  Jay has taught at East Jefferson, Riverdale, and Jesuit High Schools, and now serves as the Band Director at John Quincy Admas Middle School. Jay's expertise in jazz has taken him all the way from Hammond, Louisiana to Montreaux, Switzerland.   For several years he was part of the faculty at Southeastern Louisiana University Summer Jazz Camp program, lending his knowledge of jazz to high school students. In his third year of teaching his "East Jefferson Jazz Ensemble", they were selected 1 of 10 high school jazz bands from the United States to represent America in the "High School Division" of the International Montreaux Jazz Festival in Montreaux, Switzerland.  The ensemble performed before a "standing room only" crowd of jazz enthusiasts on June 23, 1971 for one hour and twenty-two minutes!! Some of the selections from the fifteen charts played ranged from Stan Kenton's "Malaguana, Granada Smoothie, Ruben's Blues to Buddy Rich's "Channel One Suite," with a little Don Ellis "Turkish Bath" thrown in for a good mix of why they became known as "The New Orleans Jazz Gumbo Ensemble."  Haydel said "once we got on stage they almost had to get the hook to get us off, this was a moment in time for my kids, that they will never forget."  I still get calls today from some of the guys about the Montreaux Jazz Festival.  While in Europe, we also had performances in Glasgow and Edinburgh, Scotland, London, England, and Paris, France.  If Europe wasn't enough, his bands have also been invited to perform at the world famous "New Orleans Jazz & Hertiage Festival". Jay's jazz ensembles received "Superior" ratings whenever and wherever they performed.  Through the years his jazz ensembles have traveled throughout all of the southern states. Jay's expertise is not limited to concert wind bands and jazz ensembles.  He designed, coordinated, and directed three "Superdome Spectacular" halftime shows for the Jefferson Parish Public School System and the New Orleans Saints.  He also designed and directed the "Bicentennial Celebration" pre-game and half-time shows for the 1976 National Football League "Pro Bowl."  The East Jefferson "Warrior" Marching Band was selected one of two bands to represent Louisiana and performed in Washington, D.C. for the "Bicentennial Celebration" at the National Louisiana Day in February, 1976.  His most recent musical coordinate event was the "Dedication of the Joseph S. Yenni Stadium and Michael J. Yenni Field on in 2007. He has also lent his talents to the LePetit Theater duVieux Carre in New Orleans, the Convington Community Theater, Carlone's Dinner Theatre, Jesuit High School and St. Scholastica High School in Covington, Louisiana.  Jay served as the "Resident Orchestra Conductor" at each venue.  He has conducted the orchestra for 22 musicians in and around the New Orleans area. Professional memberships have included LMEA, MENC, IAJE, LBA, Phi Beta Mu, Phi Mu Alph-Sinfonia, and ASBDA. Jay is married to Debby and together they have three sons, one grandson, two granddaughters, and "SIssy."