Where has Javier been?

Hi Everyone, I’ve been a bit busy with some huge projects, and I’ve neglected this corner of the web. You can see some of my work at nyjazzacademy.com, my music school in NYC, which has been developing like crazy over the past few years. We are even launching an online curriculum very soon, which will help all those who are really wanting to learn more about jazz improvisation, arranging, composition, and more. We can’t wait to show this to everyone. My big band, Javier Arau Jazz Orchestra, has also been rehearsing a ton, and I hope to get the group recorded soon. This might start sounding like a Christmas letter to everyone, but here are a couple exciting developments in recent months: I have signed on as an artist endorser for Virtuoso Saxophones, a killer new saxophone that I’ve been playing extensively. It is ridiculously better than other horns out there today. Wowee. Other artists endorsing it include Chris Potter, Joe Lovano, Wayne Escoffery, George Garzone, Eddie Daniels, and more. Wow. I’ll try to get pics up soon. I also was asked to adjudicate the MTNA (Music Teachers National Association) National Chamber and Solo Woodwind National Finals in NYC this past March. This was the same competition I won way back when (1997), and I was honored to be back with MTNA, this time as a judge. I heard some ridiculously talented saxophonists the three days I judged. Writing is going very well, playing is going strong, and I’m looking forward to updating some of my online content. I’ve got several hundred pages of Augmented Scale Theory and Jazz Improv material that I’ve got to get online. More soon…