The Pocono Record salutes area jazz musicians who are passing along principles of this unique American music to the next generation of performers.

Sunday, Aug. 2, marked the culmination of the third annual "Camp Jazz" with the campers' concert at the Church of the Mountain in Delaware Water Gap. Performing were students who had completed an intensive, weeklong immersion in jazz music and technique mentored by renowned jazz greats.

Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Phil Woods and Rick Chamberlain, principal trombonist of the New York City Ballet orchestra, first organized the camp in 2007 as a way to foster local talent. A camp, they figured, would be a natural complement — and feeder system — to the annual Celebration of the Arts jazz festival that takes place each September in the Gap. They enlisted camp space for lessons and practice from the Church of the Mountain, mined the jazz collection at East Stroudsburg University, got studio recording time at Red Rock Recording Studio, transportation from the Delaware Water Gap Trolley and performance space from the Deer Head Inn.

The Poconos are home to a number of internationally recognized jazz musicians, and for $450 for the week, students from eighth grade to this year's seniors took lessons from a distinguished faculty. Besides Woods and Chamberlain, jazz artists Brian Lynch, Roger Rosenberg, Bill Goodwin, Steve Gilmore, Bobby Rouch, Eric Doney, Nelson Hill, Tom Hamilton, Vicki Doney, Bob Dorough, Jesse Green, Spencer Reed and Jim Daniels have taught at the camp. And young jazz artists Evan Gregor, Bobby Avey, Matt Vaslishin, Jay Rattman and Chuck Cooper, themselves COTA veterans, served as mentors.

Campers study improvisation, small ensemble work, arranging, ear training and other skills. But the camp is about much more than lessons and study. It's about listening and responding, honing skills while learning and creating music.

Jazz offers young students a welcome alternative from the rap, pop, country and other more commercial musical styles that dominate the air waves. Born in America, jazz reflects American history and regional idiosyncrasies. It offers aspiring musicians a creative outlet and a fellowship of passionate colleagues. Hats off to Camp Jazz for providing this terrific opportunity to young jazz fans for the third year.