For the past few months, Willie Thomas and local jazz advocates have been introducing and teaching jazz fundamentals to music students at all levels in public and private schools on Orcas Island.

On Wednesday, May 5 at 7:30 p.m., The Jazz Experience will present these students in action in a concert hosted by Orcas Center.

Trumpeter Willie Thomas, whose professional musical career has spanned 45 years, has performed with such jazz greats as the Woody Herman Orchestra, the Al Belletto Sextet, the Slide Hampton Octet with Freddie Hubbard and George Coleman, the MJT+3 with Frank Strozier and Bob Cranshaw, singer Peggy Lee and many more. In addition to his international performances, residencies, educational clinics and jazz research, he was inducted into the International Association of Jazz Educators Hall of Fame in 1994. His Jazz Anyone…? classroom series is used in schools throughout the country. Stay-at-home jazz musicians may enjoy his unique jazz insights through his interactive Jazz Everyone…? website (jazzeveryone.com).

The Jazz Experience concert will feature the Funtime Blues Band, a collective of 7- to 10-year-old students. The Orcas Jazz Army, comprised of 45 band students in grades 5-8 directed by Lizz Hanks, will present two original compositions with improvisation. Ken Speck’s Orcatrazz will also perform two selections and accompany the Orcas High School Orchestra on a special number directed by “Uncle Willie.” Additional numbers will feature Robin Gropp and Mackie Blackburn, KT Lazlo (the 2010 Orcas Idol), Willie Thomas and the Orcas Horns.

Governor Christine Gregoire has proclaimed May as Arts Education Month, and a number of events during the month will feature student learning in four arts areas: dance, theatre, visual art and music.

For more information about The Jazz Experience and other Arts Education Month events, visit www.orcascenter.org. Tickets to The Jazz Experience are $5 and may be purchased at the Orcas Center box office or online.