If high notes can really shatter glass, board the State College Area High School windows. Maynard Ferguson and his trumpet have arrived.

The jazz trumpeter, who has been strutting his stuff on stage for more than 40 years, and his band will join six local high school jazz bands at the State College Area High School 14th Annual Jazz Festival.

"This is the 14th annual festival, and this is the most exciting one we've had yet," said Robert Victor, director of the State College Area High School bands.

The evening begins at 6 p.m. with the performance of a variety of high school jazz bands, including those from Bald Eagle Area High School, Bellefonte Area High School, Lock Haven High School, Penns Valley Area High School, State College Area Intermediate High School and State College Area Senior High School, Victor said.

Each band will play three songs in the big band tradition, totaling to about two hours of jazz entertainment, he said.

Maynard Ferguson will then take the stage with his Big Bop Nouveau Band, a nine-member band he recently formed, Victor said.

"(Ferguson) is one of the foremost band leaders alive. People would kill to be members of his band," he said.

Dan Yoder, associate professor of music and University director of jazz studies, said the Big Bop Nouveau Band has an impressive sound quality: "It's a fantastic band. It's the best one Maynard Ferguson has had in years."

Ferguson has a professional reputation of ever-changing styles and great innovation, Victor said.

Yoder said, "He's extremely innovative, though I don't agree with all of his innovations."

While other band leaders kept their general style, Ferguson changed with the times, and progressed to a new, electrified sound with jazz fusion, which borders on rock 'n' roll, Victor said.

"When big band leaders stayed in a general style of music, Maynard was the first of the big leaders to leave the big band sound and cross over to popular stuff. He was willing to change with the times," Victor said.

Ferguson's new band marks his return to the big band sound, Victor said. The well-known musician had turned to a different types of jazz in the past, but now is returning to the style that made him famous, he said.

"He's returning back to his roots and the jazz sound that made him popular. He pulled the plug on the electric synchronized stuff," Victor said.

Yoder said, "Now he's playing in the be-bop band style in a contemporary manner, which is quite appealing."

Victor said Ferguson is also known as the high-note artist.

"(Ferguson) is a living legend in the trumpet. He's the original high-note artist, and he can still play up pretty high," he said.

Yoder seconded that statement, "He's perhaps the best lead trumpeter in jazz music."

Victor said Ferguson's longevity is a key factor in his success. Victor, a teacher of 15 years, said his first album was one of Ferguson's.

"Maynard's been doing it for so long. He's out of the Swing Era of the late 40s, and here it is 40 years later and he's still alive and doing it."

The 14th Annual State College Area High School Jazz Festival will be at 6 p.m. tonight, in the State High auditorium. Advance tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students (including University students) and can be purchased from Victor or Yoder. Limited tickets will be available at the door for $14 and $12.