 The California Jazz Conservatory was founded in 1997 as "Jazzschool" by Susan Muscarella, a jazz pianist who studied with Wilbert Baranco in the 1970s, joined a band, and released a solo album called "Rainflowers" in 1979.She first taught at then became the director of the Jazz Ensembles program at the University of California, Berkeley.In 1989 she left the Cal music department for private teaching and professional performance, playing at various times with Sonny Rollins, Sheila E., Marian McPartland, Marlena Shaw and Arturo Sandoval.