Third Annual Emerging Artists Festival

Guitarist Pasquale Grasso with his trio and featured vocalist Samara Joy performing live on stage at the Vermont Jazz Center on Friday, November 20th with a special pre-concert presentation of short videos from emerging High School & College performers, kicking off at 7:30pm. Then join us on Saturday, November 21 for concert and conversation with Lakecia Benjamin and her quartet. We will be Live streaming to our website and on the VJC facebook page. If you’re having trouble streaming, please reload the VJC homepage. 

Vocalist Samara Joy won the Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Contest in 2019. The 21-year-old singer has performed in many of New York’s prestigious jazz venues including Dizzy’s, The Blue Note, and Mezzrow accompanied by jazz luminaries such as Christian McBride, Jon Faddis, Kirk Lightsey, Cyrus Chestnut, and NEA Jazz Master Dr. Barry Harris. Italian guitarist, Pasquale Grasso has been lauded by Pat Metheny as “one of the best guitarists I’ve ever heard.” He was mentored by the legendary bebop pianist/educator Barry Harris, serving as his teaching assistant for the last ten years in workshops in Italy, Switzerland, France, Spain, Holland, and Slovenia. As a Jazz Ambassador for the US Embassy, Grasso toured Europe, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Cyprus, Lithuania, and Ukraine. Grasso has performed with Charles Davis, Freddie Redd, Frank Wess, Leroy Williams, Ray Drummond, Steve Grossman, Tardo Hammer, Jimmy Wormworth, John Mosca, Chris Byars, Pizzarelli, Harry Allen Quartet, Grant Stewart and many others.

Alto saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin won the 2019 Downbeat Critic’s Poll Rising Star Award as well as the Jazz Journalist’s Award for Up and Coming Jazz Musician of the Year. She recently recorded Pursuance, a tribute to the Coltranes (Alice and John) which was produced by her “god father” and mentor Reggie Workman (who also served as John Coltrane’s bassist). The sublime character of that recording is not that it is merely a tribute to Coltrane, but that she captures the spirit, the fire and the essence of their music, channeling their authentic tradition while infusing it with young energy and influences. Benjamin will be performing material from this recording in a pre-filmed, exclusive-content concert at the VJC. She says “Our job is to heal and spread joy throughout the planet. That’s the reason I play music.”
A new highlight for this year’s festival is the presentation of 5-minute videos from college, high school and youth jazz ensembles. We will present videos from approximately ten student groups performing in situations that reflect the creativity of working within the limits of social distancing.

Schedule

Friday, November 20, 2020

• 7:30pm: Pre-Concert Feature: Short Videos from High Schools & Colleges

• 8:00pm: Concert: Pasquale Grasso Trio feat. Samara Joy

> click here for more info on Friday’s program

Saturday, November 21, 2020

• 7:00pm: Pre-Concert Feature: Short Videos from High Schools & Colleges

• 7:15pm: Live Zoom Conversation with Lakecia Benjamin and Reggie Workman

• 8:00pm: Concert: Lakecia Benjamin Quartet

> click here for more info on Saturday’s program