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DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20250418T193000
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DTSTAMP:20260403T203347
CREATED:20241203T140211Z
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SUMMARY:2025 Solo Jazz Piano Festival
DESCRIPTION:At this celebration of solo piano in the jazz tradition\, a collaborative spirit imbues the presentations of four distinguished headliners. The Festival includes performances\, master-classes\, a Q+A session plus interviews with the artists. \n2025 headliners include Carmen Staaf\, Johnny O’Neal\, Sean Mason\, and Luther Allison \n2025 emerging artists include Estefanía Núñez Villamandos and Michael B. Carabello \nFor all music lovers\, not just pianists\, who are interested in both the practical and spiritual aspects of jazz and improvised music. We will hear six brilliant pianists (4 headliners and 2 emerging artists) perform and discuss their relationship to the instrument\, to the jazz lineage\, to structure and to artistic freedom. The piano is a finely crafted instrument that has been improved upon over the past three hundred years. It has been called “the orchestra of all instruments” because it gives musicians simultaneous access to harmonic\, melodic and rhythmical possibilities\, all with a refined sense of dynamics and touch.  \nIn the Solo Jazz Piano Festival you will experience the myriad ways that artists who have invested their lives in the piano relate with the instrument. Since the festival started\, in 2017\, the VJC has hosted 54 pianists including NEA Jazz Masters Joanne Brackeen and Toshiko Akiyoshi. Other well-known musicians who have participated in the festival include Stanley Cowell\, Helen Sung\, Sullivan Fortner\, Benny Green\, Aaron Parks\, Jacky Terrason\, Sullivan Fortner and many others. In this year’s festival\, each headliner will offer a masterclass and perform a 50 minute concert\, emerging artists will perform 25-minute sets\, and all pianists will come together for a lively panel discussion. All events will take place at the Vermont Jazz Center and will be livestreamed.  \nThe VJC Solo Piano Festival was inspired by the donation of a Steinway Concert Grand piano by the McKenzie Family Charitable Trust. The VJC is extremely grateful to the Trust for this inspiring instrument\, it continues to serve as a vehicle for artists to seamlessly transform their personalities and energy into musical sound and communicate directly with audiences. \nSchedule\nFriday\, April 18\nFeature Concert \n7:30   Carmen Staaf \nPianist/composer Carmen Staaf is a rising force in the NYC and global music scenes and serves as the pianist and Musical Director for NEA Jazz Master Dee Dee Bridgewater. She has performed with icons like Herbie Hancock\, Wayne Shorter\, Wynton Marsalis\, and Kenny Barron and graced stages such as the Playboy Jazz Festival\, Kennedy Center\, Village Vanguard\, Blue Note\, SFJazz\, and major jazz festivals worldwide. \n8:30  Johnny O’Neal \nJohnny O’Neal is a world-renowned neo-bop jazz pianist and vocalist from Detroit known for his virtuosic playing and natural swing. Influenced by jazz greats like Oscar Peterson and Art Tatum\, he has performed with legends such as Dizzy Gillespie\, Ray Brown\, Nancy Wilson\, Joe Pass and Kenny Burrell. A former member of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers\, O’Neal made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1985 and portrayed Tatum in 2004 film\, Ray.  \n\nSaturday\, April 19 (starting at 10 am EST)\nEducational Presentations & Emerging Artists’ Concert\n \n10 am Carmen Staaf – “Rhythmic Frameworks for Improvisation”: A short introduction to the Cuban clave\, thinking about the underlying rhythmic structures of bebop tunes and other jazz pieces and showing how we can use it in our improvisations and arrangements. Then we will look at some bebop tunes like Anthropology and Evidence; we will find their “claves” and explore ways to use them when we improvise. \n11 am Johnny O’Neal – “Q&A Session”: Johnny will take questions from the audience about his long and storied career\, demonstrating from his vast repertoire of tunes. He will discuss his early years and influences and share anecdotes from the road as well as offer advice for both aspiring and working musicians. \n12 pm Sean Mason – “Music and Personal Growth”: This masterclass is a space for reflection on the profound relationship between music and personal growth\, emphasizing the role of integrity and intuition in navigating both artistic and life challenges. We’ll explore how the spirit of jazz can inform a broader understanding of purpose and fulfillment. \n1 pm Luther Allison – “Broadening our Understanding of the Art of Accompaniment”: In this session\, we will study different approaches to the art of accompaniment across different ensemble configurations. From supporting the melody to backing a soloist\, we will break down what it means to accompany\, then listen to recordings and analyze the different techniques used by rhythm sections and event horn sections to comp behind a melody. \n2:00   Lunch Break \n3:30  Estefanía Núñez Villamandos\, Emerging Artist – Estefanía Núñez Villamandos is a Cuban pianist\, film composer\, and arranger known for blending Afro-Cuban rhythms\, jazz\, and film soundtrack influences. Currently a student in the Global Jazz Institute Master’s Program\, she is working on a new album with her band\, Meszas\, while developing a thesis on music and schizophrenia. \n4:00  Michael B. Carabello\, Emerging Artist – Michael B. Carabello is a versatile pianist based in the tri-state area\, trained at the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz. He’s performed with artists like Nat Reeves and Rene McLean at venues such as Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Newport Jazz Festival. Mike has also played at the White House and leads projects like Erica T. Bryan and the New Mosaic. He’s currently the Music Director at the Artists Collective\, developing curriculum to teach African Diaspora music to children in Greater Hartford. \n4:45  Pianist Panel Discussion (Juried Questions) \n5:30  Dinner Break \n\nSaturday Feature Concert (7:30 pm EST)\n7:30  Sean Mason\nSean Mason\, a renowned jazz pianist\, composer\, and music director\, is celebrated for blending traditional jazz with contemporary influences. His debut album The Southern Suite garnered critical acclaim\, and his recent project My Ideal was GRAMMY® Nominated for Best Jazz Vocal Album. A versatile artist\, Mason has collaborated with jazz legends such as Wynton Marsalis\, Branford Marsalis\, Christian McBride\, and Dave Liebman. He has also worked with contemporary artists like Masego and contributed to Broadway productions with stars such as Babyface. \n8:30  Luther Allison\nLuther is a bandleader\, educator\, composer and clinician based in New York City. He performs nationally and internationally with his trio and sextet and has performed on both drums and piano alongside Etienne Charles\, Jazzmeia Horn\, Rodney Whitaker\, Samara Joy\, Joe Farnsworth\, Ulysses Owens Jr.\, Helen Sung. Currently\, Luther is touring with vocalist Ekep Nkwelle.
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/2025-solo-jazz-piano-festival/
LOCATION:Vermont
CATEGORIES:Concert
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20250510T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20250510T220000
DTSTAMP:20260403T203347
CREATED:20241009T150541Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250609T204327Z
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SUMMARY:Endea Owens and the Cookout
DESCRIPTION:You’ve seen Endea Owens as the bassist on the Late Show’s house band\, or heard her on Jon Batiste’s Grammy-winning album “We Are.” Come dig The Cookout\, her acoustic bass-led sextet of rhythmically charged music. Endea Owens is known as one of Jazz’s most vibrant emerging artists. As a Detroit-raised Recording Artist\, Bassist\, and Composer\, she has been mentored by jazz icons such as Marcus Belgrave\, Rodney Whitaker\, and Ron Carter\, as well as toured/performed with Wynton Marsalis\, Jennifer Holliday\, Diana Ross\, Rhonda Ross\, Solange\, Jon Batiste\, Jazzmeia Horn\, Dee Dee Bridgewater\, and Steve Turre\, to name a few. Endea was a part of the Late Show with Stephen Colbert house band\, won an Emmy Award\, Grammy Award\, and a George Foster Peabody Award\, and her work has appeared on Jon Batiste’s Grammy Award-winning album “We Are\,” Oscar-nominated film Judas and the Black Messiah\, and H.E.R’s widely acclaimed Super Bowl LV performance. She has composed a piece entitled “Ida’s Crusade” for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra\, which was later performed by the NYO Carnegie Hall Orchestra\, has written for brands such as Pyer Moss and Glossier\, and has been commissioned by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. \nread our program below…\n\n\nWelcome to the Vermont Jazz Center. Tonight we are honored to present Endea Owens and the Cookout. Owens is a familiar presence to late-night TV buffs; she’s the double-bassist who propels Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show house band with her swinging\, low-end grooves. The Detroit native is a graduate of Juilliard who has toured and performed with Wynton Marsalis\, Diana Ross\, Solange\, Jon Batiste\, Jazzmeia Horn\, Dee Dee Bridgewater\, Steve Turre\, and many others. She appeared on Jon Batiste’s Grammy Award-winning album We Are\, and can be heard on the Oscar-nominated film Judas and the Black Messiah. If you were watching Super Bowl LV\, then you caught Endea performing as part of  H.E.R.’s widely acclaimed half-time show.  \nBut these accolades don’t even come close to conjuring the feelings and messages that Endea conveys in live performances. Like Charles Mingus\, Ron Carter\, and Stanley Clarke\, Owens is one of those rare bass-playing leaders who steps into the frontline of the band and leaves no question about who’s in charge. Publicity for one of Endea’s shows at Jazz at Lincoln Center (where she was hailed as their 2019 Emerging Artist) summarizes her impact: “Endea Owens evolves the legacy of great leaders behind the bass\, she approaches her sets with commanding presence\, sensitivity\, and an elastic foundation primed for spontaneity.”  \nEndea Owens is an old spirit whose music continues to be influenced by the intensity and fullness of groups from the hard bop era – when there was an authentic bridge between popular and art musics\, and Black R&B\, and jazz circles overlapped. In several interviews\, Owens mentions that her first jazz epiphany occurred when she heard the sounds of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers as a 13-year-old. She emulates that big sound by touring with large-sized groups\, noting: “I wanted to honor his [Blakey’s] legacy.” In an interview with the Pace Report\, Owens relates “…it’s empowering to lead a band…the way that I function with my band is to exemplify equal opportunity because it’s not all about me. I want everyone to have their time to shine. We’re a collective.”  \nThe Cookout’s vocalist is Nia Drummond. She is known for combining her jazz roots\, operatic training\, gospel beginnings\, and R&B stylings into a unique\, “genre-fluid” sound. Nia has been featured at the Apollo Theater\, Playhouse Square in Cleveland\, the New World Center\, the Kennedy Center\, and other renowned venues. She has also been featured in Great Performances: American Voices with Renée Fleming on PBS. Drummond has appeared as a background vocalist for the likes of Sir Elton John\, Bette Midler\, Valerie Simpson\, Fantasia\, John Legend\, and many others. \nTrumpeter Anthony Hervey\, is\, like Endea\, a graduate of Juilliard’s Master’s in Jazz program. He has toured\, performed\, and recorded with luminaries such as Christian McBride\, Jon Batiste\, and Michael Bublé. Hervey performs regularly with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra\, the Christian McBride Big Band\, the Mingus Big Band\, the Future of Jazz Orchestra\, and the Ulysses Owens Jr. Generation Y Quintet.  \nSaxophonist Irwin Hall attended Princeton University on a full scholarship to study East Asian philosophy. He was invited by vocalist Melody Gardot to tour with her band after she heard him perform at the Tokyo Jazz Festival and has since recorded three albums with Ms. Gardot. Hall has toured and/or recorded with NEA Jazz Master Dee Dee Bridgewater\, John Legend\, bass virtuoso Charnett Moffett\, Lauryn Hill\, Theo Croker and many others.   \nOriginally from France and Madagascar\, The Cookout’s pianist\, Mathis Picard is an ASCAP Next Generation of Songwriters recipient\, a member of the Montreux Jazz Foundation\, and a Juilliard School graduate. He now spends his time touring and recording as a leader. His latest album\, Heat of The Moment\, was given a 5-star review from The NY Times. When not leading his own projects\, Picard has shared the stage with artists such as Ron Carter\, Lillias White\, Lee Ritenour\, Kindness\, Wynton Marsalis\, Veronica Swift\, Etienne Charles\, Christian McBride\, Dee Dee Bridgewater and more. \nThe ensemble’s drummer is Diego Joaquin Ramirez who has performed with Vijay Iyer\, Cyrille Aimee\, Marc Cary\, Duane Eubanks\, Michael League\, Jazzmeia Horn\, Alina Engibaryan\, Grace Kelly\, Stacy Dillard\, Greg Tardy\, Theo Hill\, Luques Curtis\, Walt Weiskopf and many others. Ramirez has played at festivals including the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Fest\, Montreal Jazz Fest\, SXSW\, The Kennedy Center\, The DC Jazz Fest\, Barranquilla Jazz Fest (Colombia)\, Umbria Jazz Fest (Italy)\, Cork Jazz Fest (Ireland) and many others.  \nWhen the online music magazine\, The Pace Report\, asked Endea Owens to describe her music\, she called it “a buffet of the Black music experience: very unique\, with mostly jazz influences but also inspired by gospel\, funk\, R&B and swing.”  \nThe VJC is especially grateful for the sponsorship of this event by David Salzberg and Elissa Barr\, two dear friends who for several years have actively shown their belief in the power of music to bring the community together to enhance the quality of life. 
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/endea-owens/
LOCATION:Vermont
CATEGORIES:Concert
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://vtjazz.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Endea-Owens-6.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20250614T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20250614T220000
DTSTAMP:20260403T203347
CREATED:20241009T150441Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250613T145610Z
UID:9253-1749929400-1749938400@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:Convergence Project
DESCRIPTION:Eugene Uman is the director of the Vermont Jazz Center and performs as a pianist in numerous projects. His annual June concert is a representation of a year’s worth of composing and collaborating with various musicians and an opportunity for him to assemble a dream band that manifests his vision and unites his musical influences. Uman’s energetic playing and writing style is flavored with the Latin rhythms that he has absorbed during his tenure living in Colombia where he initiated the jazz studies programs at la Universidad de EAFIT and el Colegio de Música de Medellín. Several of his compositions employ forms and grooves adapted from Colombian music such as cumbia\, pasillo\, puya\, bambuco\, and currulao. They are also strongly influenced by his bebop mentors: Sheila Jordan\, Howard Brofsky\, Mike Longo and Jimmy Heath as well as by the sounds of his youth when he played in rock and blues bands. Uman’s compositions draw from a vocabulary of modern jazz\, hard bop\, rock\, soul\, Latin American rhythms and gospel; listeners can expect a “convergence” of the music he loves in a mash-up of styles where groove is king. \nThis presentation of the Convergence Project is the last show of the Vermont Jazz Center’s 2024-25 season.  \nRead the program below… \nWelcome to the Vermont Jazz Center’s final concert of the season. I’m really excited for the opportunity to present my original material to you; it is an honor to be joined by these artists who I deeply respect and whose music I enjoy. I am also grateful to you for being here. \nThe Convergence Project is a rotating band that includes musicians whose creative contributions enhance my own hand. I find great joy in putting together a musical program. Each detail – from the setlist to the order of solos\, to the choice of musicians\, is part of an organic whole. Each selection (tune) is guided by a chart\, or map\, that generally defines that composition’s journey: an introduction\, a clear melody and a form that listeners and players can follow. This form includes improvisational sections\, a recap of the melody and a coda (ending). Although this form is consistent for each tune\, the personalities of the musicians and the way that they relate with each other and the road map is what changes the journey’s color and scenery. The improvising soloists guide the group’s energy\, and their creativity welcomes unpredictable responses and interactions. \nOver the years I have enjoyed matching up different combinations of bassists and drummers to impart a totally different flavor\, even over the same tunes. In this music\, rhythm is king – the rhythm section players are the engine and their attitude is what gives the music life. When listening tonight\, try to single out the bass\, drums and percussion. Check out how the musicians focus on locking into specific\, repetitive patterns. These rhythms are the thumbprint of each tune and they impart an identifiable flavor. Many of the tunes you will hear tonight were inspired by the rich variety of rhythms of Colombia. Ethnomusicologist Guillermo Abadía Morales cataloged over 1025 distinct rhythms in Colombian folk and traditional music. Colombian music is about precision\, but it’s also about feeling and communicating. I love how Colombian people incorporate rhythm into their everyday way of life – it’s embedded in everything they do – the way they talk\, walk\, work\, dance\, laugh and sing. I try to infuse my compositions with that rhythm of life while never negating my own upbringing and influences\, including the huge impact of my mentor\, Howard Brofsky. \nFor this iteration of the Convergence Project\, we welcome Peru-born percussionist Jhair Sala. Jhair is known for his deep roots in Afro-Peruvian and Afro-Cuban traditions\, blending them with a fresh\, contemporary edge. He has performed and recorded with legends including Ruben Blades\, Pedrito Martinez\, Eric Clapton\, and Steve Gadd\, and was twice named Rising Star Percussionist of the Year by *Drum Magazine*. Jhair will primarily be playing cajon and congas tonight\, but he’s equally at home on bongos\, timbales\, and a wide range of traditional Latin percussion instruments. \nI can’t wait to hear how Samuel locks in with trap drummer Brian Shankar Adler. A world-class educator and performer\, Brian has analyzed how to apply folkloric Colombian rhythms to the drum set. He is comfortable playing a wide range of styles and can swing hard on straight-ahead jazz tunes as well. His specialties include South Asian classical music\, jazz\, and experimental soundscapes. Brian has performed at Carnegie Hall\, the Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center and appears on over 40 recordings\, including several as a leader. \nI first heard New York bassist Mimi Jones in 2012 when she played with Tia Fuller here at the Jazz Center and then at a clinic at Amherst College. At that clinic\, Mimi demonstrated her concept of creating a sound based on a full and unhurried quarter note: her groove is huge and danceable. As a Jazz Ambassador\, Mimi toured Africa\, Europe\, Russia\, China\, South and Central America\, and the Caribbean for the U.S. State Department. Her work as a side woman includes gigs with Kenny Barron\, Beyonce\, Dianne Reeves\, Ingrid Jensen\, Roy Hargrove\, Ravi Coltrane and Ralph Peterson. Jones has released three albums as a leader and appears on recordings with Terri Lyne Carrington’s Mosaic Project\, Rudy Royston\, Lizz Wright\, Tia Fuller\, Luís Perdomo\, Camille Thurman and others. \nIn the frontline\, saxophonist Michael Zsoldos has been a cornerstone of the Convergence Project since its first incarnation in 2009. One of the things I love about Michael’s playing is his seamless integration into any horn section – he is a leader who understands the art of blending with other musicians in order to create magic. He is also a consummate improviser. Michael has performed with Paquito D’Rivera\, Shelia Jordan\, Kevin Mahogany\, Houston Person\, Luis Perdomo\, Jason Palmer\, Helen Sung\, George Schuller\, Armen Donelian\, Bernadette Peters\, Carole King\, the Temptations and many others. \nFlutist Anabel Gil Díaz is from Havana\, Cuba currently teaching at the VJC’s Summer Jazz Workshop and the John Payne Music Center in Brookline\, Ma. She attended the Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice at Berklee School of Music on a full Presidential Scholarship and then received her master’s degree from Longy School of Music. Anabel combines a fearless jazz attitude with a vast knowledge of classical repertoire and the spirit of Cuba. Anabel can be heard on Terri-Lyne Carrington’s Grammy Award-winning album New Jazz Standards Vol. 1. \nThe list of artists with whom French hornist John Clark has recorded and/or performed includes Gil Evans\, McCoy Tyner\, Miles Davis\, Turtle Island String Quartet\, Joe Lovano\, Julius Hemphill\, Jaco Pastorius\, George Russell\, Sting\, Ornette Coleman\, Paquito D’Rivera\, and the Mingus Orchestra\, among many others. He has released 7 albums as a leader and appeared on over 20 as a side-person. John received a composition grant from the National Endowment of the Arts\, and his work has been performed and/or recorded by the Gil Evans Orchestra\, McCoy Tyner Big Band\, Paul Winter and Imani Winds\, among many others. \nThank you for being here! Music is a reciprocal experience and your trust in me is humbling. Thanks especially to Torin Koester and Mike McKenzie of the McKenzie Charitable Trust for their sponsorship and enduring support. \n-Eugene Uman
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/2025-convergence-project/
LOCATION:Vermont
CATEGORIES:Concert
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250803
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250810
DTSTAMP:20260403T203347
CREATED:20231218T211748Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250609T143739Z
UID:8334-1754179200-1754783999@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:2025 Summer Jazz Workshop
DESCRIPTION:More Info\nLOCATION: THE PUTNEY SCHOOL IN PUTNEY\, VERMONT \nRegistration is now open. First-time applicants\, please send your audition recordings before registering. \nGreetings! The Vermont Jazz Center’s 50th Summer Jazz Workshop will take place on the beautiful campus of The Putney School. \nCome join us and participate in a hands-on program heralded for giving participants ample playing time and direct access to caring\, high-level\, professional instructors who are both working musicians and experienced educators. \nWe ask vocalists and instrumentalists interested in a focused week of creating music together to contact us as soon as possible to ensure placement. \nThe VJC Summer Workshop creates a community through music that includes improvisation. For 50 years we have brought people together using jazz as the catalyst. Jazz is an ensemble-oriented art-form that relies on listening and relationships; it pays homage to the wisdom of the masters who have developed an improvisational language propelled by innovations in rhythm. Our program is dedicated to creating playing situations that honor the historical context but embrace forward-thinking concepts through jam sessions\, ensembles and listening opportunities. At the Vermont Jazz Center we believe in hands-on learning\, so theoretical information is fused with playing opportunities (including late night jam sessions) that create a seamless bridge of information and application. \nSTART HERE
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/2025-summer-jazz-workshop/
LOCATION:Vermont
CATEGORIES:Concert,Education
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20250920T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20250920T220000
DTSTAMP:20260403T203347
CREATED:20250730T150341Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250730T161354Z
UID:9759-1758396600-1758405600@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:2025-2026 Season: Jason Moran
DESCRIPTION:Jason Moran is a visionary jazz pianist\, composer\, and interdisciplinary artist whose work blends music with performance art\, film\, and visual media. Known for his adventurous spirit\, he draws from a wide spectrum of influences including Thelonious Monk\, hip hop\, stride piano\, classical\, and avant-garde jazz. Moran first gained recognition through his collaborations with Greg Osby and released his debut album\, Soundtrack to Human Motion\, on Blue Note Records in 1999. He has since led the acclaimed trio\, The Bandwagon\, and created acclaimed projects such as In My Mind (a multimedia homage to Monk)\, Fats Waller Dance Party\, and numerous commissions for major museums and international festivals. \nMoran’s musical collaborators include Charles Lloyd\, Cassandra Wilson\, Joe Lovano\, Don Byron\, Steve Coleman\, and Marian McPartland. He has also composed scores for choreographers Alonzo King and Ronald K. Brown and Ava DuVernay’s Selma and 13th. A recipient of the MacArthur Fellowship in 2010\, Moran has taught at the New England Conservatory\, held residencies at Juilliard and the Rhythmic Music Conservatory\, and up until June served as Artistic Director for Jazz at the Kennedy Center.  \nDubbed “the most provocative thinker in current jazz” by Rolling Stone\, Moran plays a pivotal role in shaping jazz’s cultural legacy. Inspired by the music of Duke Ellington\, he currently has embarked on a solo piano journey up what he calls “Mount Ellington\,” celebrating Ellington’s contributions as a composer\, pianist\, and bandleader. Now\, 125 years after Ellington’s birth\, Moran reimagines his canon as a defining event\, one that elevated jazz from populist entertainment to a national art form.  \nOpening for the Vermont Jazz Center 2025-2026 season\, he will perform his solo piano project “Mount Ellington”\, a tribute to Duke Ellington that reimagines the legendary composer’s work through his unique lens.
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/jason-moran/
LOCATION:Vermont
CATEGORIES:Concert
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://vtjazz.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/look_jason4_lg.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20251011T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20251011T220000
DTSTAMP:20260403T203347
CREATED:20250730T150634Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251006T164436Z
UID:9762-1760211000-1760220000@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:2025-2026 Season: Chief Adjuah (formerly Christian Scott)
DESCRIPTION:Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah (formerly Christian Scott) is a two-time Edison Award–winning\, six-time Grammy-nominated musician\, composer\, producer\, and cultural leader. As Chief of the Xodokan Nation and Grand Griot of New Orleans\, his artistry blends Afro-Indigenous heritage\, ancestral ceremony\, and forward-thinking innovation. \nAdjuah’s takes a leap towards a nontraditional music style described as “increasingly infectious with repeated listens and marks yet another step forward for one of the most innovative artists of our time” by Glide Magazine. His latest album\, Bark Out Thunder Roar Out Lightning (2023)\, is his first release after reclaiming his name as a tribal leader and his first recorded release with his invented instrument the Adjuah Bow. This bow\, a harplike\, ancestral-inspired creation is a double‑sided hybrid of kora and ngoni\, and a European Harp. Giovanni Russonello in The New York Times called his blend of vocals and ancestral percussion on this album “a paean to the legacy of Black Indian music”.  \nExpect a deeply immersive performance: Adjuah will weave together spiritual storytelling\, original instrumentation\, and a genre-defying journey through New Orleans\, West African\, and Maroon traditions… all of which are central to his ongoing mission of decolonizing sound and elevating ancestral expression. 
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/chief-adjuah/
LOCATION:Vermont
CATEGORIES:Concert
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://vtjazz.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ChiefAdjuah_MayaIman1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20251107T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20251107T200000
DTSTAMP:20260403T203347
CREATED:20250730T151407Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251027T194630Z
UID:9765-1762534800-1762545600@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:DAY 1 Emerging Artist Festival
DESCRIPTION:8th Annual Emerging Artist Festival \nFriday\, November 7\, 5:00 – 8:00 pm (118 Elliot\, Gallery Walk Student Showcase): VJC joins with the 118 Elliot Art Gallery to present a showcase of high school and college jazz ensembles\, including Vermont Academy Trio\, Emily Margaret Ensemble\, Amherst College Ensemble: Agra\, Northfield Mt. Hermon Honors\, and PVPA Jazz\, Pop + R&B Ensemble. \n5:00 Vermont Academy Trio\n5:30 Emily Margaret Ensemble\n6:10  Amherst College Ensemble: Agra\n6:50  Northfield Mt. Hermon Quintet\n7:30  PVPA Jazz\, Pop + R&B Ensemble \nSaturday\, November 8\, 11:00 – 5:00 pm\, Student Performances & Free Clinic (4 pm) with Ulysses Owens Jr.: VJC teams up with area schools to feature additional student groups from area high schools and colleges. Daytime activities will culminate in a no-cost clinic offered by three-time Grammy Award-winning drummer Ulysses Owens Jr. to area youth and older aficionados. This year’s participants include: Amherst College Ensemble: Petra\, Putney School (tentative)\, VJC Youth Jazz Ensemble\, UMass Ensemble 1\, Northfield Quintet\, UMass Ensemble 2\, BUHS Madrigals\, and BUHS Big Band. \nSaturday\, November 8 at 7:30 pm Headliner Concert Ulysses Owens Jr. & Generation Y Ensemble: Three-time Grammy Award-winning drummer\, composer\, and bandleader Ulysses Owens Jr. is a drummer who “take[s] a back seat to no one\,” and “a musician who balances excitement gracefully and shines with innovation” (New York Times). He is one of the most dynamic and multifaceted artists of his generation. As a multifaceted artist\, Owens is equally at home behind the drum set\, directing large ensembles\, authoring acclaimed educational books\, and building community through the arts. \nCost:\nFriday and Saturday Daytime Events: Free\nSaturday Evening Concert: $25+ (Sliding Scale)
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/day-1-emerging-artist-festival/
LOCATION:118 Elliot Gallery\, 118 Elliot Street\, Brattleboro\, Vermont\, 05301
CATEGORIES:Concert
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://vtjazz.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/960x540.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251108
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251109
DTSTAMP:20260403T203347
CREATED:20250730T152048Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251027T191214Z
UID:9767-1762560000-1762646399@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:DAY 2 Emerging Artist Festival feat. Ulysses Owens Jr. and Gen. Y
DESCRIPTION:Saturday\, November 8\, 11:00 – 5:00 PM\, Student Performances & Free Clinic (4 PM) with Ulysses Owens Jr.: VJC teams up with area schools to feature additional student groups from area high schools and colleges. Daytime activities will culminate in a no-cost clinic offered by three-time Grammy Award-winning drummer Ulysses Owens Jr. to area youth and older aficionados. This year\, we’re thrilled to feature student groups from Amherst College Ensemble: Petra\, Putney School (tentative)\,VJC Youth Jazz Ensemble\, UMass Ensemble 1\, Northfield Quintet\, UMass Ensemble 2\, BUHS Madrigals\, and BUHS Big Band. \nClinic Topic: Communication on the Bandstand \nOwens and Generation Y will play a few tunes and then they will discuss the ways in which they communicate with each other through words and examples. How do we signal each other that we want another improvised chorus\, communicate that we want to bring the energy up or down\, or let the horn players know that it’s time to join in for background figures? Owens and Generation Y have worked together to develop their personalized communication and they look forward to sharing their knowledge with us! \n  \nSaturday\, November 8 at 7:30 pm Headliner Concert Ulysses Owens Jr. & Generation Y Ensemble: Three-time Grammy Award-winning drummer\, composer\, and bandleader Ulysses Owens Jr. is a drummer who “take[s] a back seat to no one\,” and “a musician who balances excitement gracefully and shines with innovation” (New York Times). He is one of the most dynamic and multifaceted artists of his generation. As a multifaceted artist\, Owens is equally at home behind the drum set\, directing large ensembles\, authoring acclaimed educational books\, and building community through the arts. \nCost:\nFriday and Saturday Daytime Events: Free\nSaturday Evening Concert: $25+ (Sliding Scale) \nSaturday\, November 8\, 7:30 PM Concert with Ulysses Owens Jr. & Generation Y Band: \nThree-time Grammy Award-winning drummer\, composer\, and bandleader Ulysses Owens Jr. is a drummer who “take[s] a back seat to no one\,” and “a musician who balances excitement gracefully and shines with innovation” (New York Times). As a multifaceted artist\, Owens is equally at home behind the drum set\, directing large ensembles\, authoring acclaimed educational books\, and building community through the arts. \nOwens has appeared on multiple Grammy Award-winning recordings with Kurt Elling and the Christian McBride Big Band\, and received his third Grammy in 2023 for his work with Steven Feifke\, Bijon Watson\, and the Generation Gap Jazz Orchestra. As a bandleader\, his acclaimed albums Songs of Freedom\, Soul Conversations\, and A New Beat have received honors from Rolling Stone\, DownBeat\, and Jazziz\, with A New Beat topping the JazzWeek charts for eight weeks in 2024. \nHe is the founder and drummer of the Ulysses Owens Jr. Big Band (named DownBeat’s 2022 Rising Star Big Band) and Generation Y\, a group of emerging artists who recently toured globally and gained viral attention for their Nirvana cover “Heart-Shaped Box\,” reaching over five million views. \nA respected educator\, Owens serves on the jazz faculty at The Juilliard School and is the inaugural jazz drum instructor for Drumeo’s global platform. He has published three books on jazz drumming and career development\, and regularly contributes to DownBeat\, JazzTimes\, and The New York Times. He is also the Artistic Director of “Don’t Miss a Beat\,” a nonprofit organization using the arts to empower youth in his hometown of Jacksonville\, Florida. \nFor this performance\, Owens leads his Generation Y ensemble. Like the legendary drummer Art Blakey\, Owens pays close attention to the leading young artists of our time and asks them to join his powerful ensemble. For this performance\, he will be joined by Anthony Hervey on trumpet (performed at VJC with Endea Owens)\, Erena Terakubo on alto saxophone (Mingus Big Band\, Kenny Barron Quartet)\, Liya Grigoryan on piano (Thelonious Monk Competition finalist) and Guillermo Lopez on bass (first prize winner of the Scott LaFaro Prize at the 2025 International Society of Bassists).
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/day-2-emerging-artist-festival-feat-ulysses-owens/
LOCATION:Vermont Jazz Center\, 72 Cotton Mill Hill\, Brattleboro\, VT\, 05301\, United States
CATEGORIES:Concert
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://vtjazz.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/UlyssesOwensJr3.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20251206T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20251206T163000
DTSTAMP:20260403T203347
CREATED:20251113T235809Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251205T142256Z
UID:6545-1765022400-1765038600@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:2025 Fall Semester Student Showcase
DESCRIPTION:On Saturday\, December 6\, the Vermont Jazz Center will present an afternoon of musical offerings to complement the festivities of the Cotton Mill’s Open House*. Student groups will be performing at the VJC’s performance space from 12:00 pm until 5:00 pm. All are invited to attend free of charge; donations towards the VJC Scholarship Fund will be gratefully accepted. Performances will take place at the Vermont Jazz Center’s Concert Hall at the Cotton Mill Hill. \nOver the course of the afternoon\, nine ensembles will share the results of three months of study\, rehearsal\, and collaboration. Listeners can expect a mix of jazz standards\, Latin jazz\, samba percussion\, vocal harmonies\, improvisational forays and spirited tunes from the Blue Note era. \nThis performance tradition highlights the depth of talent within the VJC’s education program\, bringing together musicians of all ages and backgrounds. The event is free and open to the public; a suggested $5 donation supports the VJC Scholarship Fund\, which awards more than $17\,000 annually to help make jazz education accessible to all. \nCome join us at the Vermont Jazz Center from 12:00 PM until 5:00 PM on Saturday\, December 6\, 2025. Your presence supports local talent performing in a variety of jazz styles. Free and open to the public. Desert snacks will be available by donation. Flip through the concert program by clicking the button below: \nConcert Program\n \n\nThe VJC also encourages listeners to enjoy one other performance by Anna Patton’s Soubrette Choir\, an 18-singer vocal ensemble based at the Vermont Jazz Center. Details of shows \nDecember 7 at 7:00 PM at the Guilford Community Church. \n*For two decades\, every first weekend of December a wide range of Mill residents has opened doors to curiosity-seekers and shoppers alike who enjoyed the chance not only to tend to holiday shopping\, but also to see what goes on behind some of the area’s most successful products—creative\, culinary\, and ingenious. The annual Cotton Mill Open Studio and Holiday Sale will be held on Saturday\, Dec. 7\, from 10 am to 4 pm\, with offerings of these local artisans and small businesses sharing in the joy of the season.
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/2025-fall-semester-student-showcase/
LOCATION:Vermont
CATEGORIES:Concert
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://vtjazz.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Soubrette-Fall-concert-2025-scaled.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20251212T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20251212T220000
DTSTAMP:20260403T203347
CREATED:20250730T152827Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251128T171608Z
UID:9772-1765567800-1765576800@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:VJC Big Band Celebrates its 21st Year w/ Vocalist Peter Eldridge
DESCRIPTION:A gala dance to support the VJC’s Scholarship Fund!\nThe 18-piece Vermont Jazz Center Big Band returns for its annual swing dance gala\, this year featuring the acclaimed vocalist\, pianist\, and composer Peter Eldridge. Eldridge is known for bridging the worlds of jazz and singer-songwriter traditions with ease and emotional depth. A founding member of the Grammy-winning vocal ensemble New York Voices\, Eldridge has performed at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall\, Avery Fisher Hall\, and The Kennedy Center\, and has recorded and toured with legendary artists including Bobby McFerrin\, Michael Brecker\, George Benson\, Paquito D’Rivera\, and Chanticleer. \nEldridge’s solo projects – including Disappearing Day (Sunnyside Records)\, which was called “an out-and-out masterpiece” by All About Jazz—have landed on Best of the Year lists from DownBeat\, Jazziz\, and NPR. Eldridge’s recent collaboration with pianist Kenny Werner\, Somewhere features a 40-member orchestra and a world-class jazz quartet. \nThe VJC Big Band\, comprised of professional musicians from the region\, performs classic and contemporary big band arrangements to raise funds for the Vermont Jazz Center’s Scholarship Fund. Now in its 21st year\, the ensemble thrives thanks to the steadfast leadership of Music Director Rob Freeberg and the unwavering dedication of Band Manager and baritone saxophonist Sherm Fox\, who helped establish the group in 2004. \nEach year\, the VJC Big Band performs a dance concert on the first Friday of December that features a special guest artist. Past headliners have included Carmen Bradford\, Evan Arntzen\, Alexis Cole\, Amanda Carr\, Houston Person\, Dave Stryker\, Samirah Evans\, Rich Greenblatt\, Mark Anagnostopulos\, Bella Holtz\, Kevin Mahogany\, Miles Griffith\, Wanda Houston\, and timbalero Eguie Castrillo. \n2024/2025 VJC Big band \nMusic Director: Rob Freeberg\nBand Manager: Sherm Fox \nSaxophones: Matt Steckler\, Donna Morse\, altos; Michael Zsoldos\, Bruce Diehl\, tenors; Sherm Fox\, baritone\nTrumpets: Rick Anderson\, Donald Anderson\, Haneef Nelson\, Bunny Saranita\nTrombones: Dave Sporny\, Ben Barnett\, Taylor Hughey\, John Wheeler\nRhythm Section: Eugene Uman\, piano; Wes Brown\, bass; Steve Rice\, drums.
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/big-band-peter-eldridge/
LOCATION:Vermont
CATEGORIES:Concert
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://vtjazz.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/peter-eldridge-by_Theo_Bleckmann.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20260117T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20260117T220000
DTSTAMP:20260403T203347
CREATED:20250730T163929Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250826T131318Z
UID:9777-1768678200-1768687200@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:2025-2026 Season: Zaccai Curtis Cubop Quintet
DESCRIPTION:Zaccai Curtis is a pianist\, composer\, and producer known for fusing the essential elements of Latin jazz and bebop languages. Most recently\, his album Cubop Lives!\, released under his own\, collective label (Truth Revolution)\, won the 2025 Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album. This concert will feature the actual musicians who recorded with Zaccai on his Grammy-winning release. \nA three-time ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award recipient\, Zaccai Curtis has also been honored with the Connecticut Artist Fellowship\, Chamber Music America’s New Jazz Works grant (2017)\, and toured with the U.S. State Department’s Jazz Ambassadors program. In 2020\, he was named a Rising Star in the DownBeat Critics Poll. As co-founder of the artist-run label TRRcollective\, he has produced Grammy-nominated work\, including Entre Colegas by the legendary Latin bassist\, Andy González. \nCurtis has performed with a wide range of artists\, including Chief Adjuah (formerly Christian Scott)\, Donald Harrison\, Santana\, Cindy Blackman\, Eddie Palmieri\, Brian Lynch\, the Mambo Legends\, and Avery Sharpe. A dedicated educator\, Curtis teaches at the University of Hartford and Western Connecticut State University\, and is the author of two instructional books on jazz theory and Latin rhythms. \nFor the VJC’s event\, Curtis’ quintet will expand upon the Cubop era of the late 40s\, exploring and reimagining Afro-Cuban jazz concepts. Their repertoire is a mix of new compositions and classics from Dizzy Gillespie and Kenny Dorham to Machito and Mario Bauzá.
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/2025-2026-zaccai-curtis/
LOCATION:Vermont
CATEGORIES:Concert
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://vtjazz.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2024-12-09_Zaccai-Curtis_Headshots-1.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20260221T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20260221T220000
DTSTAMP:20260403T203347
CREATED:20250730T164519Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260227T014825Z
UID:9780-1771702200-1771711200@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:2025-2026 Season: Nate Smith
DESCRIPTION:— Below is our Program from the February 21\, 2026 Performance — \nWelcome to the Vermont Jazz Center. We are thrilled to present Nate Smith’s first live performance after winning two Grammy Awards on February 1st for Best Alternative Jazz Album (LIVE-ACTION)\, and Best Arrangement (for the composition\, “Big Fish”\, with the vocal group\, säje\, including Vermont vocalist Erin Bentlage). Nate’s career is surging forward\, and we are honored to present him in Brattleboro. Just last week it was announced that he will follow Christian McBride as Music Director of the Newport Jazz Festival. The Festival’s chairman wrote: “We were looking for someone willing and able to honor the rich traditions of jazz\, staying rooted in what the genre is at its core. At the same time\, we needed someone we could count on to push the envelope\, keeping the music fresh and forward-looking. That person is the remarkable Nate Smith.”  \n  \nTonight’s concert kicks-off a tour with Smith’s current trio including pianist/keyboardist Julian Pollack (J3PO) and electric bassist CARRTOONS (Ben Carr).  \n  \nNate Smith is considered a “deep pocket” drummer. When an ensemble is “in the pocket\,” each instrument locks into their own part and considers the overall group sound paramount. In the drummer-focused podcast “Go with Elmo\,” Smith said: “Pocket to me is about the space in which all of the musicians on stage agree on time. When a band plays ‘in the pocket\,’ they are all playing in the same space – they all agree on the distance between the notes\, they all agree on the length of the notes\, and they all agree on the way the notes are emphasized. Pocket always involves playing with other musicians.” The characteristics of Smith’s sound are solid time\, a commitment to the natural build of an arrangement\, funky when needed\, not overly busy\, and always responsive to the moment. In an interview with World Café he stated: “I think that space is very valuable in music – I’m not a chops drummer… my approach is to determine how to best utilize space\, how to make the best use of dynamics\, and how to develop rhythmic ideas in ways that are interesting.” \n  \nOver the years\, Nate Smith has collaborated and toured with renowned artists like Brittany Howard\, Pat Metheny\, Ravi Coltrane\, Childish Gambino\, Norah Jones\, Jon Batiste\, Vulfpeck\, The Fearless Flyers\, Chris Potter\, Charlie Hunter\, and Kurt Elling. He has graced the cover of Modern Drummer magazine and provided the backbeat for Late Night with Seth Meyers’ house band. He cut his teeth in vocal legend Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead program and toured and recorded as a member of bassist Dave Holland’s ensemble from 2003-2010. \n  \nOne of the reasons why Smith is currently so visible in the public eye is that he embraced social media early on to stay connected with his  fans. His undergraduate degree is in Media Arts and Design. He also had a natural affinity for using social media as a tool from an early age. Nate started posting videos of himself playing the drums on Instagram and Facebook around 2015 and was able to quickly generate a following that continues to this day. He is a smart strategist who intentionally applies the tools he has learned towards the goals of developing his own future and carefully cultivating his image.  \n  \nNate’s latest album\, Grammy award winning LIVE-ACTION\, is a snapshot of his current vision. The music has a retro cover illustrating the bevy of keyboards and drums that he plays. Many of the sounds and grooves he conjures embrace the analog music of the 70s and were inspired by his father’s record collection which was primarily R&B. A quote from Smith on his website states: “I always wanted to make a record that sounded like it was recorded on a cassette in my bedroom…I wanted it to be the most personal human expression I could muster with the gear I had in the moment.”  \n  \nTonight\, Nate Smith will appear in a trio setting with keyboardist J3PO (Julian Pollack) and bassist CARRTOONS (Ben Carr). J3PO is a Los Angeles-based pianist & keyboardist who was considered a child prodigy and appeared on Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz in his late teens. Now based in LA\, J3PO is primarily known for his keyboard work and sound design\, especially using analog synths\, FX pedals\, and contemporary keyboards.
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/nate-smith/
LOCATION:Vermont
CATEGORIES:Concert
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://vtjazz.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/NS_Cool_9-photo-credit-Tyler-Scheerschmidt.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20260307T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20260307T220000
DTSTAMP:20260403T203347
CREATED:20250730T164945Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260211T011350Z
UID:9783-1772911800-1772920800@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:2025-2026 Season: Miguel Zenón Quartet
DESCRIPTION:Grammy-winning saxophonist and composer Miguel Zenón is widely regarded as one of the most visionary artists of his generation. A MacArthur and Guggenheim Fellow and 2024 Doris Duke Artist\, Zenón blends the rich traditions of his Puerto Rican heritage with the language of modern jazz.  \nZenón has received 13 Grammy nominations\, released seventeen albums as a leader\, and won a Grammy for his beautiful duo album El Arte Del Bolero Vol. 2 (2023) with pianist Luís Perdomo\, who will be performing at this concert as well.  \nZenón has worked with luminaries such as The SFJAZZ Collective\, Charlie Haden\, Fred Hersch\, Kenny Werner\, David Sánchez\, Danilo Perez\, The Village Vanguard Orchestra\, Kurt Elling\, Joey Calderazzo\, Steve Coleman\, Ray Barreto\, Andy Montañez\, Jerry Gonzalez & The Fort Apache Band\, The Mingus Big Band and Bobby Hutcherson. \nFor this performance\, Zenón is joined by his long-standing touring/recording ensemble: pianist Luís Perdomo\, Matt Penman (bass) and Henry Cole (drums).
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/2025-2026-season-miguel-zenon/
LOCATION:Vermont
CATEGORIES:Concert
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://vtjazz.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/quartet-1-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20260321T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20260321T220000
DTSTAMP:20260403T203347
CREATED:20250730T165811Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260312T230240Z
UID:9786-1774121400-1774130400@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:Windham County Heat Fund Benefit Concert feat. Cameron Brown
DESCRIPTION:Cameron Brown and Dannie’s Calypso\nDave Ballou (trumpet and flugelhorn)\, Jason Rigby (saxophones)\, Lisa Parrott (saxophones)\, Cameron Brown (bass)\, Tony Jefferson (drums) \nAbout Cameron Brown: \nDetroit-born bassist Cameron Brown has been playing jazz and free music professionally since the mid-1960s when he toured Europe with the bands of George Russell\, Archie Shepp\, Don Cherry and Donald Byrd. Career highlights include a fifty-year musical relationship with NEA  Jazz Master\, Sheila Jordan\, a tour of Japan with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers\, and a long tenure with the legendary George Adams/Don Pullen Quartet. \nBrown’s discography includes six albums under his own leadership and over two hundred recordings as a sideman with such legends as Dannie Richmond\, Joe Lovano\, George Russell\, Archie Shepp\, Lee Konitz\, Chet Baker\, Mal Waldron\, Grover Washington Jr.\, Charlie Persip\, Luicano Pavarotti\, Ed Blackwell\, Ronnie Cuber\, Ricky Ford\, Beaver Harris\, Grady Tate\, Mike Longo\, Sheila Jordan\, Jim McNeely\, Steve Grossman\, Betty Carter\, John Hicks\, Dewey Redman\, Houston Person\, Etta Jones\, Jane Ira Bloom\, and many others.  \nFor this concert\, Cameron brings the NYC-based group he formed to celebrate the music of his former band-mate\, Charles Mingus’ famed drummer\, Dannie Richmond. Dannie’s Calypso is a piano-less quintet with a three-horn front line: Dave Ballou\, Trumpet; Lisa Parrott\, saxes;  Jason Rigby\, Saxes; Cameron Brown\, upright bass; Tony Jefferson\, drums. VJC expects other surprise guests to join Cameron\, including a duo set with Harvey Diamond.
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/2025-2026-season-cameron-brown/
LOCATION:Vermont
CATEGORIES:Concert
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://vtjazz.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/FB-Event-Covers-Widers.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260410
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260412
DTSTAMP:20260403T203347
CREATED:20250730T165932Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260330T004559Z
UID:9788-1775779200-1775951999@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:2025-2026 Solo Jazz Piano Festival
DESCRIPTION:10th Annual Solo Jazz Piano Festival\n2026 Headliners: Mathis Picard\, Rachel Z\, Camila Cortina and Geoffrey Keezer \n2026 Emerging Artists:  Mimi Terry and Dabin Ryu \nFOR ALL MUSIC LOVERS interested in the development of piano styles and techniques throughout the evolution of jazz. Together we will hear six brilliant pianists perform and discuss their musical aspirations and the expansion of their approaches to the instrument. The VJC invites you to participate in a festival that showcases artists who have invested their lives in the pursuit of creativity using the piano as their medium.  \nA Weekend of Concerts and Educational Opportunities that Celebrates the Distinct Practices and Vocabularies of Solo Piano in Jazz Music\nSchedule:\nFRIDAY\, April 10 \n7:30 pm Headliner performance:  \nMathis Picard and Rachel Z \nSATURDAY\, April 11 \n10:00 – 2:00 pm Masterclasses – accessible to all audience members \n10:00 am Mathis Picard – “The Art of Creation & Creativity”\n \n11:00 am Rachel Z – “Harmonic and Life Lessons of Wayne Shorter”\n \n12:00 am Camila Cortina – “Afro-Cuban Grooves and the Art of Solo Piano”\n \n1:00 pm Geoffrey Keezer – “Beyond Transcribing – The Next Step”\n \n3:00 – 4:00 pm Emerging Artist presentations – Mimi Terry and Dabin Ryu \n4:45 – 5:45 pm Panel discussion based on juried questions from the audience \n7:30 pm Headliner performance:  \nCamila Cortina and Geoffrey Keezer \n  \nREAD MORE ON THE ARTISTS \n 
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/2025-2026-solo-jazz-piano-festival/
LOCATION:Vermont
CATEGORIES:Concert
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://vtjazz.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/SPF-10th-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20260516T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20260516T220000
DTSTAMP:20260403T203347
CREATED:20260228T170542Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260301T165257Z
UID:9792-1778959800-1778968800@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:2025-2026 Season: Sean Jones
DESCRIPTION:Sean Jones is one of the leading trumpeters in the jazz world. He is also a distinguished educator who has toured with Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock. Jones has released eight acclaimed albums as a leader and performed on over 100 as a sideman. \nSean Jones first discovered music through the church choir\, where the emotional depth of gospel laid the foundation for his sound. Known for his commanding presence and versatility\, he moves seamlessly across genres – leading his own ensembles\, collaborating with orchestras\, and mentoring emerging talent. \nAs a featured artist\, he has recorded with the Gerald Wilson Orchestra\, and with Nancy Wilson on her Grammy-winning album Turned to Blue (2006). He has performed as lead trumpet with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra under the direction of Wynton Marsalis (2004–2010)\, the SFJAZZ Collective (2015–2017)\, and currently appears with the Baltimore Jazz Collective. In 2011\, he was selected by Marcus Miller\, Herbie Hancock\, and Wayne Shorter to join the international Tribute to Miles tour. \nA leading voice in jazz education\, Jones is Chair in Jazz at Johns Hopkins University’s Peabody Conservatory and Artistic Director of Carnegie Hall’s NYO Jazz. He previously chaired the Brass Department at Berklee College of Music and served as President of the Jazz Education Network (JEN).
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/2025-2026-season-sean-jones/
LOCATION:Vermont
CATEGORIES:Concert
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://vtjazz.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/169-Sean-Jones.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20260613T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20260613T220000
DTSTAMP:20260403T203347
CREATED:20250730T171033Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250826T131439Z
UID:9793-1781379000-1781388000@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:2026-2026 Season: Convergence Project
DESCRIPTION:Eugene Uman is the director of the Vermont Jazz Center and performs as a pianist in numerous projects. His annual June concert is a representation of a year’s worth of composing and collaborating with various musicians and an opportunity for him to assemble a dream band that manifests his vision and unites his musical influences. Uman’s energetic playing and writing style is flavored with the Latin rhythms that he has absorbed during his tenure living in Colombia\, where he initiated the jazz studies programs at la Universidad de EAFIT and el Colegio de Música de Medellín. Several of his compositions employ forms and grooves adapted from Colombian music such as cumbia\, pasillo\, puya\, bambuco\, and currulao. They are also strongly influenced by his bebop mentors: Sheila Jordan\, Howard Brofsky\, Mike Longo and Jimmy Heath\, as well as by the sounds of his youth when he played in rock and blues bands. Uman’s compositions draw from a vocabulary of modern jazz\, hard bop\, rock\, soul\, Latin American rhythms and gospel; listeners can expect a “convergence” of the music he loves in a mash-up of styles where groove is king. \nThis presentation of the Convergence Project is the last show of the Vermont Jazz Center’s 2025-26 season.
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/2026-convergence-project/
LOCATION:Vermont
CATEGORIES:Concert
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://vtjazz.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Eugene-Uman-Convergence-Photo-2-2022-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR