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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251108
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251109
DTSTAMP:20261105T191859
CREATED:20250730T152048Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251027T191214Z
UID:10000128-1762560000-1762646399@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
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20251206T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20251206T163000
DTSTAMP:20261105T191859
CREATED:20251113T235809Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251205T142256Z
UID:10000014-1765022400-1765038600@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/
CATEGORIES:Concert
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20251212T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20251212T220000
DTSTAMP:20261105T191859
CREATED:20250730T152827Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251128T171608Z
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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/
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:20261105T191859
CREATED:20250730T163929Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250826T131318Z
UID:10000130-1768678200-1768687200@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/
CATEGORIES:Concert
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://vtjazz.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2024-12-09_Zaccai-Curtis_Headshots-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20260221T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20260221T220000
DTSTAMP:20261105T191859
CREATED:20250730T164519Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260227T014825Z
UID:10000131-1771702200-1771711200@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/
CATEGORIES:Concert
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20260307T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20260307T220000
DTSTAMP:20261105T191859
CREATED:20250730T164945Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260211T011350Z
UID:10000132-1772911800-1772920800@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/
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:20261105T191859
CREATED:20250730T165811Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260312T230240Z
UID:10000133-1774121400-1774130400@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/
CATEGORIES:Concert
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260410
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260412
DTSTAMP:20261105T191859
CREATED:20250730T165932Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260411T181929Z
UID:10000135-1775779200-1775951999@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:2025-2026 Solo Jazz Piano Festival
DESCRIPTION:10th Annual Solo Jazz Piano Festival\n2026 Headliners: Mathis Picard\, Lawrence Fields\, 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 Lawrence Fields \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 Lawrence Fields – “Fundamentals of Improvisation”\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 \n3:30 – 4:30 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 \nREAD MORE ON THE ARTISTS
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/2025-2026-solo-jazz-piano-festival/
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:20260503T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20260503T180000
DTSTAMP:20261105T191859
CREATED:20260425T153857Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260501T014402Z
UID:10000139-1777816800-1777831200@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:2026 Spring Semester Student Showcase
DESCRIPTION:On Sunday\, May 3rd\, from 2:00 to 6:00 PM\, the Vermont Jazz Center (VJC) will present its end-of-semester Student Showcase featuring 7 ensembles who have been eagerly rehearsing and preparing music to share with family\, friends and aficionados. \nThe Jazz Center’s performance will be counted amongst a “record number of groups from 190 countries worldwide” celebrating the 15th Annual International Jazz Day which takes place the week of April 30th\, 2026. \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. \nYour presence supports local talent performing in a variety of jazz styles. Free and open to the public. Dessert snacks will be available by donation. \nShowcase featuring 7 ensembles who have been eagerly rehearsing and preparing music to share with family\, friends and aficionados. \nSchedule: \n2:00 PM – Sambaganza (Samba bateria)\n2:30 PM – Fearless Improv\n3:00 PM – Latin Jazz Ensemble\n3:45 PM – Youth Jazz Ensemble II\n4:15 PM – Youth Jazz Ensemble I\n4:45 PM – Blue Note Ensemble I\n5:15 PM – Blue Note Ensemble II \nProgram \n 
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/2026-springshowcase/
CATEGORIES:Concert
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://vtjazz.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Fall-Student-Concert-2025-Latin-Jazz-2-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20260516T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20260516T220000
DTSTAMP:20261105T191859
CREATED:20260228T170542Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260414T221941Z
UID:10000136-1778959800-1778968800@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:2025-2026 Season: Sean Jones
DESCRIPTION:livestreamed and in-person \nSean 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/
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:20261105T191859
CREATED:20250730T171033Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260601T014045Z
UID:10000137-1781379000-1781388000@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:2025-2026 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/
CATEGORIES:Concert
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://vtjazz.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Eugene-Uman-Convergence-Photo-2-2022-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20260711T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20260711T193000
DTSTAMP:20261105T191859
CREATED:20250506T195313Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260608T233009Z
UID:10000121-1783794600-1783798200@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:Music Under the Stars: Vermont Jazz Center Big Band
DESCRIPTION:Gates open at 5:30 pm \nShow starts at 6:30 pm \nDance to the sounds of the VJC Big Band with special guest vocalist Peter Eldridge.  \nIf you snagged a seat at the 2025-2026 Season VJC Big Band Gala last December\, you would have enjoyed 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. \nLeading the band is director Rob Freeberg. He is a seasoned trumpeter and big band conductor who leads the VJC’s large ensemble with finesse and skill\, drawing on his respect for the jazz legacy\, an unerring ear\, and decades of experience leading his own Big Band in the New York City region. \nMembers of the VJC Big Band include: \nMusic Director: Rob Freeberg\nBand Manager: Sherm Fox\nGuest Vocalist: Peter Eldridge \nSaxophones: Matt Steckler\, Nick Pelton\, 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. \nRecognized as one of Vermont’s Top 10 Summer Events\, Music Under the Stars is a FREE community event. Your donations help cover production costs and keep this event accessible for everyone in the Brattleboro community. \nMORE INFO
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/muts-2026/
LOCATION:Retreat Farm\, 45 Farmhouse Square\, Brattleboro\, 05301\, United States
CATEGORIES:Concert
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://vtjazz.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2022.07.23-VJC-Big-Band-at-the-Meadows1585dsc06053-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260723
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260727
DTSTAMP:20261105T191859
CREATED:20260625T040048Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260626T004601Z
UID:10000096-1784764800-1785110399@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:2026 Summer Jazz Vocal Intensive
DESCRIPTION:More Info\nLOCATION: VERMONT JAZZ CENTER \nRegistration is now open. First-time applicants\, please send your audition recordings before registering. \nThe Vermont Jazz Center is excited to announce our Summer Jazz Vocal Intensive with Charenee Wade\, taking place from Thursday evening\, July 23rd\, through Sunday afternoon\, July 26th. \nDesigned and led by internationally acclaimed vocalist and educator Charenee Wade\, this immersive program offers vocalists a supportive and inspiring environment to deepen their artistry\, musicianship\, and confidence as performers. \nThis intensive is intended for singers looking to strengthen their vocal technique\, musical understanding\, and improvisational skills through active\, hands-on learning rooted in Charenee’s extensive teaching and professional experience. \nProgram Features \n\nPre-program Zoom meeting with preparation guidance and listening playlist\nKickoff concert feat. Charenee Wade followed by Q&A\nEar training\nTheory and musicianship classes\nVocal coaching sessions with house rhythm section\nFinal participant presentation with accompaniment\n\nAbout Charenee Wade \nCharenee Wade is an award-winning singer\, arranger\, educator\, and composer from New York City. She has performed at renowned venues including Jazz at Lincoln Center\, The Apollo\, and The Jazz Standard\, and has appeared at major festivals around the world\, including Montreux\, Copenhagen Jazz Festival\, Istanbul Jazz Festival\, Savannah Music Festival\, and the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival. \nA highly respected educator\, Charenee currently teaches at the Aaron Copland School of Music\, the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University\, and The Juilliard School. Known for her creativity\, warmth\, and extraordinary vocal artistry\, she has inspired students and audiences across the globe. \nWhether you are an emerging vocalist or an experienced singer looking to grow\, this program offers an engaging and rewarding musical experience. \nLimited space available. \nIf you are a first-time participant in our vocal program\, please contact eugene@vtjazz.org or call 802-254-9088 ext. 3 before registering. \nWe hope you’ll join us for this exciting new summer offering at the Vermont Jazz Center. \nREGISTER
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/summer-vocal-intensive/
CATEGORIES:Concert,Education
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://vtjazz.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2024-summer-event-web-copy.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20260723T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20260723T220000
DTSTAMP:20261105T191859
CREATED:20260626T001645Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260626T004454Z
UID:10000140-1784835000-1784844000@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:Summer Concert: Charenee Wade
DESCRIPTION:LOCATION: VERMONT JAZZ CENTER \nOpening for VJC’s NEW Vocal Workshop – July 23 @ 7:30 PM\nLocation: Vermont Jazz Center 72 Cotton Mill Hill\, Ste 222\, Brattleboro \nNew York City artist Charenee Wade has earned international recognition for her ingenuity\, vibrancy\, and vocal dexterity. She currently serves on the faculty at the Aaron Copland School of Music\, the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University\, and The Juilliard School. Wade has performed at venues including Jazz at Lincoln Center\, The Apollo\, and The Jazz Standard\, as well as major festivals around the world\, including the Montreux Jazz Festival\, Copenhagen Jazz Festival\, Istanbul Jazz Festival\, Spoleto Festival\, Savannah Music Festival\, Bern Jazz Festival\, Charlie Parker Jazz Festival\, among many others. \n“Ms. Wade is a jazz singer of commanding skill\, an heir to the legacies of Betty Carter and Carmen McRae.” – Nate Chinen\, New York Times
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/charenee-wade/
CATEGORIES:Concert,Education
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://vtjazz.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Charenee-Wade-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20260807T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20260807T233000
DTSTAMP:20261105T191859
CREATED:20260730T020458Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260803T214807Z
UID:10000141-1786096800-1786145400@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:VJC Archive Series One Launch with Livestream
DESCRIPTION:LOCATION: VERMONT JAZZ CENTER & LIVESTREAMED \nThe Vermont Jazz Center Archive is a labor of love which has taken over 7 years from conception to realization. The VJC is grateful for the tireless input of dozens of volunteers\, interns and professionals. \nTo best understand the structure of the archive\, envision it as a catch-all for all the documented events that have occurred under the auspices of the VJC since Attila Zoller began recording himself at gigs through the present day. The VJC\, under the leadership of Eugene Uman and Elsa Borrero since 1997\, is now outfitted with professional audio and video gear to capture and preserve the historic music that takes place at our venue. \nThe online offerings (digital assets) are divided into 4 categories: \n\nConcert highlights\nMasterclass features\nBlast from the Past\nZoller Collection\n\nOur collection of 1500 jazz-related books and 7\,000 jazz-related CDs are housed at the Vermont Jazz Center’s Cotton Mill Hill venue and are available for in-house enjoyment. \nReleases of archived digital materials will be made available every 4 months (three times a year) on our website portal. Interested parties should contact VJC Director\, Eugene Uman to gain access to additional material. A full list of artists’ names\, side-people\, and the dates of their performances (most of which have been documented through recordings) can be found here. \nDigital Assets\nThe VJC Archive is home to a treasure trove of historically significant video and audio recordings\, totaling hundreds of hours of studio-quality concert videos and masterclasses\, recorded primarily at our venue. Thanks to funds received from a CLIR grant (Council of Library and Information Resources)\, the VJC Archive houses over 160 hours of digitized files that were transferred from the original recordings made by VJC founder\, Attila Zoller using reel-to-reel and cassette tapes. The digital archive also houses files transferred from VHS and DAT tapes of dozens of concerts from VJC’s early years. \nVJC in-house Jazz Library\nCustom-built shelves house hundreds of jazz books and LPs\, and thousands of CDs\, most of which are now cataloged and searchable using standard Koha library software. These materials are available for in-house study. \nThe VJC archive team includes: archivist\, John Levin; videographer\, Michael Hanish; sound engineer\, Julian McBrowne; academic supervisor\, Julian Gerstin; collections specialist\, Elie McAfee-Hahn; web designer\, John DiGeorge; and communications manager\, Sarah Ozga. \nPlease consider making a gift towards its sustainability. \nDonate Today
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/vjc-archive-series-one/
CATEGORIES:Concert,Education
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://vtjazz.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Archive-launch.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20260919T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20260919T220000
DTSTAMP:20261105T191859
CREATED:20260803T220835Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T230516Z
UID:10000142-1789846200-1789855200@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:Gonzalo Rubalcaba
DESCRIPTION:Pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba was already a young phenom with a budding career in his native Cuba when he was discovered by Dizzy Gillespie in 1985. Since then\, Piano & Keyboard Magazine selected him in 1999 as one of the great pianists of the 20th century\, alongside figures such as Glenn Gould and Bill Evans. To date\, Rubalcaba has won  five Grammy Awards (for a total of 21 Grammy and Latin Grammy nominations) and four Latin Grammys. At this writing he has also been nominated for a 2026 Best Latin Jazz Album of the Year Grammy Award for his recent release:   A Tribute to Benny Moré and Nat King Cole.  \nRubalcaba was born in 1963 in a musical family in Havana. His father\, pianist\, composer and bandleader Guillermo Rubalcaba\, had also played in the orchestra of Enrique Jorrín\, the creator of cha-cha-cha; his grandfather Jacobo Rubalcaba was the composer of classic danzones\, and his two brothers are also musicians. Gonzalo\, a child prodigy who by the age of 6 was playing drums in his father’s orchestra\, started his formal training two years later\, with piano as his main instrument. He graduated from the Institute of Fine Arts in Havana\,  and by his mid–teens he was working steadily in  Havana. Following graduation he stepped right into the life of the popular musician\, touring Cuba\, Europe\, Africa and Asia with the fabled Orquesta Aragón and also as a sideman in jazz groups and\, beginning in 1984\, leading his own Afro-Cuban jazz rock fusion band\, Grupo Proyecto. \nEncounters with Dizzy Gillespie and\, in 1986\, with Charlie Haden and then Blue Note Records president\, Bruce Lundvall\, set the stage for him to perform and record in the United States and Europe. Rubalcaba moved to the Dominican Republic in 1991 and settled in Miami in 1996. \nRubalcaba joined the faculty of the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music in 2015. In 2020\, he founded his own academy Rubalcademy\, offering remote Masterclasses to musicians across the world.
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/gonzalo-rubalcaba/
CATEGORIES:Concert
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://vtjazz.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/images-5-1.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20261017T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20261017T220000
DTSTAMP:20261105T191859
CREATED:20260803T222458Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260809T163642Z
UID:10000143-1792265400-1792274400@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:African Rhythms Sextet with Billy Hart
DESCRIPTION:The African Rhythm Sextet\, with special guest NEA Jazz Master Billy Hart\, celebrates the enduring legacy of legendary pianist\, composer\, and NEA Jazz Master Dr. Randy Weston. Weston championed the deep African roots of jazz. After visiting the continent in 1961\, Weston created a groundbreaking musical vision that fused West African rhythms and traditions with the innovations of jazz icons such as Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk. \nThis group is led by Weston’s long-time musical director\, saxophonist\, flautist\, and composer T.K. Blue. For this performance\, Blue reunites many of the musicians who performed alongside Weston for decades—he will be joined by Chief Baba Neal Clark on African percussion; Alex Blake\, bass; Ku-Umba Frank Lacey\, trombone; Sharp Radway\, piano; and special guest Billy Hart\, drums.  \nRandy Weston was a pioneer in recognizing the importance of African culture as the seed and root of American Jazz Music. This became clear in the early 1960s with the  formation of his ensemble Randy Weston’s African Rhythms and the release of the pivotal recording Uhuru Afrika (Roulette\, 1960).   \nAccording to Giovanni Russonello New York Time’s Obituary\, Weston “visited Nigeria [in 1961]  as part of a delegation of the American Society for African Culture\, beginning a lifelong trans-Atlantic exchange…After two more trips to Africa\, he moved to Morocco\, in 1968\, having first arrived there on a trip sponsored by the State Department. He stayed for five years…where he ran the African Rhythms Cultural Center.”  \nOn the cusp of the centennial birthday of the late NEA Jazz Master Randy Weston\,  members of his “African Rhythms” band have rejoined forces to pay tribute. The sonic foundations of Weston’s style include the dynamic drum polyrhythms of West Africa and Weston’s orchestral and highly rhythmic approach to the piano. \nBy bringing Weston’s compositions and arrangements to the stage\, the African Rhythms Sextet transmits the very spirit of his person. This is made possible by the world-class musicianship of the group’s  members as well as their close and long-term working relationships with Weston.
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/african-rhythms/
CATEGORIES:Concert
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20261106T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20261107T220000
DTSTAMP:20261105T191859
CREATED:20260803T230016Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261105T102321Z
UID:10000144-1793984400-1794088800@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:2026-2027 Season Emerging Artist Festival feat. Elena Ayodele Pinderhughes
DESCRIPTION:Friday evening: (Full student lineup below) VJC joins with the 118 Elliot Art Gallery to present a showcase of high school and college jazz ensembles.  \nSaturday daytime: (Full student lineup below) VJC teams up with area schools to feature student groups from area high schools and colleges. Daytime activities will culminate in a no-cost clinic offered by Elena Pinderhughes \nSaturday evening: Headliner Concert: Elena Pinderhughes \nYouth Ensemble Performances: \nFriday\, November 6 at 118 Elliot St. Gallery starting at 5:00 PM\n5:15 pm VJC Youth Ensemble I (Eugene Uman\, Dir.) \nAlexandra Patuto (flute)\, Valo Leslie (piano)\, Vinny Andreoli Steinberg (drums) \n5:35 pm VJC Youth Ensemble II (Eugene Uman & Michael McKinney\, Dir.) \nJesse Olsson (voice)\, Clenn Forst (trumpet)\, Asher Titov-Chiaravalle (tenor sax)\, Taylor Ridley (tenor sax)\, River Olsson (alto sax)\, Ben Antin (piano)\, Sal North (bass)\, Vinny Andreoli Steinberg (drums) \n6:05 pm Academy at Charlemont (Jared Cruz\, Dir.) \nMaddie Sabelawski (alto sax)\, Joe Mason (guitar)\, Ezekiel Mirin (keys)\, Liam Hayden (keys)\, Sofia Mason (bass)\, Saul Hirshberg (drums) \n6:35 pm Northfield Mt. Hermon HS Honors Jazz Combo (Ron Smith\, Dir.) \nPorter Cram (sax)\, Lewin Kasser (piano)\, Nate Chuang (bass)\, Dalen Li (drums) \n7:05 pm Amherst College Vega Ensemble (Geoff Cunningham\, Dir. & Carl Clements\, Dir.) \nBenny Hu (alto sax)\, Nate Scharf (tenor sax)\, Will Sommers (piano)\, Myles Kaplan (bass)\, Cici Bradley (drums) \n7:35 pm Keene State College Jazz Ensemble (Steve Cady\, Dir.) \nPeter Early (voice)\, Matthew Derouin (clarinet/sax)\, Maxwell Berry (vibes)\, Julien Triana-Vance (guitar)\, May Ellen Cassidy (bass)\, Noah Horgan (drums) \n8:05 pm Pioneer Valley Performing Arts HS (Rahul Roy\, Dir.) \nVocals: Juniper Brucato\, Taty Cruz\, Camille Dzuria\, Jax Cass\, Abbie Miller\, Marcos Nieves Santiago; Horns: Samara Sawyer\, Will Powell; Keys: Mia Rosario\, Radha Grip; Guitars: Miles Santanello\, Camden Fitchet; Bass: Kaitlin Hosmer; Drums: Maggie Grant \n  \nSaturday\, November 7 at the Vermont Jazz Center starting at 11:00 AM\n11:00 am Northfield Mt. Hermon HS Jazz Ensemble (Ron Smith\, Dir.)  \nSax: Porter Cram\, William Li\, Nate Chuang; Trumpet: Malcome Sprague\, Petra Harris; Trombone: Porry Li\, Phineas Sprague; Rhythm: Luan Casser (piano)\, Jihoo Jang (bass)\, Benjamin Birchmore (drums) \n11:35 am Emily Margaret (voice) & Archer Parks (guitar) \n12:00 pm Amherst College Sirius Ensemble (David Picci & Bruce Diehl\, Dir.) \nSura Zhaing (voice)\, Noah Turbes (trumpet)\, Tony Yang (sax)\, Terry Qi (guitar)\, Parker Smith (piano)\, Ajika Sawyer (bass)\, Aaron Watkins (drums) \n12:30 pm UMass Chamber Jazz Ensemble (Jeff Holmes\, Dir.) \nEmilio Giambarella (sax)\, Sebastina Lightcap (trombone)\, Andy Carlson (guitar)\, Noah Holmes (bass)\, Shreyas Jatling (drums) \n1:05 pm UMass Graduate Jazz Quartet (No Dir.) \nAidan Higgins (sax\, EWI)\, Greer Lambert (vibes)\, Fletcher Clark (bass)\, Nate Scott (drums) \n2:00 pm Brattleboro Union HS Madrigals (Julie Ackerman-Hovis\, Dir.) \nElisabeth Abualjadail\, Alexandra Aither\, Malika Anthes\, Max Arnini\, Millie Becker\, Gloria Burns\, Liam Conathan-Leach\, Ava Einig\, Indigo Goldman\, Ivana Greening\, Finn Grutta\, Levi Healey\, Naveen Lalanne\, Nya Lawson-Westfall\, Zawadi Long\, Max Nestel\, MJ Shooer-Sampson\, Laika Williams-Quinn \n2:30 pm Brattleboro Union HS Jazz Band (Alex Brady\, Dir.) \nSax: Adrianna Sidelinger\, Philip Chapman\, Ridley Taylor\, Jason Donahue\, Milo MacArthur; Trumpets: Jude Anders\, Clenn Frost\, Luna Milman\, Conor McColgan\, Alexandra Aither; Trombone: Gilbert Komuves\, Elsa Anders\, Finn Grutta\, Tori Douglas; Rhythm: Noah Perillo (drums)\, Aviv Coleman (percussion)\, Sal North (bass)\, Indigo Goldman (piano)\, Liam Conathan-Leach (piano) \n4:00 pm Clinic with Elena Pinderhughes Quartet\n  \n7:30 pm Concert (students attend free)\nBio:  \nElena Pinderhughes is expanding the possibilities of what the flute can do in contemporary music. As an award-winning flutist\, vocalist\, and composer\, this Manhattan School of Music graduate moves between genres like jazz\, R&B\, hip-hop\, and orchestral music effortlessly. Jazz critic John Fordham of The Guardian has praised her as “the most exciting and creatively assured jazz flautist to have emerged in years”.  \nHer versatility has led to collaborations with a range of artists including Herbie Hancock\, Chief Adjuah\, Robert Glasper\, Esperanza Spalding\, Terrace Martin\, Common\, Kenny Barron\, Vijay Iyer\, Terri Lyne Carrington\, Ambrose Akinmusire\, and Future\, while also working with Victoria Monet\, Cynthia Erivo\, Childish Gambino\, and Jordan Ward. She has performed at Carnegie Hall\, the Kennedy Center\, the White House\, Coachella\, Monterey Jazz Festival\, Montreux\, Newport\, and North Sea Jazz. An example of some the noteworthy recordings she has been heard on include Chief Adjuah’s Stretch Music and Diaspora\, Terrance Martin’s Impendance and Nintendo Soul\, Common’s Black America Again\, and Ambrose Akinmusire’s the Imagined Savior.  \nAll Friday and Saturday daytime activities for the EAF are free and open to the public\, donations are appreciated. Pinderhughes’ concert at the VJC’s performance space is a ticketed event. \nPlease enjoy Elena’s Tiny Desk performance with Common below —
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/elena-pinderhughes/
CATEGORIES:Concert
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://vtjazz.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/092025_ElenaPinderhughes_web1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20261204T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20261204T220000
DTSTAMP:20261105T191859
CREATED:20260806T011023Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261105T101634Z
UID:10000145-1796412600-1796421600@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:VJC Big Band Celebrates its 22nd Year w/ Vocalist Charenée Wade
DESCRIPTION:A gala dance to support the VJC’s Scholarship Fund!\nThe 18-piece Vermont Jazz Center is excited to celebrate 22 years performing big band jazz. For this concert\, the VJC Big Band will celebrate the legacies of Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald\, and in a swing-dance performance featuring acclaimed vocalist Charenée Wade. All profits from this concert will subsidize VJC’s educational programs. \nVocalist Charenée Wade is renowned for her deep grooves and uncanny ability to bring energy and excitement to every performance. She was the first runner-up in the 2010 Thelonious Monk International Vocal Competition and has performed at venues and festivals around the world\, including Jazz at Lincoln Center\, The Apollo\, and The Jazz Standard\, Montreux Jazz Festival\, Copenhagen Jazz Festival\, Istanbul Jazz Festival\, Spoleto Festival\, Savannah Music Festival\, Bern Jazz Festival\, and Charlie Parker Jazz Festival. She currently serves on the faculty at the Aaron Copland School of Music\, the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University\, and The Juilliard School.  \nThe VJC Big Band is made up of area professional musicians who come together to enjoy the rewards of playing invigorating\, challenging and historically significant repertoire while raising money for the VJC’s Scholarship Fund. Past headliners have included Carmen Bradford\, Evan Arntzen\, Alexis Cole\, Amanda Carr\, Houston Person\, Dave Stryker\, Samirah Evans\, Rich Greenblatt\, Mark Anagnostopulos\, Rebecca (Bella) Holtz\, Kevin Mahogany\, Miles Griffith\, Peter Eldridge\, Wanda Houston and timbalero Eguie Castrillo. \n2026 Members of the VJC Big Band \nRob Freeberg\, Music Director \nSherm Fox\, Band Manager \nCharenée Wade\, guest vocalist \n\nSaxophones: Matt Steckler\, Donna Morse\, alto; Michael Zsoldos\, Bruce Diehl\, tenor; Sherm Fox\, baritone\nTrumpets: Rick Anderson\, Donald Anderson\, Haneef Nelson\, Bunny Saranita \nTrombones: Dave Sporny\, Tim Atherton\, Taylor Hughey\, Amaranth Cole\nRhythm Section: Eugene Uman\, piano; Wes Brown\, bass; Steve Rice\, drums.
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/big-band-charenee-wade/
CATEGORIES:Concert
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://vtjazz.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Charenee_Wade.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20270116T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20270116T220000
DTSTAMP:20261105T191859
CREATED:20260808T131802Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260808T151929Z
UID:10000146-1800127800-1800136800@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:David Sánchez
DESCRIPTION:Grammy Award-winning saxophonist David Sanchez is widely recognized as one of the most distinguished saxophonists of his generation. Renowned for his unmistakable sound and remarkable command of the instrument\, Sánchez brings together a deep understanding on jazz and Latin music with the rich traditions that shaped both genres. The result is a distinctive and compelling musical voice.  \nWorld-renowned jazz writer and critic Howard Reich has praised Sánchez’s artistry\, noting that his “prowess on saxophone is matched by the intellectual depth of his concept and compositions.” Reich has also observed\, “Technically\, tonally and creatively\, he seems to have it all.” Throughout his career\, recordings including The Departure (1994)\, Sketches of Dreams (1995)\, Obsesión (1998)\, and Cultural Survival (2008) have demonstrated Sánchez’s ability to blend the language of jazz with the musical traditions of his native Puerto Rico and influences from across the Caribbean and Latin America.  \nPuerto Rican folkloric traditions are especially prominent throughout Sánchez’s discography. The influence of Bomba and plena can be heard on his debut album\, The Departure (1994)\, and Street Scenes (1996). These traditions are further explored on Obsesión (1998) and Melaza (2000)\, both produced by acclaimed saxophonist Branford Marsalis\, and on Travesía (2001)\, Sánchez’s first entirely self-produced recording. 
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/david-sanchez/
CATEGORIES:Concert
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://vtjazz.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/ds-22.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20270213T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20270213T220000
DTSTAMP:20261105T191859
CREATED:20260808T152618Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260808T152618Z
UID:10000147-1802547000-1802556000@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:Joe Lovano
DESCRIPTION:Grammy-winning saxophonist\, composer and producer Joe Lovano is fearless in finding new modes of artistic expression. With a Grammy Win for his 52nd Street Themes and 14 other nominations\, he has won DownBeat Magazine’s Critics and Readers Polls countless times as Tenor Saxophonist\, Musician of the Year\, Jazz Album of the Year and Triple Crowns from DownBeat. He has also received numerous awards from Jazz Times and the Jazz Journalists Association for Tenor Saxophone\, Album of the Year and Musician of the Year. \nBorn in Cleveland\, Ohio\, on December 29\, 1952\, he attended the famed Berklee College of Music in Boston\, where years later he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate. Since 2001\, he has held the Gary Burton Chair in Jazz Performance and has been a founding faculty member of the Global Jazz Institute at Berklee\, directed by Danilo Pérez\, since 2009. He is a guest lecturer at New York University’s Jazz Program\, Juilliard and Manhattan School of Music\, as well as a clinician at Universities around the globe. \nFrom 1991 through 2016\, Lovano released an unprecedented 25 records as a leader for the historic Blue Note Records. Joe Lovano Quartet: Classic! Live at Newport featuring Hank Jones was recorded in 2005 and released in 2016 to critical acclaim. In 2019\, Lovano released his debut album as a bandleader on ECM Records\, Trio Tapestry\, with Marilyn Crispell and Carmen Castaldi. Over the next few years\, Lovano saw the release of three additional ECM Records albums: ROMA\, a collaboration with Enrico Rava; Arctic Riff\, a special guest appearance with the Marcin Wasilewski Trio; and the sophomore release from Lovano’s Trio Tapestry\, Garden of Expression. In 2021\, Lovano released Other Worlds\, his third album with Sound Prints\, a quintet he co-leads with trumpeter Dave Douglas. The next year brought a collaboration with guitarist Jakob Bro\, Once Around the Room: A Tribute to Paul Motian. In 2023\, Lovano released his third Trio Tapestry recording entitled Our Daily Bread. In 2025\, Lovano released Homage\, a follow-up recording with the Marcin Wasilewski Trio. Most recently\, Lovano released Paramount Quartet\, with his ensemble of the same name featuring Julian Lage on guitar\, Asante Santi Debriano on bass\, and Will Calhoun on drums. \nIn addition\, composer Mark Anthony Turnage wrote a Concerto for Saxophone and Chamber Orchestra for Joe called “A Man Descending\,” which has been performed globally and Maestro Michael Abene orchestrated an album of all-Lovano originals called Symphonica for the WDR Symphonic Orchestra and Big Band\, which was released on Blue Note and received a Grammy nomination. Douglas Cuomo composed the saxophone concerto A Raft\, The Sky\, and the Wild Sea for Lovano and Lovano was featured on a live recording of the piece with the Winston-Salem Symphony conducted by Michelle Merrill. \nJoe has performed and recorded with a long list of jazz greats including Woody Herman\, Dr. Lonnie Smith\, Mel Lewis\, Bob Brookmeyer\, Paul Motian\, Bill Frisell\, Tony Bennett\, Abbey Lincoln\, Charlie Haden\, John Scofield\, Gunther Schuller\, Elvin Jones\, McCoy Tyner\, Ed Blackwell\, Herbie Hancock\, Dave Holland\, Hank Jones\, Dave Liebman\, Michael Brecker\, Dave Douglas\, Judi Silvano\, Ravi Coltrane\, Chucho Valdés\, Ornette Coleman\, Diana Krall\, and many others. Joe has created an extensive body of work for his own ensembles\, including strings\, woodwinds\, his horn-rich Nonet\, the Classic Quartet\, Trio Tapestry\, and more. \nJoe Lovano continues to explore new horizons within the world of music as a soloist\, bandleader\, and composer.
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/joe-lovano/
CATEGORIES:Concert
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20270320T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20270320T220000
DTSTAMP:20261105T191859
CREATED:20260809T135927Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260903T204901Z
UID:10000148-1805571000-1805580000@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:Aaron Parks Little Big
DESCRIPTION:Acclaimed pianist and composer Aaron Parks returned to Blue Note Records—where he released his influential label debut Invisible Cinema in 2008—with the 2024 release of Little Big III\, the third studio album from his band Little Big featuring guitarist Greg Tuohey\, bassist David Ginyard Jr.\, and drummer Jongkuk Kim. The 2025 album By All Means expanded his acclaimed trio with bassist Ben Street and drummer Billy Hart into a quartet with the addition of tenor saxophonist Ben Solomon to explore a new color palette. \nParks made his first Blue Note appearances as a member of Terence Blanchard’s band\, an outfit akin to The Jazz Messengers in its cultivation of future jazz greats. After appearing on the trumpeter’s albums Bounce\, Flow\, and A Tale of God’s Will throughout the early 2000s\, Parks made his own Blue Note debut in 2008 with Invisible Cinema\, a striking album that has only grown in its influence across the modern jazz landscape since its release. The music travelled across new sonic and rhythmic frontiers with Parks’ evocative original compositions imbued with a cinematic drama that drew inspiration from the likes of Wayne Shorter\, Radiohead\, Bjork\, Meshell Ndegeocello\, and more. The album featured the pianist with Mike Moreno on guitar\, Matt Penman on bass\, and Eric Harland on drums\, a band whose unique sound would eventually evolve into Parks’ ongoing project Little Big. \nParks has since released two studio albums with Little Big\, as well as two albums on ECM\, including a solo piano recording a trio album with Billy Hart and Ben Street. Parks has performed and recorded with Kurt Rosenwinkel\, Terri Lyne Carrington\, Ambrose Akinmusire\, Kendrick Scott\, Gretchen Parlato\, Dhafer Youssef\, and Marcus Miller among others. He is also a founding member of the James Farm collective with Joshua Redman\, Penman\, and Harland\, and appeared on Redman’s 2023 Blue Note debut Where Are We. In 2022\, he released a pair of collaborative trio albums with Harland and Matt Brewer
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/aaron-parks/
CATEGORIES:Concert
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20270403T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20270403T220000
DTSTAMP:20261105T191859
CREATED:20260809T143824Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260829T205804Z
UID:10000149-1806780600-1806789600@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:Stéphane Wrembel
DESCRIPTION:Stéphane Wrembel is quite simply one of the finest guitarists of his generation. Renowned for his unparalleled breadth and depth as a musician\, composer\, and educator\, Wrembel has spent over two decades shaping a sound that transcends genre and borders. Since his debut in 2002\, he has released a steady stream of acclaimed recordings\, establishing himself as one of the most distinctive and original guitar voices in contemporary music. \nHis live performances are celebrated worldwide for their virtuosity and emotional range. Wrembel has headlined stages at Jazz at Lincoln Center\, Carnegie Hall\, The Town Hall in New York City\, and the Lyon Opera House in France. He has performed and collaborated with musical luminaries including Jean-Michel Pilc\, Sam Bush\, Stochelo Rosenberg\, Esperanza Spalding\, and Al Di Meola. His festival appearances span the globe\, from the Montreal and Monterey Jazz Festivals to the Django Reinhardt Festival in France\, the Ellnora Guitar Festival\, and Caramoor Jazz Festival. Internationally\, he has toured across Canada\, France\, Israel\, the UK\, India\, and Nigeria. \nBorn in Paris and raised in Fontainebleau—the birthplace of Impressionism and home of legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt—Wrembel began his musical journey on classical piano at age four. As a teenager\, he discovered the guitar and became immersed in rock\, particularly inspired by David Gilmour of Pink Floyd. “I had a classical background\, a passion for rock music\, and then I found out about Django\,” he recalls. “I fell in love with the very strong impressionist feel in his music.” \nCaptivated by Reinhardt’s artistry\, Wrembel immersed himself in Sinti culture\, spending years learning from the masters of this living musical tradition. “I spent six or seven years going to the camps\,” he says. “That’s how you learn this music—it’s specific to a culture. Music is not only the notes. Without the culture\, something is missing.” He studied with renowned Sinti guitarists including Angelo Debarre and Serge Krief before moving to the United States to attend Berklee College of Music\, where he graduated summa cum laude in 2002. \nThat same year\, he released his debut album\, Introducing Stéphane Wrembel\, hailed by Vintage Guitar Magazine as “pure dazzle and dash\, a stunning storm of notes that blankets the melody in a rain of arpeggiated tones.” After relocating to New York City in 2003\, his reputation quickly spread among musicians and audiences alike. His early albums Gypsy Rumble (2005)—featuring mandolin legend David Grisman—and Barbes-Brooklyn (2006) drew critical acclaim. Woody Allen later selected Wrembel’s “Big Brother\,” from Gypsy Rumble\, for the 2008 film Vicky Cristina Barcelona. His fourth release\, Terre Des Hommes (2008)\, further cemented his growing influence. \nIn 2003\, Wrembel founded Django à Gogo\, an annual music festival and guitar camp celebrating the art\, culture\, and evolution of Sinti-inspired guitar. The event has grown into a weeklong international celebration\, bringing together some of the world’s finest musicians to perform at venues such as Carnegie Hall\, The Town Hall and Symphony Space. Based in Maplewood\, New Jersey and New York City\, the festival has recently expanded with editions in Los Angeles\, Canada\, and beyond. Wrembel serves as its artistic director and driving force\, nurturing the next generation of musicians through performance and education. \nWrembel’s global breakthrough came with his composition “Bistro Fada\,” the charming waltz that became the theme for Woody Allen’s 2011 Oscar®-winning film Midnight in Paris. The song appeared on his fifth album Origins and on the film’s Grammy®-winning soundtrack. In 2012\, Wrembel performed “Bistro Fada” live at the Academy Awards® alongside Hans Zimmer and an all-star ensemble. \nHe has continued to expand his artistic reach with each project. Dreamers of Dreams (2014) showcased his dynamic quartet\, while two live recordings—Live in India and Live in Rochester (2016)—captured his deep rapport with audiences around the world. From 2017 to 2021\, Wrembel released six volumes of The Django Experiment\, recorded live in-studio with longtime collaborators Thor Jensen (guitar)\, Ari Folman-Cohen (bass)\, Nick Anderson (drums)\, and Nick Driscoll (saxophone/clarinet). These albums reimagined the music of Django Reinhardt and other composers through a modern lens\, earning acclaim from DownBeat\, JazzTimes\, Acoustic Guitar Magazine\, Guitar World\, The New York City Jazz Record\, and more. \nIn 2019\, Wrembel produced Les Yeux Noirs\, the debut album by Django’s great-grandson Simba Baumgartner\, and released Django L’Impressionniste\, a groundbreaking recording of 17 rarely heard solo guitar preludes composed by Reinhardt between 1937 and 1950. Wrembel spent four years transcribing and mastering these works\, publishing them in a beautifully bound book of sheet music in 2021—the first complete collection of its kind. \nWrembel also composed the original score for Woody Allen’s 2020 film Rifkin’s Festival\, starring Gina Gershon\, Christoph Waltz\, and Wallace Shawn. In November 2021\, he introduced Django New Orleans\, a nine-piece ensemble that fuses New Orleans brass and rhythms with the intricate guitar style rooted in his French heritage. The group’s debut at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club sold out eight consecutive nights\, followed by Shades of Django in Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater\, which also sold out multiple performances. In May 2023\, Wrembel released Django New Orleans in conjunction with the Django à Gogo Festival. \nIn 2024\, he unveiled Triptych—a three-part recording (Phases I\, II\, and III) with celebrated pianist Jean-Michel Pilc—earning glowing reviews in DownBeat\, Guitar Player\, and Acoustic Guitar Magazine. His forthcoming album\, Django New Orleans II: Hors-Série\, will be released on November 14\, 2025\, offering fresh interpretations of timeless classics alongside two new original compositions\, including Wrembel’s debut as a vocalist. \nToday\, Stéphane Wrembel is recognized as one of the world’s preeminent guitarists and composers—an artist who transcends genre while honoring tradition. His music draws from jazz\, classical\, blues\, flamenco\, and rock\, yet it coalesces into a singular sound: unmistakably\, and only\, Stéphane Wrembel.\n“I just play my own music\,” he says. “I like to believe that it is beyond any one genre and that there is something in it for everyone. It’s not only for Django lovers or jazz lovers—it’s for the music lover.”
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/stephane-wrembel/
CATEGORIES:Concert
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270416
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270418
DTSTAMP:20261105T191859
CREATED:20260809T155907Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260809T163355Z
UID:10000150-1807833600-1808006399@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:2026-2027 Season Solo Jazz Piano Festival
DESCRIPTION:2027 Solo Jazz Piano Festival\n2026 Headliners: Rachel Z\, Donald Vega\, Danny Grissett\, Sylvia Courvoisier\n \n2026 Emerging Artists: TBD \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 16 \n7:30 pm Headliner performances: Danny Grissett\, Sylvia Courvoisier \nSATURDAY\, April 17 \n10:00 – 2:00 pm Masterclasses – accessible to all audience members \n10:00 am Danny Grissett\n \n11:00 am Sylvia Courvoisier\n \n12:00 am Donald Vega\n \n1:00 pm Rachel Z\n \n3:30 – 4:30 pm Emerging Artist presentations  \n4:45 – 5:45 pm Panel discussion based on juried questions from the audience \n7:30 pm Headliner performance:  \nDonald Vega\, Rachel Z \nREAD MORE ON THE ARTISTS
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/2026-2027-solo-jazz-piano-fest/
CATEGORIES:Concert
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20270515T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20270515T220000
DTSTAMP:20261105T191859
CREATED:20260808T140904Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260809T144536Z
UID:10000151-1810409400-1810418400@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:Kenny Barron
DESCRIPTION:Honored by The National Endowment for the Arts as a 2010 Jazz Master\, Kenny Barron has an unmatched ability to mesmerize audiences with his elegant playing\, sensitive melodies and infectious rhythms. The Los Angeles Times named him “one of the top jazz pianists in the world\,” and Jazz Weekly calls him “The most lyrical piano player of our time.” \nPhiladelphia is the birthplace of many great musicians\, including one of the undisputed masters of the jazz piano: Kenny Barron. Kenny was born in 1943 and\, while a teenager\, started playing professionally with Mel Melvin’s orchestra. This local band also featured Barron’s brother Bill\, the late tenor saxophonist. \nWhile still in high school. Kenny worked with drummer Philly Joe Jones and at age 19\, he moved to New York City and freelanced with Roy Haynes\, Lee Morgan and James Moody\, after the tenor saxophonist heard him play at the Five Spot. Upon Moody’s recommendation\, Dizzy Gillespie hired Barron in 1962 without even hearing him play a note. It was in Dizzy’s band where Kenny developed an appreciation for Latin and Caribbean rhythms. After five years with Dizzy\, Barron played with Freddie Hubbard\, Stanley Turrentine\, Milt Jackson\, and Buddy Rich. The early seventies found Kenny working with Yusef Lateef\, whom Kenny credits as a key influence in his art for improvisation. Encouraged by Lateef to pursue a college education\, Barron balanced touring with studies and earned his B.A. in Music from Empire State College. By 1973\, Kenny joined the faculty at Rutgers University as professor of music. He held this tenure until 2000\, mentoring many of today’s young talents including David Sanchez\, Terence Blanchard and Regina Bell. In 1974 Kenny recorded his first album as a leader for the Muse label\, entitled “Sunset To Dawn.” This was to be the first in over 40 recordings (and still counting!) as a leader. \nFollowing stints with Ron Carter in the late seventies\, Kenny formed a trio with Buster Williams and Ben Riley\, which also worked alongside of Eddie Lockjaw” Davis\, Eddie Harris\, Sonny Stitt and Harry “Sweets” Edison. Throughout the 80’s\, Barron collaborated with the great tenor saxophonist Stan Getz\, touring with his quartet and recording several legendary albums including “Anniversary”\, “Serenity” and the Grammy-nominated “People Time”. Also during the 80’s\, he co-founded the quartet “Sphere\,”\nalong with Buster Williams\, Ben Riley and Charlie Rouse. This band focused on the music of Thelonious Monk and original compositions inspired by him. Sphere recorded several outstanding projects for the Polygram label\, among them “Four For All” and “Bird Songs.” After the death of Charlie Rouse\, the band took a 15-year hiatus and reunited\, replacing Rouse with alto saxophonist Gary Bartz. This reunion made its debut recording for Verve Records in 1998. \nKenny Barron’s own recordings for Verve have earned him nine Grammy nominations beginning in 1992 with “People Time\,” an outstanding duet with Stan Getz\, followed by the Brazilian-influenced “Sambao and most recently for “Freefall” in 2002. Other Grammy nominations went to “Spirit Song”\, “Night and the City” (a duet recording with Charlie Haden) and “Wanton Spirit\,” a trio recording with Roy Haynes and Haden. It is important to note that these three recordings each received double Grammy nominations (for album and solo performance) His CD\, “Canta Brasil” (Universal France) linked Barron with Trio de Paz in a fest of original Brazilian jazz\, and was named Critics’ Choice Top Ten CDs of 2003 by JazzIz Magazine. His 2004 release\, Images (Universal France) was inspired by a suite originally commissioned by The Wharton Center at Michigan State University and features multi-Grammy nominated vibraphonist Stefon Harris. The long-awaited trio sequel featuring Ray Drummond and Ben Riley\, The Perfect Set\, Live At Bradley’s\, Part Two (Universal France/Sunnyside) was released in October 2005. \nIn Spring 2008\, Mr. Barron released The Traveler (Universal France)\, an intoxicating mix of favorite Barron tunes set to lyrics and newly penned compositions. For his first vocal-based recording\, Barron invited Grady Tate (who sheds his drumsticks for this special appearance)\, Tony Award winner Ann Hampton Calloway and the young phenom Gretchen Parlato\, winner of the Thelonious Monk International Competition for Jazz. On “Um Beijo”\, Mr. Tate’s warm\, leathery voice balanced by Mr. Barron’s poignant touch make for a beautifully textured conversation\, underscoring their longtime on-stage collaboration. Another Barron original\, “Clouds” is a lush vehicle for Ann Hampton Calloway’s romantic pitch-perfect yearnings matched with Barron’s trademark mastery of subtlety. The dramatic “Phantoms” intertwines Parlato’s ephemeral intimacy and syncopatic rhythms in an emotional escapade between Barron’s haunting notes\, the West African stylings of guitarist Lionel Loueké\, drummer Francisco Mela (who also adds a Cuban flavor to the vocals)\, and the driving bass of Kiyoshi Kitagawa. The journey continues with the aptly named “Duet\,” an improvisation with Benin-born Loueké who also joins the trio for a rousing version of Barron’s “Calypso”. A composer who relishes in the moment\, Barron’s modern approach is highlighted by alto saxophonist Steve Wilson’s open musings on “Illusion” and “The Traveler\,” who also brings an urgency to the fun-paced “Speed Trap”. \nAfter a successful musical meeting of the minds with bassist Dave Holland\, the two masters decided to collaborate on a duet project to be released on Impulse/Universal Records in 2014\, followed by a tour. \nBarron consistently wins the jazz critics’ and readers’ polls\, including Downbeat\, Jazz Times and Jazziz magazines. The famed Spanish ceramist Lladro honored Mr. Barron with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012\, and he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from his alma mater SUNY Empire State in 2013 and from Berklee College of Music in 2011. In 2009 he received the Living Legacy Award from Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation and was inducted into the American Jazz Hall of Fame and won a MAC Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005. He is a six-time recipient of Best Pianist by the Jazz Journalists Association. \nWhether he is playing solo\, trio or quintet\, Kenny Barron is recognized the world over as a master of performance and composition.
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/kenny-barron/
CATEGORIES:Concert
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20270612T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20270612T220000
DTSTAMP:20261105T191859
CREATED:20260809T150406Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260825T030608Z
UID:10000152-1812828600-1812837600@vtjazz.org
SUMMARY:2026-2027 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 2026-27 season.
URL:https://vtjazz.org/calendar/2026-2027-season-convergence-project/
CATEGORIES:Concert
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