The Vermont Jazz Center Center will be hosting its 32nd annual summer
workshop from August 5 - 11 at the Putney School in Putney, Vermont.
About 20 vocal and 40 instrumental students will come together with an
internationally recognized faculty. They will study, perform and
enjoy a week of virtually 'round-the-clock jazz. The week culminates
in two grand concerts presented at the Michael S. Currier Center on
the Putney School campus – on Thursday evening, August 9th, at 8:00 PM
the faculty will present their offering and on Friday afternoon and
evening, August 10th beginning at 3:30 PM, the students will present
theirs. Directions to the Putney School can be found on their website
– www.putneyschool.org.
The VJC summer jazz workshops, initiated by its renowned founder,
Attila Zoller, are the lynchpin to the VJC's existence; they have been
run annually for over 30 years and were the original reason for the
jazz center's incorporation. In the early years, Attila Zoller who
had taught at the earliest of jam camps run by Jamey Aebersold and
Stan Kenton started his own program especially for guitarists out of
his home on Wiswall Hill in Newfane. Since the beginning, the
workshops have brought together participants of intermediate to
professional levels for a period of intensive study so that they
return home rejuvenated and ready to inspire others within their
communities. The program attracts students from around the world and
is intentionally multi-generational. Serious students of jazz from
early high school-age to senior citizens and all age groups
in-between, work together to realize the joys associated with their
shared passion; their week culminates in a student concert filled with
epiphanies and breakthroughs.
The Vermont Jazz Center Faculty Gala takes place on Thursday, August
9th at 8:00 PM. Tickets for this event are $15 general admission, and
are available on-line at the VJC's website (www.vtjazz.org), or can be
purchased in person at In the Moment Music & Gifts, 143 Main St. in
Brattleboro. There will also be tickets available at the door.
This year's concert features vocalists Sheila Jordan and Jay Clayton,
a synergistic team whose disparate singing and teaching styles
emphasize the tremendous range capable amongst vocalists. Hearing
them side-by-side gives the listener an appreciation of how two vocal
jazz masters present standards using completely different approaches.
On the cornet, VJC president, Dr. Bebop, a.k.a., Howard Brofsky
delivers bebop lines that are relaxed, behind the beat, sinewy,
organic and intensely personal. On Saxophone, Pete Yellin, who has
recently moved to California, will pay us a visit, and demonstrate why
Tito Puente, Bob Mintzer, Joe Henderson and others have chosen him to
lead their saxophone sections. Pete is a man with a strong tone and a
plethora of ideas. Guitarist Helmut Kagerer visits every year for the
summer jazz workshop, traveling all the way from Nuremberg, Germany.
One of Attila Zoller's leading students, Helmut is now a Fellow at
Meistersinger Conservatory.
The Summer Workshop Faculty Gala presents several combinations of
rhythm sections. Three pianists will grace the stage including
Professor Emeritus, Gene Rush, from the University of Memphis; Lenny
Tristano acolyte and former Art Farmer sideman, Harvey Diamond; and
VJC director, Eugene Uman. On acoustic bass we will hear Marcus
McLaurine, whose discography includes numerous recordings with Clark
Terry, Abdullah Ibrahim, Harry "Sweets" Edison and many others. Also
appearing on bass will be VJC's year 'round ensemble coordinator,
James MacDonald. The drum faculty features New York drummer, Tony
Jefferson as well as Claire Arenius, who has appeared and recorded
with many greats, including Attila Zoller and Melba Liston.
The VJC Summer Workshop Student Concert will take place on Friday,
August 10th. Due to the ample quantity of music the students have
prepared during the week, the student concert will be divided into two
parts – from 3:30 to 5:30 and from 8:00-10:00 with a two-hour break
for dinner. Concertgoers are invited to pack a picnic dinner to enjoy
in the bucolic setting of this pleasant location. During the concert,
listeners will be treated to numerous ensembles in a variety of vocal
and instrumental settings. Each singer will be featured individually
with either a trio (piano, bass and drums), or a larger student
ensemble. Each instrumental ensemble will be featured during a
half-hour segment where they will present compositions arranged under
the supervision of a faculty member. The cost for this concert is
$5.00.
The Vermont Jazz Center will present two concerts in conjunction with
its summer jazz workshop at the Putney School on August 9th and 10th.
These two presentations, one featuring the VJC's nationally recognized
faculty, and the other featuring the students of the program will take
place at the Michael S. Currier Center located on the Putney School
Campus in Putney, Vermont. Tickets for the Faculty Gala on August 9th
are $15.00, general admission, and are available on line at
www.vtjazz.org or in person at In the Moment, 143 Main St. Brattleboro
or at the door. Tickets for the student concert held at 3:30 on
August 10th are $5.00 and are available at the door. For more
information, contact the Vermont Jazz Center at (802) 254 9088.