News

Alumni Happenings

July 20 – Aug 2, 2022

A theme song by 2004 trumpet alum Alphonso Horne and original music by 2013 trombone alum Jeffery Miller accompany the first podcast in a new series, (re)clamation, which recenters and uplifts the Black writers and storytellers of the American theater. Each installment in the series explores a different era or theme in Black theater history through interviews, conversations, and excerpts of first-hand accounts. The inaugural installment probes the history of Black minstrel troupes (1864-1878); you can access it at www.theclassix.org/reclamation.

Busy, busy: Trumpeter Benny Benack III (2008) crisscrosses the country starting July 20 at Jazz on the Plazz in Los Gatos CA with the Full Spectrum Big Band, followed by July 21 at the Women’s Club of Laguna Beach CA with the Lineage Trio, July 22 at Sam First in LA, July 23 at Jazz on Main in Mt. Kisco NY with a quartet, July 24 at Mezzrow in New York City with vocalist Jamile Ayres, July 27 for an early evening Sinatra Under the Stars performance at 74 Wythe in Brooklyn and a late-night jam session at Smalls NYC, July 30 at the Caramoor Jazz Festival in Katonah NY with drummer Kyle Poole, and August 2 at the Cape Cod Jazz Festival in Harwich MA.

Pianist James Francies (2012) performs with the Dayna Stephens Quartet on July 21 at
Dinkelspiel Auditorium during the Stanford Jazz Festival in Stanford CA. (See below for
additional VJW alumni performing at the Stanford Jazz Festival.) On July 22, vibraphonist Sasha Berliner releases Onyx, which features Francies on piano and Fender Rhodes, along with fellow Workshop alum Marcus Gilmore (2002) on drums.

2005 saxophone alum Eddie Barbash performs at the Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts during the Caroga Lake Music Festival in Caroga Lake NY on July 21. Barbash takes the stage again with the KASA Quartet at the Caroga Arts Gala on July 22, and he’s featured with the Caroga Arts Ensemble at Peck’s Lake Marina on July 24.

1999 saxophone alum Greg Ward has two shows at Hungry Brain in Chicago: July 21 and July 28.

Carlos Nino & Friends have joined with Shabazz Palaces in a new album, Extra Presence,
released July 22, which features 2013 piano alum Jamael Dean. Listen to “Dreamsishappening” from the new album.

Robert Glasper (1997 piano) performs at the Columbus Jazz & Rib Fest, Bicentennial Park Stage, in Columbus OH, July 22. He moves to the Ludlow Garage in Cincinnati for a gig on July 23. Glasper, who is Artist in Residence for the premiere Blue Note Jazz Festival Napa at the Charles Krug Winery in St. Helena CA, performs there all three days (July 29-31), including a July 29 show with Dinner Party featuring fellow alum Terrace Martin (1997 saxophone). Also performing at the Blue Note Jazz Festival Napa are Keyon Harrold (1997 trumpet) and Sullivan Fortner (2002 piano) on July 30, and Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah (2001 trumpet) and Maurice Brown (1999 trumpet) on July 31.

Comedian Tim Heidecker’s Very Good Band, featuring 2007 alum Eliana Athayde on bass and vocals, performs at the Vic Theater in Chicago on July 22, at the Fillmore in Philadelphia on July 29, and at the Capital Turnaround in Washington DC on July 30.

The band Midlake, with 1997 alum McKenzie Smith on drums, performs at the Newport Folk Festival in Fort Adams State Park, Newport RI, on July 23.

Cuban saxophonist Yosvany Terry and his band, featuring drummer Obed Calvaire (1998),
perform at Dinkelspiel Auditorium on July 23 during the Stanford Jazz Festival in Stanford CA. Also appearing at the Festival are saxophonist Charles McPherson in a quartet with 2010 alum Russell Hall on bass at Dinkelspiel Auditorium on July 25, and the Stanford Jazz Workshop 50th Anniversary Band featuring Ambrose Akinmusire (2000) on trumpet at Frost Amphitheater on July 30.

1997 saxophone alum Terrace Martin (see above) performs at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City CA on July 23. Singer Arin Ray’s recently-released sophomore album, Hello Poison, features Martin; listen here to “Storm.” And his writing and production are featured on pop artist Lizzo’s new album, Special.

Remee Ashley (2015 trombone) leads the Remee Ashley Jazz Quartet on July 24 at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Albany CA. Ashley just received an MA degree from Manhattan School of Music and is soon beginning PhD studies at the University of Southern California.

2009 saxophone alum Braxton Cook has a multi-night gig at the Blue Note in NYC, July 25-27.

The Jazz in July Festival at 92Y (the 92nd Street Y) in NYC features David Wong (1999 bass) in the rhythm section led by pianist Bill Charlap, on July 26.

Grace Kelly (2008 saxophone) leads a workshop July 26-30 at Jazz Port Townsend, in Port Townsend WA.

You can catch 2001 piano alum Frank LoCrasto in performance on July 28 at The Sultan Room Rooftop in Brooklyn NY.

1998 trumpet alum Jumaane Smith and his six-piece band perform July 28 at La Zingara in Bethel CT, July 29 at Django in NYC, and July 30 at On Stage At Kingsborough in Brooklyn NY.

Anthony Hervey (2014 trumpet) and Martin Jaffe (2011 bass) join a debut performance by multi-instrumentalist Luther S. Allison & Poiesis on July 29 at Minton’s Playhouse in Harlem NY.

Russell Hall (see above) also performs with the Emmet Cohen Trio at the Newport Jazz Festival in Fort Adams State Park, Newport RI, on July 31.