News

Vail Jazz Alumni are headed to Monterey! Eight Vail Jazz Workshop alumni will take the stage at the Monterey Jazz Festival this month, bringing together musicians from several generations for one incredible weekend.

Isaiah J. Thompson (piano, 2014), Katie Thiroux (bass, 2005), and Zaccai Curtis (piano, 1999) perform on September 25, followed by Gerald Clayton (piano, 2002) on September 26–27 and Ambrose Akinmusire (trumpet, 2007) on September 27.

On Sunday, September 27, look out for Rafael Alvarez Gonzalez (trumpet, 2026), Diego Aviles Martinez (drums, 2026), and Xavier Anderson (trumpet, 2024). Rafael and Diego are especially fresh faces in the Vail Jazz family, having just wrapped up the 2026 Vail Jazz Workshop earlier this month! We are so proud to see them already out there doing more of what they love, and we cannot wait to cheer them on as their musical journeys continue. 

Performances:

Grace Kelly (Saxophone, 2008) takes the stage at the SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco on September 16.

Hailey Niswanger (Saxophone, 2007) performs at the Aladdin Theater in Portland, Oregon, on September 16.

Saxophonist Braxton Cook (2009) plays Blue Note Hawaii in Honolulu on September 17.

Chris Fishman (piano, 2014) performs at The Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland, on September 17.

Robert Glasper (piano, 1997) performs at Blue Note LA from September 17–20, followed by a show at the Mable House Barnes Amphitheater in Mableton, Georgia, on September 26.

Benny Benack III (trumpet, 2008) performs a show at Jazz Cultural in NYC on September 28.

Corey Fonville (drums, 2009) has a packed stretch of performances this month, playing The Flat Iron in Greensboro, North Carolina, on September 18; Reveler in Richmond, Virginia, on September 19; Keystone Korner in Baltimore on September 20; Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn on September 22; 118 North in Wayne, Pennsylvania, on September 23; Natalie’s Grandview in Columbus, Ohio, on September 24; Indy Jazz Fest in Indianapolis on September 26; and Cliff Bell’s in Detroit on September 27.

Morgan Guerin (saxophone, 2014) plays the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix on September 19–20.

Sandie Castaneda (Drums, 2000) performs at Viva Montana! in Missoula, Montana, on September 19, and at Montana State University in Billings, Montana, on September 27.

Aaron Shaw (saxophone, 2013) performs at 2220 Arts + Archives in LA on September 23.

Lakecia Benjamin (saxophone, 1999) performs at the Hollywood Bowl in LA on September 23.

Saxophonist Tia Fuller (1995) takes the stage at Birdland in NYC from September 25–27.

Jumaane Smith (trumpet, 1998) performs at Goucher College in Baltimore on September 26.

Oscar Evely (drums, 2024) plays in NYC at Five Spot Jazz on September 28.

Workshop alum, do you know about the communication channel we created exclusively for alumni? It’s free on Slack and is a great way to keep in touch with your alumni colleagues and stay current on what’s happening with them. To join, contact Alan Tanenbaum at info@vailjazz.org, and he’ll send you the link!