News

Vail Jazz Workshop alumnus Skylar Tang (trumpet 2021) is hitting the road this month with her quartet, featuring fellow alumni Ethan Oliver (drums 2023) and William Schwartzman (piano 2022), for a run of performances across California.

The tour kicks off March 4 at 2220 Arts & Archives in Los Angeles, followed by The Sound Room in Oakland on March 6 and Mr. Tipple’s Jazz Club in San Francisco on March 8. The group then heads south for Dizzy’s in San Diego on March 10, before making stops at LIBRETTO in Paso Robles on March 13 and The World Stage in Los Angeles on March 14.

Performances 

Robert Glasper (piano 1997) is taking the stage at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C, on March 5 and the Union Transfer in Philadelphia, PA, on March 6. 

Khris Royal (saxophone 2004) will be performing with his trio at Mahogany Jazz Hall in New Orleans, LA, on March 6 and March 13.

Pianist Gerald Clayton (2002) is taking the stage at Carnegie Hall in NYC on March 6, before heading to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on March 7 for a double feature. 

Continuing his nationwide tour, trumpeter Benny Benack (2008) performs at the Armstrong Auditorium in Edmond, OK, on March 5, andat the Charles W. Eiseman Center for the Performing Arts in Richardson, TX, on March 6. 

Drummer Corey Fonville (2006) will perform with Butcher Brown and Nate Smith at The National on March 6 before heading to Reveler on March 7, both in Richmond, VA. You can find Fonville on stage at The Atlantis on March 13, in Washington DC and at The Annex in Norfolk, VA, on March 14.

Sullivan Fortner (piano 2002) and his trio will be at Columbia University’s Miller Theatre in NYC on March 7 and Arrow Street Arts Inc. in Cambridge, MA, on March 8. 

Braxton Cook (saxophone 2009) will take the stage at City Winery in Pittsburgh, PA, on March 11 and the Keystone Korner in Baltimore, MD, on March 12. On March 13, Cook will perform at the Richmond Music Hall in Richmond, VA, before heading to Asheville, NC, for a show at Eulogy on March 14. On March 15, Cook will be at Middle C Jazz in Charlotte, NC, before heading to Atlanta, GA, for a show at City Winery on March 17. 

Pianist Esteban Castro (2018) will be performing at Christ Church Cathedral in Indianapolis, IN, on March 15. 

Awards 

The 2026 National Collegiate Jazz Championship took place in January, and drummer Mekhi Boone (2024) took home the award for Outstanding Drums. 

Instructor Accolades 

Temple University of Philadelphia, PA, directed by Terell Stafford (trumpet instructor), won the 2026 National Collegiate Jazz Championship.

[If you’re a Vail Jazz 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!]