News

We’re excited to welcome Vail Jazz Workshop alumni back to Vail. This Labor Day Weekend, six familiar faces will return to perform at the 32nd Annual Vail Jazz Festival on September 5: Adam Bravo (piano, 2006), Aidan McCarthy (bass, 2020), Lucianna Padmore (drums, 1997), Hailey Niswanger (saxophone, 2007), Brandon Lee (trumpet, 2000), and Nate Jones (trombone, 2018).

Watching Workshop alumni come back years later to play the Festival is one of our favorite parts of the weekend. We hope you’ll join us in Vail for a few great days of music and help us welcome them home.

Performances:

Saxophonist Braxton Cook (2009) heads to Los Angeles on September 2 for a performance at Blue Note Los Angeles.

Russell Hall (bass, 2010) performs at Jazzcultural in New York City on September 3.

Esteban Castro (piano, 2018) takes the stage at Jazzcultural in New York City on September 3.

Grace Kelly (saxophone, 2008) has a busy month ahead, beginning with Bryant Park in New York City on September 3. She then performs at Jazzurbane Cafe in Boston on September 5, the Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center in Detroit on September 7, Dazzle Denver on September 11, and Walter Elisha Park in Fort Mill, South Carolina, on September 12.

Morgan Guerin (saxophone 2014) performs at Close Up in New York City on September 4–5.

Obed Calvaire (drums, 1998) takes the stage at Smalls in New York City on September 4–5, before returning to Jazzcultural on September 8.

Alex Laurenzi (saxophone, 2015) performs at Gelateria by Eataly in New York City on September 5, followed by performances at Culture Lab LIC and Close Up on September 6.

Benny Benack III (trumpet 2008) performs at Barretto in New York City on September 5.

Lakecia Benjamin (saxophone 1999) heads to Charleston, South Carolina, for a performance at the Charleston Gaillard Center on September 5.

Josh Evans (trumpet, 2002) returns to Smalls in New York City on September 6.

Rayah Thomas (bass, 2023) performs at St. Vincent Wine in Washington, D.C., on September 10.

Marty Jaffe (bass, 2011) performs at Jazzcultural in New York City from September 11–13.

Evan Sherman (drums, 2009) also performs at Jazzcultural in New York City from September 11–13.

Chris Fishman (piano 2014) heads to York, Pennsylvania, for a performance at the Appell Center for the Performing Arts on September 14.

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!