Various Artists: New School University Jazz Program 2004/2005

The top-notch jazz program of New School University continues to play a significant role in consistently sending off mature sounding players to infiltrate the New York and global jazz scenes. With a faculty that boasts an impressive jazz veteran roster (trumpeters Charles Tolliver and Jimmy Owens; saxophonists Billy Harper and George Garzone; trombonist Benny Powell; pianists Joanne Brackeen and Junior Mance; bassists Reggie Workman and Buster Williams; and drummers Joe Chambers, Gerry Hemingway, Charli Persip, and Andrew Cyrille), it's no wonder that New School University has such a fine international reputation.

Each year, New School releases a CD compilation of its most recent senior recitals as "warnings of who to watch out for in the clubs, in the record stores, and on the radio. Some of the above professors accompany their students herein and to learn from, let alone play with, such masters is invaluable. Recent students already garnering widespread attention included here include trumpeter Jonathan Finlayson, a common name these days in our event calendar. His musical relationship with tenor saxophonist Andrew Gross in a quintet draws from a source of obvious inspiration when performing Ornette's "Happy House in a free bop manner. Pianist Manuel Valera, another musician to look out for, has been nominated as "Up and Coming Musician of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association for its 2005 awards. He performs in duo with Paquito D'Rivera ("Baiao for Paquito ) in a manner that is reverential and at the same time on equal footing with the master clarinetist.

Be the first to say you heard the next generation on an obscure New School CD compilation, a fine rookie card for the many fine young players that started there.

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