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arenius
Drummer-composer-educator-performer in jazz and improvisational music
About Me
Drummer/composer/educator Claire Arenius has been performing in jazz and improvisational music for more than thirty years. Her formative years were spent studying music at the University of Massachusetts, where Archie Shepp and Max Roach were on faculty. Later, as the recipient of a National Endowment Music Grant, Claire relocated to New York City to study with master drummer Charli Persip. This led to Claire's joining legendary trombonist/arranger Melba Liston's ensemble and to performances at Carnegie Hall, the Seaport Jazz Fest, Jazzmobile, & many other concerts. Claire has also toured Europe with Hungarian-born guitar Master Attila Zoller, founder of the Vermont Jazz Center. She has performed and/or recorded with many jazz greats including: Tal Farlow, Slide Hampton, Richard Davis, Archie Shepp, Marion Brown, Karrin Allyson, Charles Neville, George Mraz, Ray Copeland, Mose Allison, Barney Kessel, Sheila Jordan and more. Claire's compositional works have been featured at the Many Colors of a Woman Jazz Festival, The Iron Horse, The Discover Jazz Festival, University of Wisconsin, Ryles, and the International Millenium Festival in Medillen, Colombia. She has released a debut CD of her original compositions, “When Worlds Touch You” featuring pianist, Eugene Uman & bassist, Thomson Kneeland. Some of her recent collaborative projects can be heard on Playscape recordings label. Her recent performance work includes dates with her own trio, bassist Vishnu Wood's Safari East, pianist Joel Martin's Jazzical trio, vocalist Karrin Allyson, and others. Claire presently serves as Adjunct Music Faculty at Amherst College and Smith College, and as a clinician/educator for the Holyoke Community College Jazz Festival, and she is on the Faculty for the Vermont Jazz Center
