New England Conservatory’s Jazz Studies And Contemporary Musical Arts Departments Announce Spring Season

New England Conservatory’s Jazz Studies and Contemporary Musical Arts Departments announce the Spring 2025 performance season featuring a powerful and wide-ranging series of concerts and events. Highlights include multi-Grammy Award winner Maria Schneider conducting the NEC Jazz Orchestra in a concert of her music; a world premiere by Mehmet Ali Sanlikol with the NEC Jazz Orchestra and a mehter band; CMA students in performances of music by visionaries including guest artist/composer Marc Ribot; acclaimed pianist Jason Moran in a residency celebrating the history of Boogie Woogie; and What Does Earth Need? A Call to Action directed by Linda Chase and Hankus Netsky.

Other guest artists include innovative saxophonist Sam Newsome, experimental Latin American artist Eblis Álvarez, and “the Ellington of free jazz,” pianist/composer Satoko Fujii.

Performances are free and open to the public, but tickets may be required. For more information, please go to: necmusic.edu

Jazz & CMA Faculty Spotlight

Thursday, January 23 | 7:30 p.m. | Jordan Hall

Faculty members from the Jazz Studies and Contemporary Musical Arts departments present a wide-ranging program highlighting the breadth and depth of the programs with a diverse range of music.

NEC Jazz Composers Residency Concert with Tim Berne

Tuesday, February 11 | 7:30 p.m. | Jordan Hall

Tim Berne has been declared “a saxophonist and composer of granite conviction” by The New York Times. Since learning at the elbow of St. Louis master Julius Hemphill in the ’70s, the Syracuse, New York-born Berne has built an expansive discography as a leader. In his pace-setting ensembles over the past few decades, he has worked with a who’s who of improvisers, including Joey Baron, Django Bates, Jim Black, Nels Cline. Mark Dresser, Marc Ducret, Michael Formanek, Drew Gress, Ethan Iverson, Dave King, Herb Robertson, Chris Speed, Steve Swell, Bobby Previte, Hank Roberts, Tom Rainey, and Craig Taborn. As a sideman, Berne has made ECM appearances on recent albums by Formanek (The Rub and Spare Change; Small Places) and David Torn (prezens). The New York Times summed him up by saying: “Few musicians working in or around jazz over the last 30 years have developed an idiomatic signature more distinctive than Tim Berne.” During his residency, Tim Berne will conduct master classes, rehearse, and perform with students. His visit will culminate in a concert in Jordan Hall in which Berne will perform his music with the Jazz Composers Workshop Orchestra as well as various small groups.

What Does Earth Need? A Call to Action

Tuesday, February 25 | 7:30 p.m. | Jordan Hall

The Contemporary Musical Arts Department presents a concert, directed by Linda Chase and Hankus Netsky, that explores the relationship of musical artists to the current state of the world, specifically in regard to climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental justice. Themes of the concert include our relationships with all living beings other than humans, our relationships with communities impacted by climate disaster, and musicians as forces for change in the community. Repertoire includes Nowruz, a piece referencing the traditional Iranian springtime New Year’s celebration of the rebirth of the world; “Soufle-Van,” a Haitian folk song about the relationship of people to the earth and nature; “Al Kheyt: A Yiddish Confessional”; “Breaths” by Sweet Honey in the Rock; “What Does Earth Need” from Linda Chase’s oratorio Laudato Si — For Our Common Home, an updated version of Marvin Gaye’s “Mercy, Mercy Me;” and a variety of other music that calls on humanity to create a more just and sustainable world. The concert also features performances by the CMA Department’s Contemporary Vocal Ensemble directed by Farayi Malek and the newly formed local chapter of the Resistance Revival Chorus directed by Morgan Brookman

Linda Chase is a composer and improvising flutist who teaches interdisciplinary arts, composition, improvisation and the transformational power of music from traditions around the world. She received her Ph.D in Sustainablity Through Music from Prescott College in 2017. Laudato Si — For Our Common Home, her second oratorio on the climate crisis, will be performed this spring by the Harvard-Radcliffe Choral Society.

Sam Newsome Masterclass

Thursday, February 27 | 1 :30 p.m. | Eben Jordan Ensemble Room

Sam Newsome stands as a multifaceted figure in the world of jazz — a saxophonist, music professor, and accomplished writer. In 2023, his artistic endeavors manifested in two duo recordings: Soprano-Logues, a collaborative effort with saxophonist Dave Liebman, and Cosmic Unconsciousness Unplugged, where he joined forces with pianist Jean-Michel Pilc. Newsome’s avant-garde approach, particularly in the realm of prepared saxophone, has positioned him as a sought-after player in New York’s improvised music scene. His innovative voice has resonated in collaborations with such notable artists as Elliot Sharpe, William Parker, Fay Victor, Daniel Carter, Joe Morris, and Dave Liebman.

Zildjians, Atlantic Records and Jazz: The Legacy of Istanbul in America

Thursday, February 27

The Jazz Studies department and the Intercultural Institute at NEC present this full-day event which includes a workshop, presentations, and a panel discussion followed by a concert featuring the NEC Jazz Orchestra and a mehter band (so-called “Ottoman Janissary Band”). The concert also features the world premiere of Echoes from a Forgotten Past by NEC faculty member Mehmet Ali Sanlikol. Guest performers include saxophonist Sam Newsome and drummer and faculty member Nasheet Waits.

Mehter bands were the ancestors of the European military bands. As a result, jazz big bands are inherently connected to them. None other than the famous Zildjian family built cymbals for the mehter bands for at least three centuries before opening their American branch in Massachusetts. The NEC concert honors the Zildjian legacy while focusing on two other influential families from Turkey, the Erteguns and the Mardins, as well as the Atlantic Records legacy.

The concert opens with a set performed by the mehter band including a number of NEC faculty and students led by faculty member Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol. Later in the program, Sanlikol’s new composition bringing together the mehter band and the NEC Jazz Orchestra receives its world premiere.

The second half of the concert includes jazz classics from the Atlantic catalogue including John Coltrane’s “My Favorite Things,” Ray Charles’s “Let the Good Times Roll,” and Jimmy Giuffre’s “The Train and the River.” The concert ends with a well-known arrangement of the funk classic “Pick Up the Pieces” by the late multiple-Grammy winning Turkish-American producer Arif Mardin.

Mehter Band Workshop

Thursday, February 27 | 10 a.m. | Brown Hall

The Jazz Studies Department and the Intercultural Institute at NEC present this workshop led by faculty member Mehmet Ali Sanlikol.

Zildjians, Atlantic Records and Jazz: Presentations by John Edward Hasse and Mehmet Sanlikol

Thursday, February 27 | 12 noon | Eben Jordan Ensemble Room

John Edward Hasse, Curator Emeritus of American Music at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History, discusses “The Ertegun Brothers and Atlantic Records.” Faculty member Mehmet Ali Sanlikol will speak about “The Zildjians and Mehter Bands.”

Panel Discussion

Thursday, February 27 | 2:30 p.m. | Pierce Hall

A panel discussion moderated by Ken Schaphorst, co-chair of the Jazz department, will include Ingrid Monson, Quincy Jones Professor of African-American Music at Harvard University, John Edward Hasse and Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol.

Zildjians, Atlantic Records and Jazz: The Legacy of Istanbul in America Concert

Thursday, February 27 | 7:30 p.m. | Jordan Hall

Jason Moran Residency Concert

Thursday, March 6 | 8 p.m. | Williams Hall

In his residency, pianist Jason Moran will celebrate the history of Boogie Woogie, the influential piano style which straddles the genres of blues and jazz and inspired a musical revolution in rhythm and blues and rock and roll.

Nima Janmohammadi Faculty Recital

Monday, March 10 | 7:30 p.m. | Jordan Hall

CMA, Music History, and Music Theory Department faculty member Nima Janmohammadi presents a concert of his own compositions and traditional Persian music played on the Tar, Setar, and Kamancha. The performance is a joint recital with faculty member Davide Ianni.

CMA Honors Ensemble

Monday, March 31 | 7:30 p.m. | Jordan Hall

Coached by Farayi Malek and Dr. Joseph Copland, the CMA Honors Ensemble presents a concert of original compositions and arrangements of African American Gospel music, R&B, and jazz. The ensemble features vocalists Kayden Carter and Pitiki Aliakai, pianist Peter Vasquez, bassist Ben Walker, and drummer Paul July Joseph.

Satoko Fujii Masterclass

Tuesday, April 1 | 2 p.m. | Eben Jordan Ensemble Room

Pianist and composer and NEC alumna Satoko Fujii, “an improviser of rumbling intensity and generous restraint” (Giovanni Russonello, The New York Times), is one of the most original voices in jazz today. For nearly 30 years, she has created a unique, personal music that spans many genres, blending jazz, contemporary classical, rock, and traditional Japanese music into an innovative synthesis instantly recognizable as hers alone. A prolific composer for ensembles of all sizes and a performer who has appeared around the world, she was the recipient of a 2020 Instant Award in Improvised Music, in recognition of her “artistic intelligence, independence, and integrity.” Her talent as a big band composer, arranger, and leader have been recognized numerous times in DownBeat Critics Polls. The New York City Jazz Record has twice named her Artist of the Year. In 2021, El Intruso named her Pianist of the Year. The master class will include a performance with the Tokyo Trio and more.

Eblis Álvarez Masterclass

Friday, April 4 | 10 a.m.-noon | Pierce Hall

In the ever-evolving landscape of Latin American music, few artists manage to navigate the complex interplay between tradition and innovation as deftly as Eblis Álvarez, the creative force behind Meridian Brothers and Los Pirañas. Known for his eclectic approach and fearless experimentation, Álvarez has been instrumental in shaping the sound of contemporary Colombian and Latin-American music, pushing boundaries while staying rooted in cultural authenticity. In this master class, Álvarez discusses his methodologies of composition and his personal style and demonstrates to students how they can utilize similar techniques. Álvarez will share how Bogotá’s dynamic music scene has influenced his work, the use of technology in his creative process, the role of collaboration in his artistic journey, and the significance of his other projects in shaping his approach to music.

NEC Jazz Orchestra with Maria Schneider

Thursday, April 17 | 7:30 p.m. | Jordan Hall

Maria Schneider’s music has been hailed by critics as “evocative, majestic, magical, heart-stoppingly gorgeous, imaginative, revelatory, riveting, daring, and beyond categorization.” Blurring the lines between genres, her varied commissioners stretch from Jazz at Lincoln Center to The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and the American Dance Festival and include a collaboration with David Bowie. She is among a small few to receive Grammy Awards in multiple genres, having received the award for jazz and classical albums, as well as for her work with Bowie. In this concert, Schneider conducts the NEC Jazz Orchestra in some of her most beloved pieces: “Aires de Lando,” “Coming About,” “Don't Be Evil,” “Journey Home,” “Sanzenin,” “Walking by Flashlight,” and “Wyrgly.”

NEC Jazz Composers Orchestra

Tuesday, April 22 | 7:30 p.m. | Jordan Hall

Marc Ribot Artist Talk

Tuesday, April 29 | noon | Eben Jordan Ensemble Room

Marc Ribot is an American guitarist and composer. His work has touched on many styles, including no wave, free jazz, rock, and Cuban music. Ribot is also known for collaborating with other musicians, most notably Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, Vinicio Capossela, and John Zorn. In this talk, Ribot will share musical highlights of his 40-plus years as one of the most influential musicians in New York's downtown scene.

Visionaries and Eccentrics: Ives’ Problem Children

Tuesday, April 29 | 7:30 p.m. | Jordan Hall

Directed by Anthony Coleman and Lautaro Mantilla. With his concept of transcendentalism, Charles Ives paved the way for a century of experimentation in multiple modes of musical expression. Joined by guest artist guitarist/composer Marc Ribot, CMA students explore the worlds of collage, postmodernism, and other genres of multi-layered music, including rock, jazz, funk, noise, and other contemporary musical art forms, drawing on the music of guest artist-in residence Marc Ribot, as well as Brian Wilson, Captain Beefheart, Parliament Funkadelic, Connie Converse, Polly Bradfield, and many others.

CMA Small Ensemble Festival

Sunday, May 4 | 11 a.m.-10 p.m. | Eben Jordan Ensemble Room

Celebrate spring with a festival of Contemporary Musical Arts Ensembles, featuring music, food, and dance all day long. Performances by the Joe Morris and Mark Zaleski ensembles; Middle Eastern, Korean, West African, and Jewish Music ensembles; R&B, Early Jazz; the Songwriters Workshop and Indie/Punk/Art Rock ensembles, and more. The evening will conclude with a student-led open mic session.

About New England Conservatory (NEC)

Founded by Eben Tourjée in Boston, Massachusetts in 1867, New England Conservatory (NEC) represents a new model of music school that combines the best of European tradition with American innovation. The school stands at the center of Boston’s rich cultural history and musical life, presenting concerts at the renowned Jordan Hall. Propelled by profound artistry, bold creativity, and deep compassion, NEC seeks to amplify musicians’ impact on advancing our shared humanity and empowers students to meet today’s changing world head-on, equipped with the tools and confidence to forge multidimensional lives of artistic depth and relevance.

As an independent, not-for-profit institution that educates and trains musicians of all ages from around the world, NEC is recognized internationally as a leader among music schools. It cultivates a diverse, dynamic community, providing music students of more than 40 countries with performance opportunities and high-caliber training from 225 internationally esteemed artist-teachers and scholars. NEC pushes the boundaries of music-making and teaching through college-level training in classical, jazz and contemporary improvisation. Through unique interdisciplinary programs such as Entrepreneurial Musicianship and Community Performances & Partnerships, it empowers students to create their own musical opportunities. As part of NEC’s mission to make lifelong music education available to everyone, the Expanded Education division delivers training and performance opportunities for children, pre-college students, and adults.