Two of Eastman’s top jazz ensembles will kick off the Spring season with incredible performances, Eastman Jazz Lab Band and Eastman Jazz Workshop Ensemble perform March 2 at 7:30 p.m. in Kilbourn Hall. As the season continues there will be guest appearances by John Clayton, Carmen Bradford, Maria Schneider and more as well as world premieres of various works.
Jazz fans can enjoy music year-round at Eastman, from the award-winning Eastman Jazz Ensemble to ensembles ranging from intimate chamber groups to big bands. For decades, Eastman jazz has been synonymous with exciting performances, fresh new music and arrangements, and outstanding student performers.
“Having guest artists such as John Clayton, Carmen Bradford and Maria Schneider at Eastman is a huge honor,” shares Jeff Campbell, Chair of the Jazz and Contemporary Media department at Eastman. “This music has left a huge imprint on jazz music at large and we look forward to performing in our various jazz ensembles this season.”
More than 900 students are enrolled in the Collegiate Division of the Eastman School of Music—about 500 undergraduates and 400 graduate students. They come from almost every state, and approximately 23 percent are from other countries. They are taught by a faculty comprised of more than 130 highly regarded performers, composers, conductors, scholars, and educators. They are Pulitzer Prize winners, Grammy winners, Emmy winners, Guggenheim fellows, ASCAP Award recipients, published authors, recording artists, and acclaimed musicians who have performed in the world’s greatest concert halls. Each year, Eastman’s students, faculty members, and guest artists present more than 900 concerts to the Rochester community. Additionally, more than 1,700 members of the Rochester community, from young children through senior citizens, are enrolled in the Eastman Community Music School.
Jazz fans can enjoy music year-round at Eastman, from the award-winning Eastman Jazz Ensemble to ensembles ranging from intimate chamber groups to big bands. For decades, Eastman jazz has been synonymous with exciting performances, fresh new music and arrangements, and outstanding student performers.
“Having guest artists such as John Clayton, Carmen Bradford and Maria Schneider at Eastman is a huge honor,” shares Jeff Campbell, Chair of the Jazz and Contemporary Media department at Eastman. “This music has left a huge imprint on jazz music at large and we look forward to performing in our various jazz ensembles this season.”
Eastman Jazz Events
- Wednesday, March 2 at 7:30 p.m. Eastman Jazz Lab Band/ Eastman Jazz Workshop Ensemble in Kilbourn Hall
- Featuring arrangements by the great Bill Holman, a visiting guest artist on many occasions, ranging from selections for the Stan Kenton Orchestra to tunes for his own band in Los Angeles. The performance will also feature an original score by former esteemed Eastman professor Fred Sturm ‘84E and a surprise vocal selection by the newest member and pianist, Reginald Bowens.
- Friday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m. Eastman Studio Orchestra in Kodak Hall
- Professor Dobbins will be retiring at the end of June, so this will be his last concert as director. The program will consist of arrangements by masters and doctoral students from Eastman’s Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media department of music by Chick Corea, Clare Fischer, Miles Davis, Pat Metheny, Stevie Wonder, Richard Rodgers, and Guy Wood, representing influential and often recorded repertoire from the American songbook and the jazz repertoire.
- The program will also include the world premiere of a new composition by DMA/JCM trombonist Andrew Watkins.
- In addition to the live repertoire, selections by the Eastman Studio Orchestra from the late 1970s, with Rayburn Wright conducting, will be screened.
- Friday, March 18, at 7:30 p.m. Faculty Artist Series: Rich Thompson, jazz drums in Hatch Recital Hall
- “The Art of the Trio x 2!” The first half will feature Rich and two Eastman jazz majors, Oliver Scott on piano, and Gavin Gray on bass. The second half will include Bill Dobbins on piano, and Jeff Campbell on bass.
- Tuesday, April 26 at 7:30 p.m. Eastman Jazz Lab Band in Kilbourn Hall
- Guest Artist Carmen Bradford
- Wednesday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m. Eastman New Jazz Ensemble featuring Maria Schneider, Conductor in Kilbourn Hall.
- Premiere of Maria Schneider’s Centennial Commission
- Friday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m. Eastman Chamber Jazz in Kilbourn Hall
- Guest Artist John Clayton
- Monday, May 2 at 7:30 p.m. Eastman Jazz Ensemble featuring guest artist John Clayton in Kodak Hall
- Premiere of John Clayton and Bill Dobbin’s works.
- Featuring Byron Stripling (‘83E) as soloist on the work by Dobbins, and John Clayton conducting his new work.
About Eastman School of Music
The Eastman School of Music was founded in 1921 by industrialist and philanthropist George Eastman (1854-1932), founder of Eastman Kodak Company. It was the first professional school of the University of Rochester. Mr. Eastman’s dream was that his school would provide a broad education in the liberal arts as well as superb musical training.More than 900 students are enrolled in the Collegiate Division of the Eastman School of Music—about 500 undergraduates and 400 graduate students. They come from almost every state, and approximately 23 percent are from other countries. They are taught by a faculty comprised of more than 130 highly regarded performers, composers, conductors, scholars, and educators. They are Pulitzer Prize winners, Grammy winners, Emmy winners, Guggenheim fellows, ASCAP Award recipients, published authors, recording artists, and acclaimed musicians who have performed in the world’s greatest concert halls. Each year, Eastman’s students, faculty members, and guest artists present more than 900 concerts to the Rochester community. Additionally, more than 1,700 members of the Rochester community, from young children through senior citizens, are enrolled in the Eastman Community Music School.
