Juilliard Jazz Welcomes Five Guest Artists in 2012-2013: Drummer Paulo Braga; Saxophonist George Coleman; Clarinetist/Saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera; Trombonist Wycliffe Gordon; and Pianist Harold Mabern
Juilliard Jazz announces its 2012-2013 season of concerts featuring the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra, Juilliard Jazz Ensembles, and Juilliard’s Artist Diploma Ensemble, comprised of Juilliard Jazz’s most advanced musicians. Juilliard Jazz welcomes five special guest performers in 2012-2013: Brazilian drummer Paulo Braga; saxophonist George Coleman, saxophonist/clarinetist Paquito D’Rivera, trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, who joins bassist Christian McBride as a Juilliard Jazz artist-in-residence; and pianist Harold Mabern.
All concerts on the Juilliard Jazz 2012-2013 schedule are free; some require tickets, available two weeks prior at the Janet and Leonard Kramer Box Office at Juilliard. For further information, call (212) 769-7406 or go to www.juilliard.edu.
The Juilliard Jazz Orchestra opens its season with “Memphis Jazz” on Tuesday, October 16 at 8 PM in The Peter Jay Sharp Theater with guest artists, saxophonist George Coleman and pianist Harold Mabern. Coleman has performed with the legendary Miles Davis, among others, and Mabern has played with many jazz greats including Wes Montgomery. The evening also features music by other jazz musicians from Memphis, James Williams and Phineaus Newborn. On Tuesday, January 15 at 8 PM in The Peter Jay Sharp Theater, the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra plays classic jazz arrangements by Benny Golson, Thad Jones, Gerry Mulligan, Oliver Nelson, Sammy Nestico, and others. Juilliard Jazz students are required to know many of the traditional jazz standards, and the concert on January 15th gives them the opportunity to perform them in big band arrangements. On Thursday, February 21 at 8 PM in The Peter Jay Sharp Theater, Juilliard Jazz presents “My Point of View” featuring student original compositions for jazz orchestra.
Juilliard Jazz Ensembles perform the “The Music of Cedar Walton” on Monday, October 1 at 8 PM in Paul Hall. They return in “My Point of View” featuring Juilliard Jazz student original compositions on Monday, November 5 at 8 PM in Paul Hall. The Artist Diploma Ensemble is joined by Brazilian drummer Paulo Braga, who was Antonio Carlos Jobim’s drummer for many years, on Tuesday, November 20 at 8 PM in Paul Hall, in a concert presented as part of Carnegie Hall’s “Voices from Latin America” series. Juilliard Jazz musicians will record with Paulo Braga and join him in Brazil on November 30. On Monday, December 10, Juilliard Jazz Ensembles play jazz standards in “Just Jazz!”. On Monday, February 4 at 8 PM in Paul Hall, Juilliard Jazz Ensembles are joined by trombonist and new artist-in-residence, Wycliffe Gordon. On Tuesday, April 2 at 8 PM in Paul Hall, Juilliard Jazz presents “An Evening with Paquito D’Rivera”. The Juilliard Jazz Ensembles conclude their season on Tuesday, April 16 at 8 PM in Paul Hall, with a final installment of “My Point of View” featuring more student original compositions.
Juilliard Jazz musicians also have the opportunity to perform in top jazz clubs in NYC. Next season, they will be appearing at the Blue Note Jazz Club on their New York Sunday Brunch series. (Dates will be announced.) Sets are at 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM. For more information, please visit www.bluenote.net. The Juilliard Jazz Orchestra performs at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola during the season. (Dates will be announced.) For more information, go to www.jalc.org.
ARTISTS’ BIOS
Brazilian-born drummer Paulo Braga is known for his lifelong work with Antonio Carlos Jobim. He has played along with the biggest names associated with Bossa Nova.
Saxophonist George Coleman grew up in Memphis and was self-taught on the alto saxophone. At the age of 17, he was invited to tour with B.B. King after the guitarist heard him in a local club. He then spent three more years on the Memphis scene and writing for popular artists, including the Moonglows and Ray Charles. In 1955, he rejoined B.B. King’s band, but this time on tenor saxophone. In 1956, he moved to Chicago, along with Booker Little, where he joined Walter Perkins’ group, The MJT+3. When Max Roach heard him with this group, he invited him to join his own quartet featuring Kenny Dorham on trumpet. Later that year, Coleman moved to New York and has made his home here ever since. Miles Davis called in 1963 and re-united Coleman with his Manassas High schoolmates, Harold Mabern and Frank Strozier. For two years, Coleman was a member of that quintet along with Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams, recording four classic albums – Seven Steps to Heaven, My Funny Valentine, Four, and Miles Davis in Europe – before departing to pursue other projects. Coleman freelanced from 1964-1974, and then focused on his own groups. He has performed with some of the jazz’s most prominent figures, including Lionel Hampton, Lee Morgan, Elvin Jones, Charles Mingus, Betty Carter, Chet Baker, Shirley Scott, Charles McPherson, Cedar Walton, and others. For the past 30 years, he has been a major force in jazz education. In addition to his private teaching, he has been a consultant and teacher at The New School, Long Island University, NYU, and Mannes College of Music, and has conducted workshops, seminars and master classes at universities all over the United States.
Cuban-born Paquito D’Rivera Clarinetist/Saxophonist (Photo by Alberto Romeu) began his career as a child prodigy. During his teen years, he created various original and groundbreaking musical ensembles. As a founding member of the Orquesta Cubana de Musica Moderna, he directed that group for two years, while at the same time playing both the clarinet and saxophone with the Cuban National Symphony Orchestra. He went on to premiere several works by notable Cuban composers with the same orchestra. D’Rivera was a founding member and co-director of the innovative musical ensemble, Irakere. With its mixture of jazz, rock, classical and traditional Cuban music never heard before, Irakere toured extensively throughout America and Europe, won several Grammy nominations (1979, 1980) and a Grammy (1979). D’Rivera is the first artist to win Latin Grammy’s in both Classical and Latin Jazz categories (2003) for Stravinsky’s Historia del Soldado (L’Histoire du Soldat) and Brazilian Dreams with the New York Voices. (Juilliard alumnus Wynton Marsalis is the only other historic recipient to win in both classical and jazz categories.) D’Rivera is a recipient of the National Medal for the Arts, presented at the White House by President George W. Bush in 2005 and was named one of the 2005 NEA Jazz Masters. His discography includes more than 30 solo albums in jazz, bebop, and Latin music. His contributions to classical music are notable. They include solo appearances with the London Philharmonic, London Symphony, Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, among others. D’Rivera also has performed with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, the Costa Rica National Symphony, the Simón Bolivar Symphony Orchestra. He tours worldwide with his ensembles, the Chamber Jazz Ensemble, the Paquito D’Rivera Big Band, and the Paquito D’Rivera Quintet. In addition to his performance career, D’Rivera is a composer, and his music is published by Boosey & Hawkes. Artist-in-residence at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, he serves as a member of the board of directors of many influential artistic organizations in the United States, impacting both classical and jazz musical idioms. 
Release Photo Credit Trombonist Wycliffe Gordon
Enlarge Photo
Jazz pianist Harold Mabern was born in Memphis, Tennessee and attended Manassas High School like other Memphis jazz artists George Coleman, Booker Little, and Frank Strozier. He taught himself piano and was influenced by pianist Phineas Newborn. He has worked with Lionel Hampton, Donald Byrd, Miles Davis, J.J. Johnson, Lee Morgan, Sonny Rollins, Freddie Hubbard, Wes Montgomery, Joe Williams, and Sarah Vaughan. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Mabern led four albums for Prestige Records, performed with Lee Morgan, and recorded with Stanley Cowell’s Piano Choir. He recorded as a leader for DIW/Columbia and Sackville and toured with the Contemporary Piano Ensemble (1993-1995). Mabern is a longtime faculty member of William Paterson College and a frequent instructor at Stanford Jazz Workshop.
About Juilliard Jazz
Juilliard Jazz is one of the newest programs of performance education inaugurated by The Juilliard School. Founded in 2001 and having recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, Juilliard Jazz offers degrees at bachelor, master, and artist diploma levels. The curriculum combines tailored studio and coursework with professional performance opportunities designed to successfully integrate students into a thriving jazz environment. In addition, its faculty and students conduct national and international master classes and clinics.
Highlights from the 2011-2012 season include a tribute concert to legendary bassist Ron Carter in March 2012 with guest artists Benny Golson, Herbie Hancock, Jim Hall, Hubert Laws, and Christian McBride; and concerts during the season with guest artists, trombonist Wycliffe Gordon; singer Jane Monheit with the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra performing music from the American Songbook; saxophonist Joe Lovano with the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra; and Gary Smulyan in “The Music of Gerry Mulligan” with the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra.
Summer 2012 takes Juilliard Jazz to West Palm Beach, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Melbourne, Australia; and Ephraim, Utah at Snow College for summer jazz camps.
Today, the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra and its ensembles play more than 50 performances annually including appearances at the Detroit Jazz Festival and New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and tour to destinations, such as Costa Rica, Colombia, Japan, and Brazil. Juilliard Jazz Ensembles perform regularly at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola and the world-renowned Blue Note in New York City. For the past several seasons they also have enjoyed week-long runs at Jazz at Lincoln Center with guest artists such as Ernie Andrews, Kenny Barron, Tom Harrell, Sean Jones, Lew Tabackin, Gerald Wilson, Bobby Watson, Frank Wess, and others.
These talented Juilliard young artists are taught by today’s most active, innovative, and respected jazz musicians. The experienced Juilliard Jazz faculty combines a remarkable variety of technical and musical skill, as demonstrated on stages and in recording studios worldwide. The Juilliard Jazz Quartet, its faculty ensemble, features Juilliard Jazz Artistic Director, drummer Carl Allen, saxophonist, Ron Blake, bassist Ron Carter, and pianist Frank Kimbrough.
About Carl Allen, Artistic Director of Juilliard Jazz
With more than 200 recordings to his credit, the gifted Milwaukee-born, New York-based drummer, sideman, bandleader, entrepreneur, and educator, Carl Allen’s profound and propulsive percolations provided soulful and syncopated support for more than three decades.
Born in 1961, Mr. Allen grew up on gospel, R&B, and funk, but later turned to jazz after hearing an LP by saxophonist Benny Carter. He studied with drum instructor Roy Sneider and band director
Robert Siemele. His first hometown gigs were with sax greats Sonny Stitt and James Moody. He studied at the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay from 1979 to 1981, and transferred to William Paterson College in New Jersey, where he graduated in 1983 with a bachelor of music degree in Jazz Studies and Performance. Mr. Allen joined trumpeter Freddie Hubbard a year before his graduation, served as his Musical Director for eight years, and made many recordings with the trumpeter including Double Take and Life Flight.
Mr. Allen also played with Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Jennifer Holliday, J.J. Johnson, Sammy Davis Jr., Branford Marsalis, Kenny Garrett, Lena Horne, Ruth Brown, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Bobby Hutcherson, Mike Stern, Nellie McKay, Phil Woods, Benny Green, Cyrus Chestnut, Joe Henderson, Billy Childs, and many others. Mr. Allen’s sideman discography also includes Jackie McLean (Dynasty), Donald Harrison (Indian Blues, Noveau Swing), Donald Byrd (A City Called Heaven), and Art Farmer (The Company I Keep).
Dreamboat, released in 1988, was Mr. Allen’s first CD as leader, followed by Piccadilly Square, The Pursuer, Testimonial, and Get Ready, his 2007 Mack Avenue debut release with bassist Rodney Whitaker. Mr. Allen was again joined by Mr. Whitaker for a second album, Work to Do.
JUILLIARD JAZZ
2012-2013 Calendar of Events
Monday, October 1, 8 PM, Paul Hall
“The Music of Cedar Walton”
Juilliard Jazz Ensembles perform music by Cedar Walton.
Free tickets available September 18.
Tuesday, October 16, 8 PM, The Peter Jay Sharp Theater
“Memphis Jazz”
George Coleman, saxophone
Harold Mabern, piano
The Juilliard Jazz Orchestra performs the music of Memphis jazz musicians featuring
saxophonist George Coleman and pianist Harold Mabern.
Free tickets available October 2.
Monday, November 5, 8 PM, Paul Hall
“My Point of View”
Juilliard Jazz Ensembles perform student original compositions.
Free tickets available October 22.
Tuesday, November 20, 8 PM, Paul Hall
Carnegie Hall’s “Voices from Latin America” series
Paulo Braga, drummer
The Artist Diploma Ensemble performs Brazilian jazz with drummer Paulo Braga, presented as part of Carnegie Hall’s “Voices from Latin America” series.
Free tickets available November 7.
Monday, December 10, 8 PM, Paul Hall
“Just Jazz”
Juilliard Jazz Ensembles play jazz standards.
Free tickets available November 26.
Tuesday, January 15, 8 PM, The Peter Jay Sharp Theater
Juilliard Jazz Orchestra
The Juilliard Jazz Orchestra plays classic jazz standards by Benny Golson, Thad Jones, Gerry Mulligan, Sammy Nestico, Oliver Nelson, and others.
Free tickets available January 3.
Monday, February 4, 8 PM, Paul Hall
Wycliffe Gordon, trombone
Juilliard Jazz Ensembles are joined by trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, artist-in-residence at Juilliard Jazz.
Free tickets available January 22.
Thursday, February 21, 8 PM, The Peter Jay Sharp Theater
“My Point of View”
The Juilliard Jazz Orchestra performs student original compositions.
Free tickets available February 7.
Tuesday, April 2, 8 PM, Paul Hall
“An Evening with Paquito D’Rivera”
Juilliard Jazz Ensembles are joined by saxophonist/clarinetist Paquito D’Rivera.
Free tickets available March 19.
Tuesday, April 16, 8 PM, Paul Hall
“My Point of View”
Juilliard Jazz Ensembles perform student original compositions.
Free tickets available April 2.
Free tickets to concerts in Juilliard’s Peter Jay Sharp Theater and Alice Tully Hall, and limited free tickets for Paul Hall concerts will be available at the Janet and Leonard Kramer Box Office at Juilliard. Box Office hours are Monday through Friday from 11 AM – 6 PM. For further information, call (212) 769-7406 or go to www.juilliard.edu.
