A Tribute to Attila Zoller - an all-star quintet interprets original music composed by the founder of the Vermont Jazz Center: April 21st, 2012 at 8:00 PM

The Vermont Jazz Center is pleased to present a very special tribute to its founder, Attila Zoller on April 21st, at 8:00 PM at the VJC performance space in Brattleboro, VT. In all the years that the Vermont Jazz Center has existed, this is the first concert that will focus primarily on the original compositions of its founder. This is a unique opportunity to listen to a magnificent quintet, all of whom were deeply connected to Attila Zoller interpreting his original material. The musicians performing will be: Don Friedman on piano, Draa Hobbs and Mitch Seidman on guitars, Ron McClure on bass and Eliot Zigmund on drums.

The musical director for this event is Draa Hobbs, who studied with Zoller for many years and then went on to perform with him in a variety of settings. Both he and Mitch Seidman were amongst the first students to graduate from the Vermont Jazz Center when it was held at Attila's self-built house in a remote region of Newfane, Vermont. Although they never received the hand-designed diploma that Zoller had promised them, they are amongst a small handful of world-class guitarists who continue to bear Zoller's torch, drawing on his rich, beautiful style as a springboard for their own creations.

The guitar stylings of Draa Hobbs and Mitch Seidman have been greatly influenced by Zoller. Each began their studies with him in 1974, and as Hobbs noted: "once Attila indicates 'do you want to do this with me?,' you're left with a choice." By saying "yes" Attila became their teacher for life. From him they gleaned his remarkable ability to reharmonize a song by inserting alternate chord changes and adding passing chords. As Hobbs states: Attila had an absolutely unique improv style; from his first phrase, you'd know it was him...His informal teaching style consisted of us writing out a solo over a given set of chord changes. Then we'd sit down together at a table and go through the solo. He'd say 'do this here, take this out;' he would 'fix it' so that the improvisation, from his own vantage point, would work better." Draa continued: "I was so happy to see Attila Zoller listed in a Jazz Times article as one of the 10 most underrated jazz guitarists of all time, because he really deserved it." [Summer issue, 2002, Jazz Times: http://jazztimes.com/articles/19841-secret-strings-10-most-underrated-guitarists-in-the-history-of-jazz]

Joining Hobbs is old friend and guitarist Mitch Seidman who now teaches at Berklee School of Music. Seidman has performed and recorded with a virtual who's who of jazz in New England. He was a contributing editor to 20th Century Guitar Magazine, and co-authored the book entitled Playing the Changes: Guitar released by Berklee Press/Hal Leonard, he has contributed to All Music Guide to Jazz and the Music Hound Essential Album Guide.

Pianist Don Friedman was one of Attila's closest friends and musical associates. They first recorded together at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1963 with Herbie Mann's group; they performed again at Newport with their own quartet in 1965. All told, they ended up recording about a dozen albums together with either Herbie Mann, Zoller, Friedman, or Lee Konitz at the leader's helm. Hobbs says of Friedman: "we all know that Zoller had a very special relationship with Don. In addition to being a virtuosic musician and an amazing piano legend he's one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet." Born in California, Don cut his teeth playing with groups that included West Coast legends Shorty Rogers, Chet Baker, Ornette Coleman, and Scott LaFaro. He earned his hard bop credentials touring with Dexter Gordon. In 1956 Buddy DeFranco hired him for a tour that included gigs at New York's Birdland and Basin Street. Don remained and thrived in New York, playing with Pepper Adams, Booker Little, Jimmy Giuffre, Charles Lloyd, Chuck Wayne, Elvin Jones and Herbie Mann. He started recording as a leader for Riverside records in 1961; Attila Zoller was featured on his fourth outing. By 1965 Friedman had been named a New Star in Down Beat's annual Critics' Poll. He continues to make his home in New York City but regularly tours the United States, Europe and Japan with top-flight groups.

Holding down the low end for this concert is the consummate bassist, Ron McClure, who also had the opportunity to tour and perform with Attila Zoller. McClure also has a rich discography including an abundance of recordings with Don Friedman. His first noteworthy recording was with the Buddy Rich Sextet, and then Maynard Ferguson's Big Band. He also played with Herbie Mann, and replaced the great Paul Chambers in Wynton Kelly's trio (with whom he backed up Wes Montgomery). McClure was a member of Charles Lloyd's "classic quartet" with Keith Jarrett and Jack DeJohnette, an ensemble that was voted "Best Jazz Group of the Year" in 1967 by Downbeat Magazine. During the 1970s, McClure worked with Joe Henderson, Blook Sweat and Tears, Carla Bley, and many others. In the 80s he joined the ground-breaking ensemble "Quest" with Dave Liebman, Billy Hart and Richie Beirach. He also recorded with Michel Petrucciani and Lee Konitz. Now in his early 70s and still quite active, McClure continues to perform and record with many of the above artists as well as John Scofield, John Abercrombie, Vic Juris, Randy Brecker and many others.

The great drummer Eliot Zigmund rounds out the quintet. His playing has enhanced the work of many other jazz luminaries including the ground-breaking pianist Bill Evans; their recording "You Must Believe in Spring" is easily considered a jazz classic. Zigmund has also played and recorded numerous times with Don Friedman and can be found on a private 1988 recording with both Friedman and Attila Zoller together. Zigmund's discography includes works with Michel Petrucciani, Vince Guaraldi, Jim Hall, Stan Getz, Benny Golson, Richie Beirach, David Berkman, Gene Bertoncini, Eddie Gomez, Bobby Watson, Eddie Henderson, Jed Levy, Lee Konitz, Fred Hersch, Helen Merrill, Ted Rosenthal, Pete Malinverni, Cameron Brown, Warren Vache and many others. He has released three albums under his own name including his just released Steeplechase recording titled Breeze.

This concert is a celebration of Zoller's brilliant compositions interpreted by an all-star cast of musicians, each of whom were close friends and colleagues of the legendary guitarist. It is sponsored in part by a grant from the Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment of the Arts. Thanks to the Colonial Inn and Vermont Public Radio.

General admission to hear a Tribute to Attila Zoller on April 21st at 8:00 PM is $20.00, $15.00 for students with valid ID. Purchase tickets online at www.vtjazz.org, at In the Moment, downtown Brattleboro, or call the VJC ticket line, 802-254-9088, ext. 1. Tickets can also be purchased at the door (no surcharge). This concert is handicapped accessible, but please call in advance (802 - 254 - 9088) if someone in your party will require the use of an elevator. Reserve or purchase your tickets early. It is anticipated that this exciting concert will sell out quickly.

Jazz Octogenarian Legends Jimmy Heath and Howard Brofsky to Meet on Stage Again Saturday, May 19, 8 p.m., Vermont Jazz Center

BRATTLEBORO, Vt.--The paths of longtime jazz masters, trumpeter Howard Brofsky and saxophonist Jimmy Heath, have crisscrossed frequently over the past 30 years. Both jazzmen have shared many commonalities dating back to the 1970s, including an appreciation for jazz and bebop, faculty posts at Queens College, and the same stage on numerous occasions.

They also share the same age. Both now 85, Brofsky's and Heath's paths will cross again when they take the stage together at the Vermont Jazz Center (VJC) for a concert, "Howard Brofsky and Friends," on Saturday, May 19, at 8 p.m. at the center, 72 Cotton Mill Hill.

This year Howard Brofksy (cornet) and Jimmy Heath (tenor saxophone) will be joined by pianist Jeb Patton, bassist Mike Karn and drummer Pete Van Nostrand, a band of New York heavy hitters that can often be found accompanying Mr. Heath on the bandstand.

That path led him to a faculty post at Queens College, where he taught classical music history, specializing in composer Padre Giovanni Battista Martini and the transition from Baroque to Classical styles. But nearly 20 years later, at age 46, Brofsky, in a self-described mid-life crisis, "took my horn out of the closet, got back in shape, looked up some of my old friends," and has been playing ever since.

Brofsky's sound, now on his preferred cornet, is sublime and always tasteful. Whether playing a ballad or tearing through bebop changes, he never forgets that the melody is what it's all about.

Brofsky met Jimmy Heath some 30 years ago at a private jam session. Heath had already been around the jazz block, having played with Miles Davis, Kenny Dorham, Gil Evans, Art Farmer, and as one of the Heath Brothers in the 1970s. Heath has collected a host of music awards and accolades over the years, most recently being named a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master. Brofsky and Heath hit it off immediately, and Brofsky, who had started a Master's of Arts in Jazz Program at Queens, in the Aaron Copland School of Music, procured a faculty appointment for Heath to direct the new program.

Brofsky and Heath have played together many times since, but their May 19 concert at VJC will be the first time the two legends have shared a stage since 2005, when they last played at VJC.

According to Brofsky, their common age had something to do with it. "We're both 85 this year," says Brofsky, who will officially hit 85 in May. "I asked Jimmy to join me for this year's concert and without hesitation he said he would."

Joining Heath and Brofsky will be pianist Jeb Patton, a former student of Heath's at Queens, who now sits on the faculty there, as well as bassist Mike Karn and drummer Pete Van Nostrand, both of whom have performed with Heath and who make up a piano trio with Patton in New York. The program will consist of original compositions by Heath and Brofsky, as well as jazz standards.

While they share an advanced age, Brofsky and Heath show no signs of slowing down. Heath continues to teach and perform. Brofsky is back at Queens College, teaching jazz history and coaching an ensemble. He performs every other week at a club in Brooklyn. On May 19, they will share their vast wealth of bebop and jazz knowledge, experience and innovation with each other and a very lucky VJC audience.

"Howard Brofsky and Friends," featuring Jimmy Heath at VJC is made possible with generous financial support from Julian Gerstin and Carlene Raper, as well the Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Colonial Inn is the hotel sponsor and the concert is underwritten by VPR.

Tickets for "Howard Brofsky and Friends" at VJC, May 19, are $20 general admission, $15 for students with I.D. (contact VJC about educational discounts). Tickets are available at In the Moment in Brattleboro, online at www.ntjazz.org, and at the door. Tickets can be reserved by calling the Vermont Jazz Center ticket line, 802-254-9088, ext. 1. The performance space is wheel chair accessible so please call the above number for assistance.

Pianist Eugene Uman composes sizzling pieces of jazz that draw from a range of influences and cultural traditions. Embroidered through his works are heavy harmonic strands from Columbia and Cuba, with modal and rhythmic borders from India and regions of North Africa, all overlain with the format of jazz and free expression. The one constant coursing through Uman's music is energy, sometimes raw, other times refined, but always pushing forward, charting new territory.

Eugene Uman has served as artistic director of the Vermont Jazz Center since 1997, where he has produced more than 160 concerts and built the program to a renowned venue and educational hub. He has performed with a long list of jazz masters, including Sheila Jordan, George Mraz, Jimmy Heath, Donald Byrd and many more. Uman's Convergence Project melds the virtuoso talents of Jeff Galindo on trombone, Michael Zsoldos, saxophones, Stomu Takeishi, bass, and Satoshi Takeishi, drums, into a compelling amalgam of musical innovation.

The musicians will be the ones performing, yes, but where the music takes them as a group will be determined by forces beyond intention and forethought. That's the way composer and pianist Eugene Uman intends it. And that, he might say, is one of the most electrifying elements of jazz: its unpredictability, its capriciousness and ephemerality.

Led by Uman, the artistic director of the Vermont Jazz Center, the Convergence Project is an eclectic mix of extraordinary musicians, each of who brings individual influences and flavors to Uman's richly spiced compositions. The Convergence Project concert will take place on Saturday, June 9, at 8 p.m. at the Vermont Jazz Center, Cotton Mill Hill, Brattleboro.

"People should expect to hear new material at this concert," tips Uman. "Each of these musicians brings vast knowledge and wisdom to musical performance. I aim to give them opportunities to express themselves through my music."

Uman's music draws from a panoply of styles and forms: Latin rhythms from Columbia, the driving energy of rock, an underpinning of jazz. But Uman's music is also laced with modal echoes from India and North Africa, and always allows for wide interpretation and free expression.
In putting together the Convergence Project, Uman was "looking for a situation in which I could effectively express all the styles that influence my composition," he explains. "All the musicians I found complement that objective. It's extremely exciting that I'll be playing with these guys."

The Convergence Project has performed together as a group for nearly four years, sometimes with different personnel combinations. Joining Uman for the VJC concert will be:

• The Takeishi brothers--Stomu on bass and Satoshi on drums and percussion are a powerful rhythmic duo and a force in the New York City jazz and world music scene


• Michael Zsoldos playing saxophones (alto, soprano and tenor), a well-traveled musical innovator and educator who has performed with some of the most notable music legends


• Jeff Galindo wielding the trombone, a highly sought jazz artist and assistant professor at Berklee College of Music who has performed with a long list of jazz greats


• Sebastián Cruz, a guitarist and composer who blends elements of his Columbian roots with the urban grain of his current home, New York City. "He brings an authentic touch to the music," attests Uman.

The Convergence Project concert will be anchored by four new works, Uman says, including a piece titled "The Message," dedicated to Wayne Shorter; a new ballad; and a reworking of a tune first written more than 20 years ago.
Still, Uman emphasizes, regardless of what the program consists of, the main attraction of the Convergence Project is the group's ability to take flight and venture off in musical directions leading off the map. After all, music is foremost about exploration, discovery and invention.

So when the Convergence Project takes the stage, sink into the sound and allow the music to take the lead--but don't even try to predict where it will go.

The Convergence Project at VJC is made possible with generous financial support from the McKenzie Family Charitable Trust, as well the Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Hospitality provided by the Colonial Inn and the Latchis Hotel.

Tickets for the Convergence Project at VJC, June 9, are $20 general admission, $15 for students with I.D. (contact VJC about educational discounts); Tickets are available at In the Moment in Brattleboro, online at www.vtjazz.org and at the door. Reserve tickets by calling the Vermont Jazz Center ticket line, 802-254-9088, ext. 1.

Please join us on Thursday, August 9th at 8 pm, in celebrating jazz and enjoy the Vermont Jazz Center's Summer Workshop concerts held at the Michael S. Currier Center on the campus of the beautiful Putney School in Putney, Vermont.

Ticket prices for this great event are $20 and can be purchased at the door. Call (802) 254-9088 for reservations.

On Friday, August 10th the Vermont Jazz Center Summer Workshop will showcase faculty coached student ensembles with numerous vocalists and several piano trios.

This concert will be divided into two sections, the first will start at 3 pm and second show will resume at 8 pm after a dinner break.

For the student concert, a $5 donation is suggested.

With his genre-bending new album "Quantum Leap", saxophonist/composer Donald Harrison establishes himself as a master of every dimension of the jazz trajectory, from early jazz to Bebop, and beyond. That shouldn't be a surprise - Harrison is uniquely qualified to represent the link between traditional and cutting-edge jazz.

Born in New Orleans in 1960, he was raised in the African-influenced Mardi Gras Indians' culture of brass bands, parades and rituals by his father, a Big Chief of four Indian tribes; then, just out of music school, he joined Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. Always innovative, Harrison combined jazz and Mardi Gras Indians' traditional music on his critically-acclaimed 1993 album, "Indian Blues".

Now, as Big Chief of the Congo Square Nation, Donald Harrison summons the potency of his Indian heritage and his formidable experience in contemporary jazz to reconfigure musical boundaries. His gifted ensemble follows him over the edge, and back.

Jazz meets African rhythms in this exciting concert. From street performer to world-class jazz star, the story of Bénin-born guitarist Loueke is an encouraging testament to perseverance, talent and disciplined study. Lionel's first guitar was strung with bicycle brake-cables; thirsty for music he moved to Ivory Coast and then went on to study at The American School of Modern Music in Paris, France.

After receiving full scholarships from Berklee and then the Thelonious Monk Institute, Loueke has moved on to become a Blue Note recording artist who frequently tours and records with jazz legends Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter. Hancock states: "I'd never heard any guitar player play anything close to what I was hearing from him. There was no territory that was forbidden, and he was fearless!" Come find out why Downbeat Magazine claims that Loueke's music radiates a "feel-good sense of joy."

The Vermont Jazz Center is proud to present the legendary drummer, Louis Hayes in concert with his New York-based Quartet on Saturday, November 17th at 8:00 PM. Hayes will appear with his Jason Curry, alto sax, Sharp Radway, piano and Alex Claffey, bass. Louis Hayes was the drumming pulse behind some of jazz's greatest luminaries including John Coltrane, Dexter Gordon, Oscar Peterson, Horace Silver and the Cannonball Adderley Quintet. From his mentorship at an early age with Papa Jo Jones through his stellar career, there is no drummer on the scene today who can boast such a star-studded résumé. At 75, Hayes continues to lead his own hard-swinging ensembles in which he mentors young jazz artists.

One of Hayes' particular strengths is his spry drumming on fast tempos: Hayes, could burn with the best! For example, his playing on Joe Henderson's The Kicker, shows a complete mastery of bright tempos while crisply laying out a clear demarcation of the form. For an example of his fabulous ability to set up a melody listen to Horace Silver's delightful, classic composition, Sister Sadie. Hayes' impact could at first be considered subtle, but when listened to closely, especially during the "shout" chorus after the piano solo, it becomes apparent that his drumming is both crucial and brilliantly necessary in setting up the form and making the performance so uplifting.

Another positive trait of Louis Hayes is reminiscent of another hardbop legend, Art Blakey. Hayes often prefers to use young, thirsty and driven musicians to fill out his ensembles. This creates a win-win situation for both the leader and the side-musicians. Given Hayes' stature and respect, he gets to cherry-pick from the finest young musicians he hears. They in turn get to work with a true master, to connect directly with the lineage. The receive a first-hand lesson in jazz history, but they also learn about repertoire, commitment, discipline and decorum. Meanwhile, Hayes' gets his music infused with youthful energy and talent and can draw from ideas and stylistic innovations that can only be gleaned from the upcoming generation

The concert Louis Hayes will be performing at the VJC is no exception. He will be performing with a group of young, rising stars including Jason Curry on alto saxophone. Curry has performed with the Duke Ellington, Ray Charles, and Cab Colloway Orchestras, Valery Ponomarev, Myron Walden, Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Duane Eubanks, Jimmy Smith, Mark Whitfield, Russell Malone, Kenny Washington, Winard Harper, Rufus Reid, 'The Temptations', Al Green, and the hip-hop group Digital Underground. The pianist in the group is Sharp Radway. Sharp is a product of the church who continues to serve as minister of music for his home-town congregation. He has worked and/or recorded with are Bucky Pizzarelli, Yusef Lateef, Benny Golson, Greg Tardy, Red Holloway, Peewee Ellis, Javon Jackson, Rene McLean, Curtis Fuller, Benny Powell, Fred Wesley, Slide Hampton, Steve Turre, Frank Lacy, Diane Schuur, Joe Lee Wilson, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Carla Cook, Kevin Mahogany, Nnenna Freelon, James Spaulding, Vincent Herring, Louis Hayes, Leopoldo Fleming, Candido, Russell Gunn, Ben Dixon, Ted Curson, Nicolas Payton, Duane Eubanks, and Winard Harper to name a few. He has also appeared in film with Mos Def, Beyonce Knowles and others. Holding down the acoustic bass is Alex Claffey, a young wiz from Philadelphia who grew up surrounded by music (both his parents are professional musicians). Now completing his studies at the New School, he currently works with such notable jazz artists as Orrin Evans, Duane and Kevin Eubanks, Ralph Peterson, Kenwood Dennard, George Burton and many others.

This concert is sponsored by our good friend and long-time patron, Dave Ellis, president of Ellis Music Company, Inc. a music resource for instrument sales and rentals for the entire state of Vermont and beyond. Thanks to Ellis Music, students from local high schools can get free tickets from their band directors. This concert is also sponsored by a grant from the Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment of the Arts. Special thanks to the Hampton Inn for providing lodging for all of our guests this entire season and to VPR and WFCR for their continued support.

General admission to hear the Louis Hayes Quartet on November 17th is $20.00, $15.00 for students with valid ID. Purchase tickets online at www.vtjazz.org, at In the Moment, downtown Brattleboro, or call the VJC ticket line, 802-254-9088, ext. 1. Tickets can also be purchased at the door. This concert is handicapped accessible, but please call in advance (802 - 254 - 9088) if someone in your party will require the use of an elevator.

Purchase your tickets early. It is anticipated that this exciting concert will sell out quickly!

The Vermont Jazz Center Big Band will be hosting its 10th annual big band gala and dance on Friday, December 7th at 8:00 PM. For this concert the VJC big band will perform with the legendary saxophonist, Houston Person, and vocalists Rebecca Holtz and Mark Anagnostopulos. Houston Person is renowned for his long tenure with the great singer, Etta Jones. He is also recognized for his masterful recorded work with Horace Silver, Charles Brown, Richard "Groove" Holmes, Lou Rawls and Lena Horne. Mr. Person's recorded output as a leader includes 75 dates with such heavy hitters as Ron Carter, Joey DeFrancesco, Russell Malone, Curtis Fuller, Cedar Walton and Paul Chambers.

Be sure to mark your calendars and polish your dancing shoes to prepare for this fun evening. The Vermont Jazz Center Big Band is an 18-piece ensemble that rehearses for and performs one or two concerts a year. It's hard for the VJC's organizers and musicians to believe that the big band has been in existence now for a decade. So it's time to celebrate and salute the band's longevity and quality. VJC Board member and big band organizer, Sherm Fox deserves all the credit for staying in contact with the musicians, arranging rehearsals and putting together the extensive library. The individual members of the ensemble deserve tremendous credit for their abilities, musicality and for their commitment of time and talent to the Jazz Center. The members of the VJC Big Band include: trumpet section: Donald Anderson, Rick Anderson, Johnny Jones, Charlie Schneeweis; saxophone section: Bill Ballard, Sherm Fox, Bob Stabach, Larry Tutt, Michael Zsoldos; trombone section: Brian Bender, Dan DeWalt, Rob Skrocki, Bob Thies; rhythm section: Julian Gerstin (percussion), Draa Hobbs (guitar), George Kaye (bass), Steve Rice (drums), Eugene Uman (piano and director).

For this special show, the VJC will feature many of the strong soloists from within the group as well as two vocalists who have been mentored for many years by the illustrious singer, Sheila Jordan. Mark Anagnostopulos is a VJC board member and also can be found with the local group called Butterfly Swing. Smith College senior, Rebecca Holtz, has been performing ever since she was a young girl. She recently presented a concert at the Greenfield Arts Block with Samirah Evans' "Women in Jazz" series.

The repertoire for this swing dance will include works by Duke Ellington such as Sophisticated Lady and Concerto for Cootie in order to feature soloists Houston Person and Don Anderson. Attendees will dance to the music of Count Basie (Every Day I Have the Blues), and to the ballads made famous during the 1930s and 40s such as Moonlight in Vermont, Embraceable You and In the Wee Small Hours as well as up-tempo numbers like Sweet Georgia Brown, Goody Goody, and Jump Jive and Wail.

This concert would not be possible without the generosity of VJC supporters Jon and Kathy Thatcher and Jeff and Kate Teitel who have underwritten the musician's fees. The VJC is also grateful to the Hampton Inn, the Brattleboro Reformer, the Vermont Arts Council, VPR and WFCR.

Admission, which includes a delicious and complimentary desert buffet, is $25 general or $28 for reservations that include reserved seating (table spaces are limited so call early.) For local high school students, there is a special fund available to subsidize admission. Purchase tickets online at www.vtjazz.org, at In the Moment Record Store in downtown Brattleboro, or call the VJC ticket line, 802-254-9088, ext. 1. General admission tickets can also be purchased at the door. This concert is handicapped accessible, but please call in advance (802 - 254 - 9088) if someone in your party will require the use of an elevator.

Purchase your tickets early. It is anticipated that this exciting dance concert will sell out quickly! Dance the night away at the Vermont Jazz Center's Big Band Gala on Friday, December 7th!!!

On January 19th at 8:00 PM, the Vermont Jazz Center will present a concert led by Grégoire Maret, one of the greatest jazz chromatic harmonica players in the world. A dedicated collaborator, Maret, is an A-list musician who can be found on recordings by Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Cassandra Wilson, David Sanborn, Carlos "Patato" Valdes, Charlie Hunter, George Benson, Jacky Terrasson, Marcus Miller, Meshell Ndegeocello, Lionel Loueke and many, many others. He will be performing with his working quartet on January 19th, a band that includes his long-standing collaborator/pianist, Federico Gonzalez Peña, Ben Williams on bass (winner of the 2009 Thelonious Monk Competition) and Clarence Penn on the drums. This is a stellar collaboration!

Maret receives accolades from everyone with whom he makes music - Herbie Hancock, his former boss, stated: "Gregoire is an amazing player...there's no one else out there that comes close on the harmonica and he rivals the best on any instrument." Marcus Miller claims "Gregoire Maret possesses the most original voice on harmonica since Toots Thielemans and Stevie Wonder. He is carrying the instrument into the 21st century with prowess, passion, and creativity." In 2005, Maret worked with Pat Metheny, recording the Grammy-award winning album, The Way Up. Metheny commented: "Gregoire has the special communicative spirit that is rare and absolutely essential to jazz itself, and yet within that spectrum he is able to find a timeless quality that speaks to any kind of listener and attracts just about every kind of musician to his playing."

Maret's compositions are "episodic" journeys. He often composes with his musical partner, the pianist in the group, Federico Peña. Together they create lush, complex pieces that evolve with numerous sections that build slowly, gradually opening up using careful-paced structures. The listener experiences a sense of development that is almost like Western classical musical in concept; nothing like the bebop-jazz structure of head-solo-head, but more like a flower, slowly forming a bud and then erupting in the hot summer sun. The built-up energy that is created often resolves over a long period into an ecstatic release. Each composition extends an open invitation to the audience to journey with this remarkable band to experience new, glistening worlds.

For his bands, Maret chooses musicians like himself, those who share a love for the jazz lineage but who aren't afraid to push the envelope that defines the music. Pianist, Federico Gonzalez Peña was born in Montevideo, Uruguay. After moving to Buenos Aires, Argentina, Federico studied Western classical piano intensely until the age of 17. He traveled to the US, and after attending Berklee, moved to Washington D.C. where he met Me'shell N'Degeocello - together they have had a musical relationship lasting over 20 years including various albums, Grammy nominations and world tours. Federico has also worked with Maxwell, Angela Boffill, Rare Essence, Pieces of a Dream, Digable Planets, Alana Davis, George Howard, Roy Hargrove, Chaka Khan, Cassandra Wilson, Marcus Miller, SMV (Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller & Victor Wooten) and many others.

The band's bassist is the young lion Ben Williams. A native of Washington, DC, Ben received scholarships and distinctions from the Fish Middleton Scholarship Competition, International Society of Bassist, Steans Music Institute, Duke Ellington Jazz Society, International Association of Jazz Educators and others. In 2009, Ben was the winner of the Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Competition, a prestigious and important award that has launched many successful music careers. Williams received a Bachelors degree in Music Education from Michigan State University in 2007 and a Master of Music degree from the Julliard School in 2009. Throughout the course of his career, Ben has performed with Wynton Marsalis, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Terence Blanchard, Christian McBride, Nicholas Payton, Paquito D'Rivera, Cyrus Chestnut, Benny Golson, George Duke, Eric Reed, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Roy Hargrove, Mulgrew Miller and many others. He has also recorded and performed regularly as a member of bands led by saxophonist Marcus Strickland, pianist Jacky Terrasson and vibraphonist Stefon Harris.

The group's drummer is Detroit-born, Clarence Penn. A graduate of Interlochen, Penn headed to Virginia Commonwealth (VCU) to attend grad school at the suggestion of Wynton Marsalis, whose father Ellis, was a faculty member. In 1990, Penn accompanied Ellis and Wynton Marsalis to Japan, where he met Lewis Nash who recommended him to Betty Carter. Penn was hired and moved to New York City in 1991. After remaining with Betty Carter for several years, Penn went on to play with Stanley Clarke. Since then, he has toured, performed and recorded with a wide range of different artists, including Christian McBride, Michael Brecker, Dizzy Gillespie, Luciana Souza, Gary Burton, Joshua Redman, Richard Galliano, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Charlie Haden, Makoto Ozone, Dave Douglas and Maria Schneider and many others.

Come enjoy a show that will demonstrate what is new in jazz today, experience an evening of inventive yet highly listenable compositions performed by young musicians of the highest caliber. Grégoire Maret at the Vermont Jazz Center is made possible with generous financial support from William Schutt of Matcor Inc. as well as ongoing support of the Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, The Hampton Inn of Brattleboro and VPR and WFCR.

When vocalist Karrin Allyson steps to the microphone, you can't predict what style or language she'll be performing in. The best part is, it doesn't matter.

Allyson is referred to as a jazz vocalist, and has climbed to the pinnacle of the genre since recording her debut album, I Didn't Know About You, in 1992. She is now regarded among the top vocalists in jazz. Releasing her 13th album last year, Allyson has put together a career that has brought her to top stages around the world, performing at major jazz festivals in Brazil, Japan, Australia and Europe, as well as the most legendary venues in the United States, including regular appearances at New York's Blue Note and Birdland. Along the way, Allyson has garnered four Grammy Award nominations, most recently for her 2012 album 'Round Midnight.

Whether she's singing in English, French, Portuguese, Italian or Spanish, it becomes an intimate experience for those in her audience, as if it's just she and the listener. Allyson is so comfortable with her material that it always sounds spontaneous, particularly during her playful repartee with band members. She's always having fun, and therefore, so do her audiences.

It may be partly Allyson's background as a classical pianist that accounts for her ease negotiating jazz intervals. If she's bopping on an up tune, she bounces about the notes like a trumpet player. If it's a ballad, her voice massages the melody like a breathy saxophone. The audience is most often mesmerized, riveted to hear her next passage. As Gary Giddins of The Village Voice puts it: "Allyson coolly stakes her claim. She brings a timbre that is part ice and part grain--incisive, original, and emotionally convincing."

Allyson, who sings and plays piano, will be performing with Steve Cardenas on guitar, George Kaye on acoustic bass and Todd Strait on drums.

Karrin Allyson's appearance at the Vermont Jazz Center is sponsored by Diana Bingham with additional support from the Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Hampton Inn of Brattleboro and underwritten by VPR and WFCR.

The Vermont Jazz Center will present the Matt Wilson Trio in a concert honoring their founding director, Attila Zoller on Saturday, April 13th at 8:00 PM. Matt Wilson is a highly-acclaimed drummer who was particularly close to Attila, they performed together often during Zoller's final years. There was always a tremendous affinity between them; perhaps it was Wilson's deep groove, or his goofy yet powerfully confident persona that Zoller found compelling. Attila was a loveable, brilliant man; however, he wouldn't tolerate anything but the highest level of competence in the musicians with whom he shared the bandstand (and he wasn't afraid to speak his mind when those expectations weren't met!). Matt Wilson is a drummer who could match Attila's gold standard: skilled, talented, groove-oriented and deeply connected to the lineage of jazz drumming. Matt is also a person who knows how to find the joy inside the music and communicate that to both the audience and his band-mates.

Matt Wilson leads several groups capable of presenting a concert imbued with wit, heavy swing, beauty and mastery; but for his show at the Vermont Jazz Center, Wilson made the conscious decision to emphasize his connection to Attila Zoller by performing with musicians with whom they had previously joined the stage. He chose Fred Haas (saxophone and piano) and Dave Clark (acoustic bass). Since Zoller's passing, this trio of Wilson, Haas and Clark has maintained a close alliance. Each summer they serve as faculty for "Interplay," a jazz workshop led by Haas. One of Zoller's endearing traits was that he loved to host concerts where lots of his friends would gather to perform and celebrate. All three members of this trio were welcome guests at these festive collaborations. Together and apart they joined in performances with Zoller at his famed musical birthday events, at his numerous moon-themed concerts (often organized by Joy Wallens-Penfield) or as members of the faculty of the Vermont Jazz Center Summer Jazz Workshop.

When asked what he wanted to present for the concert honoring Attila, Matt was quick to respond: "Attila covered a lot of ground: he played great, he wrote great music, he was able to create community around him in a place that he loved. I want to present an evening of music that feature his melodies. We'll be playing a lot of his tunes without a chordal background so that the audience can actually hear Attila's beautiful songs in a different context [saxophone, bass and drums]. I'm calling the evening "From A to Z" [similar to Don Friedman's solo piano album where he performs Attila's compositions]. We'll play a bunch of tunes from different eras of his life, including [the bop-like] "Homage to O.P." and some free stuff modeled after "The Horizon Beyond." I've sketched out a new piece that will be ready for the concert. In general, I want to recognize his music and his spirit, not the guitar."

Drummer Matt Wilson is a New York based Grammy nominee. He has appeared on 250 CDs as a sideman and has released 9 as a leader for Palmetto Records as well as co-leading 5 additional releases. In 2010 alone, Wilson conducted over 250 outreach programs promoting jazz including an acclaimed Jazz for Young Peoples concert at Jazz at Lincoln Center. He was featured on the covers of both Downbeat and JazzTimes magazines in November 2009 and was for 5 consecutive years voted #1 Rising Star Drummer in the Downbeat Critic's Poll. The readers of JazzTimes recently chose him as one of the top 4 drummers in the 2010 Readers Poll. In 2003, he was voted Drummer of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association. Wilson leads the Matt Wilson Quartet, Arts and Crafts, Christmas Tree-O and the Carl Sandburg Project. Matt is integral part of bands led by Joe Lovano, John Scofield, Charlie Haden, Lee Konitz, Bob Stewart, Denny Zeitlin, Ron Miles, Marty Ehrlich, Ted Nash, Jane Ira Bloom and Dena DeRose among others. He has performed with many legends of music including Herbie Hancock, Dewey Redman, Andrew Hill, Bobby Hutcherson, Elvis Costello, Cedar Walton, Kenny Barron, John Zorn, Marshall Allen, Wynton Marsalis, Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell and Hank Jones.

According to Wilson, Saxophonist/Pianist, Fred Haas "was inspired by the precedent of Zoller - he took that energy of Attila in the arena of education, took that openness and added his own vibe and created his own educational program that wasn't based on a university or school." Fred is the Founder and Director of Interplay Jazz Camp, a week-long holistic jazz workshop that integrates meditation, yoga and natural foods to enhance creativity and support a relaxed approach to practicing and performing. Fred has performed with Oscar Peterson, Ray Charles, Clark Terry, Sheila Jordan, Pat Metheny, Lena Horne, Dionne Warwick, The Mitchell-Ruff Duo, Joe Morello, Milt Hinton, Attila Zoller, Don Cherry, Bob Brookmeyer, Gene Bertoncini, Milt Jackson, Louis Bellson, The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Karrin Allyson, Dena DeRose, Matt Wilson and many others. Haas is a Senior Lecturer at Dartmouth College, where he teaches Jazz Improvisation, Jazz History, Music Theory, Saxophone, Jazz Piano and directs several jazz combos.

The bassist of the group is Dave Clark, who has had a long distinguished career as a performer bass instructor at Berklee school of music. Dave has appeared on over 40 albums including Gunther Schuller's Orange then Blue with George Adams and Howard Johnson, Dick Johnson, Maggie Scott, Didi Stewart, Cercie Miller, Lisa Thorson, Billy Novick, Ed Sainden with Dave Liebman, and Armen Donelian. Dave is a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts jazz grant, the Eunice Shay Award for Outstanding Musical Achievement, and the Mass Council for the Arts Award for Jazz Composition.

On Saturday, May 13th at 8:00 PM, come enjoy a show at the Vermont Jazz Center that focuses on the significance of its founder through a creative, musical journey. This concert will include compositions primarily by Zoller and will demonstrate how (to quote Matt Wilson), Attila "created a legacy, he made a scene wherever he went. He was one of the first people to lead a jazz workshop with REAL players like Jimmy Heath, George Mraz, Don Friedman, Jim Hall, Lee Konitz. Atilla moved to this area in Vermont and created a jazz legacy." This concert will pay tribute to the larger-than-life figure many of us knew and loved. Come listen, as Matt Wilson dons the hat of a troubadour; let yourself be drawn into Zoller's marvelous compositions as they are woven into the fabric of story-telling.

The Matt Wilson Trio at the Vermont Jazz Center is made possible due to the generous support of Dave Snyder and Guilford Sound. The VJC also thanks the Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, The Hampton Inn of Brattleboro and VPR and WFCR.

Tickets for the Matt Wilson Trio on April 13th are $20 for general admission, and $15 for students with I.D. (contact VJC about educational discounts). Tickets are available at In the Moment Record Store in Brattleboro, online, or they can be reserved by calling the Vermont Jazz Center ticket line, 802-254-9088, ext. 1.