Jazz Guitar Summit - A Tribute to Attila Zoller

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.

Sheila Jordan and Steve Kuhn Duo

Jazz Legends Sheila Jordan and Steve Kuhn to perform an Intimate Concert at the Vermont Jazz Center on March 24th

The Vermont Jazz Center is extremely pleased to present a concert with the Sheila Jordan - Steve Kuhn Duo on March 24th at 8:00 PM. Vocalist Sheila Jordan is a 2012 recipient of the nation's highest honor in jazz, the National Endowment of the Arts Jazz Masters Award. She has been on the faculty of the Vermont Jazz Center's Summer Jazz Workshop since 1997 and as such has positively influenced the lives of hundreds of members of our immediate community. Pianist Steve Kuhn is also a living legend. He emerged on the scene in 1959 and immediately began playing and recording with some of the very best artists of that fertile period including Kenny Dorham, John Coltrane, Max Roach, Stan Getz, Roy Haynes, Clark Terry and Scott LaFaro. He has been called "a major pianist of our time."

Sheila Jordan and Steve Kuhn have been performing together since 1979 when Jordan joined Kuhn's quartet (with Bob Moses and Harvie Schwartz). During this two-year chapter of their association, they recorded Kuhn's groundbreaking ECM album Playground, toured Europe and were featured in major clubs and festivals. After a long hiatus, their recorded career resumed in 1996 with Kuhn appearing as pianist on two of Jordan's recent albums (Jazz Child and Little Song). The two are now preparing to record a duo album in the near future. When asked who she wanted to perform with on this date, Sheila was quick to respond: "a duo with Steve Kuhn, he's my favorite pianist in the world!"

Sheila Jordan is an unassuming woman who has positively affected the lives of thousands of people. She chooses her performance and teaching options carefully and is extremely loyal to organizations with whom she has worked prior to the recent surge in her career. Her willingness to continue to perform and teach at the Vermont Jazz Center's intimate venue is not taken lightly. This performance is a gift to our community and should not be missed.

"Hot Jazz for Warm Homes" Winter Benefit Concert

The Vermont Jazz Center presents the "Hot Jazz for Warm Homes" Winter Benefit Concert, to assist struggling families and individuals with unmet fuel assistance needs throughout Windham County. Proceeds from the event will be donated to Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA) and the Windham County Heatfund, both of which provide emergency fuel assistance to low-income households.

The featured artist will be the world-acclaimed acoustic Gonzalo Bergara Quartet. Native Argentinean Gonzalo Bergara is a guitar virtuoso who has forged his own style of progressive Gypsy Jazz. While heavily influenced by Django Reinhardt and the Hot Club of France, Bergara's "blazing quartet" (JazzTimes) performs meticulous arrangements of standards from the Gypsy Jazz canon as well as clever, soaring and inspiring originals.

Gonzalo's latest album, Simplicated (2011), follows his highly acclaimed 2007 release Porteña Soledad, which was named an Editor's Pick by Guitar Player Magazine and "a masterpiece" by Vintage Guitar Magazine.

The money raised from this event is especially critical this year, in light of funding cuts to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) at the federal level, in spite of the fact that the demand for fuel assistance his risen dramatically. Heating assistance cuts particularly put children, the elderly, and people with disabilities and illness at risk during the cold winter months.

Sponsors for Hot Jazz for Warm Homes include Jim Maxwell, Lawyer, Joe LoMonaco and the Butterfly Swing Band, James Plumbing and Heating, Allen Brothers, Judy Uman, Potter Stewart and Cota & Cota.

Would you like to be an event sponsor (a tax-deductible donation)? Please contact Eugene Uman at (802) 254-9088.

The Tia Fuller Quartet

Among today's hottest young musicians, saxophonist/flutist Tia Fuller combines her immaculate precision with harmonic exploration and endless energy that make her performances must-see events. A member of the band touring with R&B superstar Beyonce, Fuller is equally dynamic strutting on a funky pop riff on a stadium stage, or fronting her own quartet at a jazz festival. Her third album, Pillar of Strength (2010), gives an indication of Fuller's vast musical vocabulary as a composer while demonstrating her strengths as a bandleader and arranger, balancing the contributions of bassist Christian McBride, trumpeter Sean Jones and others.

Fuller has performed on five continents, touring with the Jon Faddis Jazz Orchestra, the T.S. Monk Septet, the Nancy Wilson Jazz Orchestra, and her own group.

Terrell Holmes of All That Jazz Magazine, says: "Tia Fuller stakes her claim to being one of the finest new musicians on the scene. Her top-shelf chops are complemented by her formidable skills as a composer and arranger."

The Stryker Slagle Band

Guitarist Stryker, according to Pat Metheny, has "one of the most joyous sounds around." Voted "Rising Star" for the last 5 years in DownBeat's Critic Poll, his sophisticated jazz is infused with blues and soul. Stryker cut his teeth touring with Hammond B3 organ legend, Brother Jack McDuff and then spent 11 years with Stanley Turrentine. Now a respected leader, Dave tours the world with his own groups including this quartet with alto saxophonist, Steve Slagle (Joe Lovano, Mingus Big Band, Dr. John).

Together now for twenty years and a dozen recordings, their repertoire runs the gamut from compositions by Thelonious Monk to spinning Latin gems to down and dirty blues. Called "one of today's most inspired two-man teams" by JazzTimes Magazine, their simpatico and joy for the music will raise the roof. They'll be joined by drummer Clarence Penn and bassist, Ed Howard.