Artist Faculty Biographies
(Listed in Alphabetical Order. Click on faculty name to view their bio.)
Greg Caputo
Carl Clements
Bruce Diehl
Bob Ferrier
Winard Harper
Catherine Jensen Hole
Jeffrey W. Holmes
Steve Johns
Sheila Jordan
Earl MacDonald
Stephen Page
Luis Perdomo
Avery Sharpe
Lee Tomboulian
Shigefumi "Fumi" Tomita
(Faculty subject to change)
Jazz in July Faculty 2022
|
Greg Caputo(Drums)
|
“Master drummer who speaks volumes in refined sensibilities with superb technique” - As quoted by Modern Drummer Magazine
Greg is a freelance drummer, specializing in versatility within traditional drumming styles. He is a graduate of the Hartford Conservatory of Music Jazz and Pop program. Studied with Alan Dawson, Jim Chapin and Joe Morello
Professional credits include tours and or recordings with the big bands of, Count Basie, Harry James, Benny Goodman, Nelson Riddle, Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey, Woody Herman, Cab Calloway Sammy Kay, Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington, George Gee, and the vocal groups of the Coasters, Ink Spots, Marveletts, Crystals, Marveletts, Pied Pipers, Mills Brothers and Chordettes, Lennon Sisters. Drifters, Shirelles. He has toured with Sammy Davis Jr. Nneena Freelon, Vicki Carr, Connie Francis, Benny Waters, Joe Wilder, Connie Frances, Billy Danials, Eddie Fisher, Claire Barry, Billy Taylor, Tony Bennett, Buddy Grecco, Bobby Vinton, Pattie Page, Jerry Vale, Grover Mitchell, Claude Williams, Carice, Grace Kelly, Melba Joyce, Sheila Jordan, Don Cornell, Lana Leong, Betty Carter, Barry Harris, Charlie Ventura, and Lenny Welch.
Greg has been the house drummer at the famous El Morocco and Copa Cabana Clubs in New York City and prominent Catskill show rooms. He has appeared at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC in Billy Taylor’s Jazz History performances.
He recorded with alto jazz legend Phil Woods on CD “Classic Swing with a Modern Drive”
Greg is the recipient of the Jazz Ambassador Award and a 1999 inductee into the American Jazz Archives.
He is endorsed by D’Addario musical instrument Company, Pro Mark drumsticks, Evans drum heads.
Faculty member of the University of Massachusetts Jazz in July program, Mt. Holyoke College and Westfield University.
Author of the text book for drummers, “Classic Swing Drumming” Mr.Caputo is also an eclectic drum set clinician and a knowledgeable jazz history lecturer.
(Top)
|
Carl Clements(Saxophone)
|
Saxophonist/flutist/composer Carl Clements performs and records internationally in a variety of styles, with a particular focus on jazz, Hindustani classical music, and various forms of improvised and pre-composed music. He received a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from the CUNY Graduate Center, an MFA in Jazz Performance from CalArts, a BM in Jazz Composition and Arranging from Berklee College of Music, and has studied Hindustani classical flute (bansuri) since 1989. He has played saxophone for over forty-eight years, and studied with Jerry Bergonzi, George Garzone, and Joe Viola. He has played North Indian classical music on the bansuri (North Indian bamboo flute) since 1989, and studied with Amiya Dasgupta, David Philipson, Steve Gorn, Devendra Murdeswar, George Ruckert, Peter Row, and has been a student of Nityanand Haldipur since 1999. He has traveled frequently to India to advance his studies and to perform jazz, Hindustani classical music, and a fusion of these and other genres, and performs regularly in Europe with various international groups and to present his original music.
Carl has performed extensively in a wide range of styles, and is featured on numerous recordings including a CD of his original compositions for jazz quartet entitled Forth and Back, seven CDs with guitarist Kevin Kastning (including two trio recordings with Sándor Szabó), four CDs with the eclectic jazz group Crosscurrent, and many others. Carl has performed extensively at jazz clubs and festivals throughout the world, and has performed and/or recorded with Kevin Kastning, Sándor Szabó, Luciana Souza, Steven Kirby, Felipe Salles, Gary Smulyan, Ralph Alessi, Ravi Coltrane, Jason Robinson, Bob Weiner, Willard Dyson, George Schuller, John Lockwood, James Newton, Luques Curtis, Jean-Yves Jung, Russ Spiegel, Ranjit Barot, Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani, Loy Mendonsa, Louiz Banks, Gino Banks, Ed Byrne, Charlie Haden, Natraj, and many others. He is currently Saxophone/Improvisation Instructor and Jazz Combo Coach at Amherst College and is active as a performer and composer in the international jazz and world music scenes.
(Top)
|
Steve Davis(Trombone)
|
Steve Davis is widely regarded as one of today's leading voices on the trombone. After graduating from The Hartt School's Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz ('89), Davis first gained widespread recognition in 1990 upon joining Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. As the last to join the Jazz Messengers, Steve’s first record dates would be Blakey's last, including One For All (A&M), the title track penned by Davis. Over the years since, Davis has worked with a broad range of jazz luminaries such as his first mentor Jackie McLean, Chick Corea, Benny Golson, Jimmy Heath, James Moody, Cecil Payne, Harold Mabern, Larry Willis, Freddie Hubbard & The New Jazz Composers Octet, Slide Hampton's World of Trombones, Horace Silver, Cedar Walton, Hank Jones, Roy Hargrove & Willie Jones III. Raised in Binghamton, New York, Steve has performed at major venues around the world including appearances at the North Sea, Montreaux, Newport and Detroit Jazz Festivals, The Jimmy Fallon Show with Stevie Wonder and at the White House Tribute to Ray Charles (PBS). Davis appears on over 150 recordings, including 20 as a leader. His 2022 release Bluesthetic (Smoke Sessions) includes an all-star band featuring Steve Nelson, Peter Bernstein, Geoff Kezzer, Christian McBride & Willie Jones III playing a program of Steve's originals. Davis' 2019 release, Correlations (Smoke Sessions) features rising stars Joshua Bruneau & Jonathan Barber, as well as renowned veteran stars Xavier Davis, Wayne Escoffery & Dezron Douglas. Correlations has garnered rave reviews and spent months atop the JazzWeek Radio Charts. Other notable releases include Say When: Celebrating J.J. Johnson and Think Ahead (Smoke Sessions), For Real and Gettin’ It Done (Positone). During 2019, in addition to performing with his own Correlations Band, Steve appeared on Chick Corea's Grammy Winning Spanish Heart Band CD, Antidote and toured Europe with the group in July. Davis also continues to work regularly with the collectively-led sextet One For All (feat. Eric Alexander, Jim Rotondi, David Hazeltine, John Webber & Joe Farnsworth), bassist Nat Reeves' Quintet, as well as playing with John Lee's Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars, the Jimmy Heath, Ron Carter and Christian McBride big bands. Steve’s original composition, Optimism appears on the McBride Big Band’s Grammy Award winning release Bringin' It (2018). Davis performs and plans to record with both his son, guitarist Tony Davis and his wife, vocalist Abena Koomson-Davis. As always, Steve maintains an active presence on the vibrant local CT jazz scene & appears on bassist Matt Dwonzsyk's Wonderful World CD. A long-time educator, Steve has guided a broad range of emerging musicians at the Hartt School's Jackie McLean Jazz Studies Division, University of Hartford, CT where he was recently honored for over 30 years of service. In Fall '22, Prof Davis will join the Berklee College of Music Brass Dept. as Full Professor. Other prestigious educational affiliations have included the San Francisco Conservatory's RJAM faculty, Jamey Aebersold’s Summer Jazz Workshops, Skidmore Jazz Workshop, Jazz in July at UMASS Amherst, Stanford University Jazz Workshop. www.stevedavismusic.com
Recently, as a performer, Davis continues to be ever-in-demand. He performed with Stevie Wonder and The Roots on NBC’s Jimmy Fallon Show, as well as appeared at The White House with Christian McBride’s Big Band and Special Guests’ Tribute to Ray Charles on PBS. Steve just completed a two-week European tour with bassist Avishai Cohen’s NY Division sextet featuring Kurt Rosenwinkel. As a bandleader, Steve led his quintet/sextet in performances at The Greater Hartford Jazz Festival, Smoke and Small’s Jazz Clubs in NYC and at Black-Eyed Sally’s and The Charter Oak Cultural Center in Hartford. Steve has a new CD Say When celebrating J.J. Johnson, which has been #1 on Jazz Week radio; and For Real (Posi-tone) feat. Larry Willis with Abraham Burton, Nat Reeves and Billy Williams. In addition, Davis recently appeared on CDs by Steve Turre... Bones Of Art (High Note), Willie Jones III... Max Roach Tribute Live at Dizzy’s and forthcoming recordings by Charles Davis, Joe Magnarelli & Christian McBride. Davis toured Canada for one month as a featured guest with The Cory Weeds Quintet recording Cory Weeds’ Let’s Go feat. Steve Davis (Cellar Live) at Smoke Jazz Club in NYC. Steve continues to work with One For All (feat. Eric Alexander), The Larry Willis Quintet, The Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars (feat. Roy Hargrove, Cyrus Chestnut, Lewis Nash) and big bands led by Jimmy Heath, Ron Carter & Christian McBride. Davis was also nominated for the fifth consecutive year as Jazz Trombonist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists’ Association.
(Top)
|
Bruce Diehl(Saxophone)
|
"Helping students unlock their creative potential through various practice techniques, listening to all kinds of music, and playing everything in all keys are the ways I use to empower each musician as they become more independent in their own approach."
Bruce Diehl is currently a Senior Lecturer and the Director of Jazz Performance at Amherst College. In this capacity, Bruce directs the Amherst College Jazz Ensemble, the jazz combos, and teaches jazz improvisation, jazz theory, and taught two history-based courses: the History of Jazz and the Birth of Bebop. Bruce curated the 14-year Jazz@Schwemm’s coffeehouse performance series hosted at the Keefe Campus Center, and now curates the Jazz@Friedmann Room series that takes place on Thursdays in October and March.
In 1995, Bruce completed his Master’s Degree in Jazz Composition and Arranging at UMASS Amherst. While there he studied composition/arranging with Jeff Holmes, Yusef Lateef and Frederick Tillis and saxophone with Lynn Klock and Wayne Tice. Bruce completed his undergraduate studies at the Eastman School of Music, earning degrees in Saxophone Performance and Instrumental Music Education while studying saxophone with Ramon Ricker and Albert Regni, and jazz arranging and composition with Rayburn Wright. Bruce’s compositions and arrangements have been performed by various groups across the country, and he enjoys composing and/or arranging new works and transcribing recorded pieces for his student groups at Amherst College. He has directed District Junior and Senior High Festivals in Vermont, Massachusetts and the Maine All-State High School Jazz Combo. His first recording as a leader Bug Juice was released in early 2015. A sabbatical leave in 2018 allowed Bruce to study with saxophonist Walt Weiskopf, currently the tenor saxophonist in Steely Dan.
|
Bob Ferrier(Guitar)
|
“My approach to teaching jazz improvisation always leaves room to experience what each individual really sounds like.” Freelance guitarist and teacher, Ferrier has performed with Jon Faddis, Randy Brecker, Eddie Bert, John Fedchock, Claudio Roditi, Yusef Lateef, Peter Erskine and others. He holds a B.M. degree in Performance from Berklee College of Music, M.M. degree in Jazz Composition/Arranging from UMass Amherst, and has studied with John Laporta, William Leavitt, Herb Pomeroy, Bill Pierce, George Garzone, and others. He is a professor and Director of Jazz Studies at Holyoke Community College, and is the applied jazz guitar instructor at University of Massachusetts Amherst.
|
Winard Harper(Drums)
|
Inspired by the musicianship of greats such as Clifford Brown, Max Roach, Jackie McLean, Cannonball Adderley, Dr. Billy Taylor, Art Blakey and Billy Higgins, Harper has been the leader and musical inspiration for a vibrant sextet for more than a decade. Through that ensemble, he develops and mentors many young jazz musicians who have gone on to successful careers including Jazzmeia Horn, Josh Evans and Bruce Williams. The group, Jeli Posse, appears regularly all over the United
States from the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. to Yoshi’s, the legendary West Coast jazz club and their most recent CD hit number one on the JazzWeek charts within weeks of its release.
Constantly in reverence of his predecessors while remaining innovative in his own right, Harper has become one of the most celebrated drummers in jazz. He is a virtuoso on the drum set as well as the balafon, the West African equivalent of the marimba. Critics have written that Winard is as pleasing and entertaining to watch as he is to hear. “As tasteful a drummer as one could ask for,” according to Jeff Kaliss of JazzTimes. Harper’s first major gig was with Dexter Gordon in 1982, and shortly thereafter with Johnny Griffin. It wasn’t long before his drumming skills captured the attention of Betty Carter. He spent four years working with Ms. Carter’s band, inevitably honing his jazz-as-entertainment sense of showmanship. He was an integral part of Dr. Billy Taylor’s Trio beginning in the 1990’s and was the legend’s go-to drummer for more than two decades. http://www.lksassociates.com
|
Catherine Jensen-Hole(Voice)Vocal Program |
"Jazz improvisation is like any language; you study the vocabulary and grammar and you learn to construct sentences. The leap of faith begins when you start to musically converse with other musicians and hope that all your study allows you to hold appealing, affecting and eloquent dialogues."
Catherine Jensen-Hole is a Senior Lecturer in the African-American Music and Jazz Studies Program at UMass Amherst. Catherine directs the DOWNBEAT award-winning Vocal Jazz Ensemble and teaches undergraduate instrumental arranging and composition, vocal jazz techniques, and the vocal jazz studio. Jensen-Hole has performed as a vocal jazz artist in Australia, Great Britain, Indonesia and the U.S. including performances at the Perth Concert Hall, the International Festival of Perth, Australia, and the National Theatre, London, England. She has received two awards for her performance from DOWNBEAT magazine and was a member of the award winning UNT Jazz Singers for 8 years. A sought-after clinician and adjudicator in vocal jazz, she has conducted All-State Choirs including the 2001 MENC All Northwest Jazz Choir and has been a faculty member at the North Texas Summer Vocal Jazz Workshop. In addition to co-teaching the vocal program here at Jazz in July with Sheila Jordan, Jensen-Hole has been a regular performer in the IAJE Music Educator Vocal Jazz Group, performing new vocal jazz music at the yearly conference. A resident of the USA, and citizen of Australia and the United Kingdom, Jensen-Hole received her Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from the Western Australian Conservatorium of Music (WAPPA), and both her Master of Music in Jazz Composition and Arranging, and Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education specializing in Jazz Studies, from the University of North Texas. Her recent CD release entitled Songs of Love, Life and Loss showcases her jazz compositions and arrangements of jazz standards. Faculty members Jeff Holmes, Felipe Salles, Tom Giampetro and Bob Ferrier join her on the album along with bassist Wayne Roberts and Australian accordionist Cathie Travers.
|
Jeffrey W. HolmesArtistic Director (Trumpet, Piano)
|
Jeffrey W. Holmes is Director of Jazz and African-American Music Studies and the award-winning UMass Jazz Ensemble I/Studio Orchestra at UMass. JAAMS program students have won over 60 DOWNBEAT Magazine Awards in virtually every annual collegiate category. A nationally-commissioned and published composer/arranger, and multiple recipient of National Endowment for the Arts Composition Grants, he has toured extensively, and was a featured artist on the Jazz at the Kennedy Center series in Washington D.C. He leads the Jeff Holmes Big Band featuring his wife vocalist Dawning Holmes, and the Jeff Holmes Quartet (Of One’s Own on Miles High Records). Recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Massachusetts Association of Jazz Educators, Holmes is also the Artistic Director of the Jazz In July Summer Workshops at UMass, contributed thirty jazz biographical entries to the New Grove Dictionary of American Music (Oxford Press), and remains active as a pianist, trumpeter, guest conductor and adjudicator/clinican.
|
Sheila Jordan(Voice)
|
Born Sheila Jeanette Dawson on November 18, 1928, Sheila was raised by her grandparents in a poverty stricken town in Pennsylvania’s coal-mining country. Her mother was too young to care for her and moved to Detroit to work in the auto factories. Sheila began singing as a child, and by the time she was 14, had moved to Detroit and was sitting-in with jazz musicians in clubs. It was during this time, that Sheila connected with Charlie Parker who would become her musical guru. After moving to New York in the early 50’s, she married Charlie Parker’s pianist, Duke Jordan, and studied with Lennie Tristano, though it was not until the early 60’s that she made her first recordings. George Russell met Sheila while she was working at the Page Three Club in Greenwich Village, and he was responsible for her breakthrough album Portrait of Sheila in 1962 on Blue Note Records. Just prior to that, Sheila had made her recording debut on Russell’s 1962 album The Outer View, on which she sang his arrangement of “You Are My Sunshine”, dedicated to the out of work coal miners of the Pennsylvania of her youth. In the mid-60’s her work encompassed jazz liturgies sung in churches and extensive club work, but her appeal was narrow even within the confines of jazz. By the late 70’s jazz audiences had begun to understand her uncompromising style a little more and her popularity increased-as did her appearances on record, which included albums with pianist Steve Kuhn, whose quartet she joined, and an album, Home, comprising a selection of Robert Creeley’s poems set to music and arranged by Steve Swallow. Sheila is the pioneer of the bass and voice concept.
She has recorded with many fine jazz musicians aside from her own recordings on High Note and Justintime records. Sheila still teaches and appears in concerts and clinics all over the world. In May 2017, Sheila received an honorary doctorate in Fine Arts from The University of Mass, and The Jazz Legends Distinguished Achievement Award from The UMass Fine Arts Center’s Valley Jazz Network. Other awards include the New York City Nightlife Achievement Award for Outstanding Female Vocalist, the Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz for Lifetime Service that was given in 2008, an IAJE Humanitarian Award, MAC Lifetime Achievement Award, Lil Hardin Armstrong Jazz Heritage Award, Baker’s Keyboard Lounge Lifetime Achievement Award 2004, the Barry Harris Award For True Jazz Mastery 2003, State of Michigan Society for the Culturally Concerned Award 1995, The Universal Jazz Coalition Award for Outstanding Jazz Contributions 1982, a nine-time recipient of the Downbeat Magazine Critics Award, talent deserving of wider recognition 1962-1975 and two National Endowment for the Arts grants. In 2001, she was one of the Top Five Best Female Vocalists in Downbeat Magazine’s Critic’s Poll. Lost and Found was the United Kingdom-based Wire Magazine’s Best CD of the Year; and Confirmation won Vocal Album of the Year for Swing Journal in Japan. In 2010 she received the NY Nightlife Outstanding Vocalist Award and the Eleanor Isaacson Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award. In 2011 Sheila received an NEA Jazz Masters Award, the nation’s highest honor in jazz music. And then in 2012 she received the Jazz Education Network Award for Outstanding Performance and the BMI Award. In 2015 she received the Austrian KUG Award from University of Gaz Austria. Andre Segovia received the same award. In January 2016, she received an honorary award from the Musica Hoehschule University in Gray, Austria. Her biography Jazz Child: A Portrait of Sheila Jordan was released in September 2014.
Sheila recently received the SATCHMO Award from the Louie Armstrong Foundation for her strong dedication to teaching jazz music and keeping the music of jazz alive. In May of 2022 Sheila received the “Lifetime Achievement Award in Jazz” from the Jazz Journalists Association.
|
Steve Johns(Drums)
|
Steve Johns is one of the most dynamic and versatile drummers on both the New York City and international Jazz scenes. Since the early 1980’s he has performed and recorded with virtually the who’s-who of the Jazz World. Steve has played with The Sonny Fortune Quartet, The Benny Carter Quartet, The Billy Taylor Trio, Nat Adderley, Jimmy Owens, Stanley Turrentine, Jimmy Heath, The Randy Brecker Quintet, Jesseye Norman, Dave Liebman, The Ronnie Cuber Band and many others.
Steve Johns was born into a musical family in Boston in 1960, and began playing drums at the age of nine. His mother, Goldie Tyler Johns, was a songwriter, and three of her brothers were saxophonists, including the legendary Jimmy Tyler, who was Steve’s primary influence and inspiration. It was Jimmy who encouraged Steve to study formally with Alan Dawson, and his three years with the master percussionist and educator enabled him to make rapid progress. While attending Natick High School, Steve played in both the concert and jazz bands and earned chairs in both the district and state jazz ensembles. After graduating in 1979, Steve continued his studies at the New England Conservatory of Music where he received a thorough grounding in classical percussion from Vic Firth and Fred Buda, while playing with such local jazz greats as James Williams, Miroslav Vituous, Jeff Berlin, and Mike Stern. At NEC he met his wife-to-be, Debbie Keefe Johns, a fine saxophonist in her own right. In 1982, Steve made the move to New York, quickly establishing himself as an inspirational player at home in any musical style. Over the ensuing three decades, Steve has worked in every conceivable setting, from big bands such as the Gil Evans and the Count Basie orchestras, to accompanying singers like Jessye Norman, Helen Merrill, Diane Schuur, and Dakota Staton, to more experimental settings such as the Thomas Chapin Trio and groups led by Marty Ehrlich and Mario Pavone. He has toured worldwide as the regular drummer for Sonny Fortune, Benny Carter, Dr. Billy Taylor, and many other luminaries. His five-year tenure as a member of Taylor’s trio brought him wide exposure, including 75 performances for the pianist’s NPR program Jazz at the Kennedy Center with such guests as Wynton Marsalis, Nancy Wilson, Milt Jackson, and Randy Brecker. Steve has appeared on over seventy albums by Leon Thomas, George Russell, Thomas Chapin, Dr. Billy Taylor, Houston Person, John McNeil, Sonny Fortune, Peter Leitch, Gary Smulyan, and Bob DeVos, among many others. In addition to his work as a sideman, Steve is also a member of the collective group Native Soul, and has been co-leader on recording projects by that group (One Mind, 2012, American Showplace, Soul Step, Talking Drum Records), as well as on an album with saxophonist Peter Brainin (No Saints, No Sinners, Playscape). In addition to his extensive credits as a player, Steve has long been active as an educator. While with the Billy Taylor Trio, he took part in over a hundred lecture/demonstrations throughout the U.S., and has regularly served on the faculty for educational programs at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Long Island University, Montclair State University, the Litchfield Jazz Camp, the Vermont Jazz Center, and Jazz House Kids. Steve and Debbie co-direct the JCC Thurnauer TeenTown Jazz Program in Tenafly, NJ, which has featured such guests as Larry Coryell, Bernie Williams, and Jimmy Owens.
Steve and Debbie’s musical talents have been passed directly to a new generation. Their son, bassist Daryl Johns, while still a teenager, has already made his mark as one of the most highly touted musicians to burst onto the scene in recent years. A highlight of Steve’s career was the 2015 release of his CD aptly titled Family, on which Steve, Debbie, and Daryl were joined by guitarists Dave Stryker and Bob DeVos.
|
Earl MacDonald(Pianist)
|
Earl MacDonald’s seemingly inexhaustible commitment to the jazz art form is apparent in his performing, composing and teaching. The former musical director and pianist for Maynard Ferguson serves as the Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Connecticut and teaches annually at UMass Amherst’s Jazz in July program.
The Winnipeg native earned a bachelor of music degree in jazz performance at McGill University and a Master’s degree at Rutgers, where he apprenticed with Kenny Barron.
A recipient of the Sammy Nestico Award for outstanding big band arranging, MacDonald has released seven albums as a bandleader; two of which earned JUNO nominations for jazz album of the year. For his chamber jazz explorations on “Mirror of the Mind”, MacDonald was described as “a magical, musical alchemist of hip hybrids” (Owen McNally, Hartford Courant). Similarly, his large ensemble project, “Re:Visions” was touted as having “gone beyond where most big bands go, establishing Earl MacDonald as a major force in the world of jazz composition” (Dan Bilawsky, AllAboutJazz.com).
Visit MacDonald’s web site, www.earlmacdonald.com, where you can take a free online lesson, read articles and reviews, hear his music, peruse his blog, and learn more about Earl MacDonald’s performances, teaching, and latest projects.
|
Stephen Page(Pianist)
|
Stephen Page’s musical journey started with drums and trumpet before he dedicated himself to the piano at age seventeen. It was then that he began the quest that would define his life: a search for the totality that is jazz—a balance of musical discipline, self-discovery, the intensity and risk of improvised creation in the moment, and the innovative genius of the legendary artists who defined the genre.
After completing his jazz studies at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Page continued studying with jazz luminaries Billy Taylor, Yusef Lateef, and Kenny Werner. In 1999 Page found his oracle, the renowned music educator Charlie Banacos, and for ten years was blessed to receive teachings that Banacos had designed uniquely for him. Privately, Page cultivated his sound by dissecting and analyzing the greats who influenced him – Bill Evans, Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Bud Powell, and Oscar Peterson among others- deconstructing and assimilating to create his own dynamic voice.
The legendary vocalist Sheila Jordan, whom Page has accompanied for over a decade, has this to say about him: “Stephen Page is a great accompanist aside from being an all-around fantastic musician.” Although Page creates innovative improvisations, the melodic core of the song still resonates with the listener. The great saxophonist Archie Shepp, with whom Page has jammed on many occasions, has said, “Apart from a brilliant talent, Stephen Page possesses two qualities essential to a performing artist: patience and originality.” Long-time McCoy Tyner bassist Avery Sharpe notes “Stephen Page is in a class by himself, his piano playing is sensitive and extraordinary. Whether playing solo, with a singer, or with an ensemble, his touch and listening abilities are fantastic. He interprets jazz standards in a new and meaningful way and does an impeccable interpretation on originals. When he has worked with me, it has been a pleasure.”
Page has played throughout the eastern seaboard with a variety of musical combinations from solo work to big bands. He teaches at Amherst College,
Deerfield Academy and The Williston Northampton School, as well as in his private studio. Page continues to distill his life’s work into original compositions.
|
Luis Perdomo(Pianist)
|
Originally from Venezuela, Luis Perdomo began playing piano at age 10, and by age 12 he was playing professionally on radio and TV as well as concerts and clubs. Later on, Luis moved to the U.S to attend the Manhattan School of Music on a scholarship, he graduated in 1997 and would later obtain a Master’s degree from Queens College, where he was a student of the great pianist Sir Roland Hanna.
Soon after moving to New York, Perdomo quickly established himself as an in-demand pianist amassing quite an impressive resume. Some of the artists Luis has recorded and/or performed with include Ravi Coltrane, David Sanchez, Tom Harrell, John Patitucci, Ray Barretto, Brian Lynch, Miguel Zenon, Dave Douglas, David Gilmore, Ralph Irizarry & Timbalaye, Henry Threadgill and Steve Turre, among others; a list that is as notable both by its high standard as well as its diversity. He has made also a mark as a performer, composer and arranger on recordings by Ray Barretto, Ignacio Berroa, John Benitez and Ralph Irizarry. He can be heard most recently on both Grammy nominated Ravi Coltrane's "Spirit Fiction" and Miguel Zenón's "Tipico".
Luis has also been very active worldwide in recent years as a teacher, solo artist, and as a leader of his own trio: The Controlling Ear Unit and several other projects, and has released nine highly praised recordings as a leader: "Focus Point" (2005), "Awareness" (2006), and the highly acclaimed "Universal Mind" featuring Drew Gress and Jack Dejohnette (2012) for Ravi Coltrane's RKM Music label. "Pathways" in 2008, The "Infancia" Project in 2012, “Links” in 2013 and “Spirits and Warriors” in 2016 for Criss Cross Jazz; "Twenty - Two" in 2015 and “Montage” in 2016 were recorded for Hot Tone Music. Luis has also participated in over 150 recordings as a sideman.
As an educator, he has taught masterclasses worldwide, and has taught summer jazz camps including the “Jazz in July” at the University of Massachusetts, Langnau Jazz Nights in Switzerland; Banff International Workshop and the University of Manitoba in Canada, Badajoz Jazz Workshop in Spain; Brattleboro Jazz Center in Vermont; Tonica Jazz Festival in Guadalajara, Mexico and the Guimaraes Jazz Workshops in Portugal, among others.
In 2016, Mr Perdomo served as the artistic director of the Langnau Jazz Workshops in Switzerland. Luis has also taught at the New School for Social Research, and currently serves as an adjunct piano professor at Queens College in New York City. For more information, please visit www.luisperdomojazz.com
(Top)
|
Avery Sharpe(Bassist)
|
Bassist Avery Sharpe was born in Valdosta, Georgia and his first instrument was the piano. “I started playing when I was eight years old,” he recalls. “My mother is a piano player/choir director in the Church of God in Christ, and she gave lessons to everybody in the family—I’m the sixth of eight children—but it didn’t stick until it got to me.” He moved on to accordion and then switched to electric bass in high school, after his family had relocated to Springfield, MA.
He studied economics at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA., while he played electric bass in gospel, funk, and rock groups. With encouragement from renowned bassist Reggie Workman, he learned acoustic bass and soon was performing with Archie Shepp and Art Blakey. In 1980, Sharpe won a spot in McCoy Tyner’s group and worked with him for the next 20 plus years, playing hundreds of gigs worldwide and appearing on more than 20 recordings with Tyner.
Sharpe’s credits also include sideman stints and recordings with jazz greats like Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsales, Yusef Lateef, Bobby McFerrin, Pat Metheny, Billy Taylor and many more His first recording as a leader was the 1988 album Unspoken Words on Sunnyside Records. In 1994 he started his own artist record label, JKNM Records. To date he has more than 12 titles as a leader for JKNM Records.
Sharpe is equally adept at songs and longer compositional forms. In 1989, he wrote and conducted the soundtrack for the movie An Unremarkable Life. A decade later, his six-movement piece America’s Promise debuted with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. In the 1990’s Sharpe received a commission by the classical group Fideleo to write three extended works. In 2004, he wrote a musical portrait for the stage for Chamber Music Plus. The stage production Raisin’ Cane, has been touring since 2007 and features the actress Jasmine Guy (featured actress from TV, “A Different World”) and Sharpe’s Trio. In 2006, he was commissioned by the Springfield Symphony to write a Concerto for Jazz Trio and Orchestra which premiered in the 2007, featuring the Trio with (former “Tonight Show” Musical Director)Kevin Eubanks on acoustic guitar. Avery continued his historical connection with releases of CDs, honoring Jesse Owens “Running Man”, Sojourner Truth-“Ain’t I A Woman”, Sister Rosetta Tharpe-“Sharpe Meets Tharpe”.
Sharpe’s latest project “400: An African American Musical Portrait” is presently receiving rave reviews. The project marks the 400th year since Africans were brought to the U.S.A shores in 1619. The recording was released in May 2019 on JKNM Records and features- Don Braden, Duane Eubanks, Ronnie Burrage, Zaccai Curtis, Tendai Muparutsa, The Extended Family Choir and special guest Kevin Eubanks.
Avery Sharpe’s extensive educational activities include numerous clinics and workshops at home and abroad. He has presented at the University of Massachusetts, Williams College, Berklee School of Music, Bates College, the University of Miami, and at colleges in Peru, Brazil, Australia and elsewhere.
Avery Sharpe was the Sterling Brown ‘22 Distinguished Visiting Artist in Residence in Music at Williams College and was Artist Associate in Jazz Bass, and Jazz Coach at Williams College. He was also Faculty Advisor for the Williams Gospel Choir and affiliated faculty for Africana Studies.
His awards include The NAACP Martin Luther King Jr Special Achievement Award, several National Endowment for the Arts Grants and the New England Foundation for the Arts Achievement in Jazz Award.
|
Lee Tomboulian(Pianist)
|
Mr. Tomboulian teaches jazz improvisation, jazz small group performance practice, applied jazz piano, and more.
He studied composition at the University of Arkansas under James Greeson, his M.M. in Jazz Studies (piano performance) at the University of North Texas, and studied privately with ECM artist Art Lande and Hal Willner at the Naropa Institute.
Tomboulian was an Adjunct Professor at Long Island University-C.W. Post for two years. Previously he served on the faculty of Lawrence University Conservatory of Music for six years, Texas Wesleyan University, Cedar Valley College, the University of Dallas and North Central Texas College.
He has also worked as an instructor at the University of Texas at Arlington Jazz Camp, the University of North Texas Jazz Combo Camp, and served as a UNT graduate teaching fellow for two years.
(Top)
|
Shigefumi "Fumi" Tomita(Bassist)
|
Bassist, composer, and educator Fumi Tomita was active in the New York jazz scene for over fifteen years. His 2019 recording, The Elephant Vanishes: Jazz Interpretations of the Short Stories of Haruki Murakami, was released to critical acclaim by Origin Arts records and was listed in the top ten records of 2019 by Jazziz. He also appears as a member of HGTS on their debut release And Then They Played… released in April 2020 by Summit Records. Celebrating Bird: A Tribute to Charlie Parker, a collaboration with saxophonist David Detweiler, was released in September 2020 by Next Level Music.
He has presented his research at the International Society of Bassists Conference, Issues in Contemporary Jazz, Jazz Education Network, International Society for Improvised Music, BassEurope, Massachusetts Music Educators Association, and the National Association for Music Education. His article “As Long As There’s Music: Spirituality in Charlie Haden’s Performance and Solo on “Irene”” was published in Jazz Perspectives in the fall of 2019. His book “The Jazz Rhythm Section” was published by Rowman & Littlefield in conjunction with NAfME in 2019. Additionally, he has published articles in Bass world, Jazz Perspectives, and the Massachusetts Music Educators’ Journal and is preparing his second book, Introduction to Early Jazz, for State University of New York Press. He is currently the Assistant Professor of Jazz at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
(Top)
BACK TO HOME PAGE
APPLY
Music Theory Quiz
All About Jazz In July
Faculty Bios
Our Sponsors
Registration Payment for Jazz in July 2024
Registration will be $90.00 per person from 1/1/2024 until 5/31/2024. It will change to Late Registration $100.00 on 6/1/2024
Tuition Payment for Jazz in July 2024
Tuition will be available at the Early Rate ($528 1 Week, $1056 2 Weeks) from today until 3/31/2024. It will change to full price on 4/1/2024 ($660 1 Week, $1,320 2 Weeks).
Housing and Meal Plan Registration
SPONSOR A TALENTED MUSICIAN
Donate a one or two week scholarship!
Click here. Select FAC from drop down menu.
Select Jazz in July Scholarships from subcategory field.
MORE INFORMATION
Contact Information:
Main Number: (413) 545-3530
FAX: (413) 545-0132
Jazz in July Administrative Director
David Picchi, (413) 545-4158
Email: jazzinjuly@acad.umass.edu
Mailing Address:
Jazz in July
10 Curry Hicks - 100 Hicks Way
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, MA 01003-9300
