Jazz in July’s Tribute to Billy Taylor

Wednesday, July 20, 2011 5:30-7 p.m.

The Amherst Room UMass Campus Center

$35 includes free admission to “Club Jazz in July” immediately following event.  Call the FAC Box Office for tickets @ 413.545.2511 or 800.999.UMAS

Guest artist and lecturer Christian Sands will perform with Jazz in July faculty.  Evening includes light fare, cash bar, interactions with Jazz in July faculty, and a video retrospective on Dr. Taylor by Bret Primack (planetbret.com)

“Club Jazz in July,” held in the Marriott Center is a jazz club created for Jazz in July students to perform for the public.

30 years ago, Dr. Billy Taylor and a group of dedicated jazz educators at UMass developed a program that would connect jazz students with the country’s top jazz artists for an intensive week of study in jazz improvisation—giving birth to the Fine Arts Center’s Jazz in July Summer Music Program.

Since, jazz legends such as Dr. Taylor, Sheila Jordan, and Max Roach have developed the program’s strong foundation of jazz traditions. Cutting edge artists such as Vincent Herring and Geri Allen lead us into the ever evolving future of jazz—ensuring our jazz education is current and relevant for years to come.