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New England Conservatory’s Jazz Studies & Contemporary Improvisation Departments Present Over 100 Free Performances For 2015-2016 Season

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Highlights include a Gunther Schuller Memorial Concert, birthday concerts for Anthony Coleman 60, Fred Hersch 60, Ran Blake 80 and Frank Sinatra 100.
New England Conservatory’s Jazz Studies & Contemporary Improvisation Departments Present Over 100 Free Performances for 2015-2016 Season Plus Residencies with World-Renowned Performers

September 2015 — May 2016

Highlights include: Gunther Schuller Memorial Concert;

Round Number Birthday Concerts – Anthony Coleman 60, Fred Hersch 60, Ran Blake 80 and Frank Sinatra 100;

Annual Film Noir Concert

In the Mix + CI Salon Nights – 81 one-hour concerts by exceptional student ensembles

New England Conservatory’s internationally renowned Jazz Studies and Contemporary Improvisation Departments announce over 100 free concerts and masterclasses for the 2015-2016 season. Highlights include a Gunther Schuller Memorial Concert, birthday concerts for Anthony Coleman 60, Fred Hersch 60, Ran Blake 80 and Frank Sinatra 100, workshops/master classes by top flight musicians including Dave Holland; recitals by stellar NEC faculty including Ken Schaphorst, Dominique Eade, Eden MacAdam-Somer and Bob Nieske; and In the Mix and CI Salon Nights, 81 one-hour concerts featuring exceptional student ensembles from the Jazz and Contemporary Improvisation departments. All concerts are free and open to the public. For more information, log on to: necmusic.edu/ or call 617-585-1122.

Fall 2015

Tuesday, September 2
Jam Session
Brown Hall
8 p.m.

Join first year jazz students and others for an exhilarating jam session to open the school year.

Tuesday, September 8
Opening Night
Brown Hall
7:30 pm

Join NEC's groundbreaking Contemporary Improvisation Department in kicking off the academic year with a concert featuring CI faculty including department chair Hankus Netsky, pianist Ran Blake and many more.

September 29 – October 4
The Stone Residencies featuring CI Students
The Stone

John Zorn was so taken with the quality of NEC’s Contemporary Improvisation students when he Visited NEC for a residency in November that he’s invited them back for the second time. This weeklong residency features select CI students.

Thursday, October 15
Too Marvelous for Words: Music of Frank Sinatra
Jordan Hall
7:30 p.m.

The NEC Jazz Orchestra will be joined by the NEC Philharmonia string section to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Frank Sinatra’s birth. The concert with feature many of Sinatra’s most famous arrangements, including Nelson Riddle’s “I’ve Got the World on a String,” “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and “Witchcraft” as well as Quincy Jones’ arrangements of “Fly Me To the Moon,” “The Best is Yet to Come” and “You Make Me Feel So Young.”

Thursday, October 29
Fred Hersch 60th Birthday Concert
Jordan Hall
7:30 p.m.

Pianist/composer Fred Hersch brings his “solo piano concept second to none in jazz” (NY Times), to Jordan Hall for a recital marking not only his 60th birthday but also the 40th anniversary of his arrival at NEC as a student.

November 9, 10, 11, 12
In the Mix
Pierce Hall
7, 8 and 9 p.m.

Discover the musical innovators of tomorrow with In the Mix – one- hour concerts featuring NEC’s student jazz ensembles, each coached by a member of NEC's renowned faculty.

Friday, November 13
Realization of a Dream: An 80th Birthday Tribute to Ran Blake
Jordan Hall
7:30 p.m.

Realization of a Dream celebrates the artistic vision of NEC’s founding Contemporary Improvisation department chair, Ran Blake, and the evolution of his music. Produced and directed by Eden MacAdam-Somer and Aaron Hartley, the concert features Blake, along with special guests and NEC alums Ricky Ford (originally from Roxbury), Leon “Boots” Maleson (originally from Brookline), Jonah Kraut and Dave “The Knife” Fabris, as well as performances by current students, faculty and departmental ensembles in original interpretations of Blake’s music and repertoire.

Blake came to NEC in the first wave of Gunther Schuller hires in the late 1960s and helped to found the Third Stream Program (now Contemporary Improvisation) in 1972, continuing as chair through 2005. Blake was awarded a MacArthur “Genius” Grant in 1988. He continues to teach full-time, with his innovative approach – known as “the primacy of the ear” and codified in his 2011 book of that title – emphasizing the listening process and long-term memory over strict reliance on sheet music. Blake’s musical and educational approach are defining factors for the CI department and this concert seeks to pay tribute to the unique character of that approach. With harmonic and melodic concepts informed by a multitude of modalities, perhaps most notably jazz and film noir, this concert will evoke and be informed and inspired by the individual conception of Ran Blake.

Sunday, November 15
The Music of Ran Blake: A Symposium
Pierce Hall
11 a.m.

For well over 50 years, Ran Blake has been making recordings and presenting concerts that challenge the boundaries of performance, composition and improvisation. In this panel discussion (moderated by current Contemporary Improvisation chair Hankus Netsky), a hand-picked group of well-known critics and writers will discuss Blake’s still-evolving musical legacy and its place in musical history.

November 16, 17
In the Mix
Pierce Hall
7, 8 and 9 p.m.

Discover the musical innovators of tomorrow with In the Mix – one- hour concerts featuring NEC’s student jazz ensembles, each coached by a member of NEC's renowned faculty.

Wednesday, November 18
NEC Gospel Ensemble; NEC Jazz Composers Ensemble
Brown Hall
7:30 p.m.

This concert showcases two of NEC’s exceptional student ensembles. The NEC Gospel Ensemble, coached by Nedelka Prescod, explores contemporary gospel music as it is currently being created and performed. This ensemble works with repertoire composed within the last 20 years of contemporary gospel music and highlights key composers and choir leaders.

The NEC Jazz Composers Ensemble, coached by Jorrit Dijsktra, gives student composers the opportunity to develop their work for small jazz ensemble through rehearsal and performance.

Thursday, November 19
Gunther Schuller Memorial Concert
Jordan Hall
7:30 p.m.

This concert pays tribute to the brilliant composer Gunther Schuller, who passed away on June 21, 2015. As New England Conservatory President from 1967- 1977, Schuller steered NEC through one of the most turbulent and formative decades of American and Conservatory history, beginning with NEC’s centennial year. Organized by NEC faculty member John Heiss, this concert features performances that span the entire 70 years of Schuller’s work as a composer, as well as the tremendous range of genres and ideas addressed by his work. The program includes: 1947 Quartet for Double Basses, 1986 Sandpoint Rag, 1994 Headin’ Out, Movin’ In; 2005 Grand Concerto for Percussion and Keyboards. In addition to these works by Gunther Schuller, pianist/ composer Ran Blake will present the premiere performance of his work Gunther.

Monday, November 23
In the Mix
Pierce Hall
7, 8 and 9 p.m.

Discover the musical innovators of tomorrow with In the Mix – one- hour concerts featuring NEC’s student jazz ensembles, each coached by a member of NEC's renowned faculty.

Monday, November 30
Anthony Coleman 60th Birthday Celebration
Jordan Hall
7:30 p.m.

Avant-garde pianist/composer/improviser/bandleader and NEC faculty member Anthony Coleman celebrates his 60th birthday with a solo performance and works for small and large ensemble, including the all-faculty Coleman-Kalmanovitch-Reichman trio, a trio with saxophonist Geoffrey Landman and percussionist David Shively, and Survivors Breakfast, the large improvising student ensemble that Coleman leads at NEC each year. With trumpeter Alexandria Smith, Coleman will perform a new work for trumpet and piano titled essential bleakness.

Monday, November 30
In the Mix
Pierce Hall
7, 8 and 9 p.m.

Discover the musical innovators of tomorrow with In the Mix – one- hour concerts featuring NEC’s student jazz ensembles, each coached by a member of NEC's renowned faculty.

Monday, December 1 Masterclass with Dave Holland Williams Hall 1 p.m.

Visiting artist-in-residence the legendary bassist/composer Dave Holland will work with NEC students in this masterclass.

Tuesday, December 2
CI Salon Nights & In the Mix
Pierce Hall
7, 8 and 9 p.m.

Discover the musical innovators of tomorrow in these one-hour concerts featuring NEC’s student Contemporary Improvisation and jazz ensembles, each coached by a member of NEC's renowned faculty.

Wednesday, December 3
Masterclass with Dave Holland
Williams Hall
1 p.m.

Wednesday, December 3
The Music of Dave Holland
Brown Hall
7:30 pm

Visiting artist-in-residence the legendary bassist/composer Dave Holland will lead NEC students in a performance of his music.

December 7, 8
CI Salon Nights & In the Mix
Pierce Hall
7, 8 and 9 p.m.

Discover the musical innovators of tomorrow in these one-hour concerts featuring NEC’s student Contemporary Improvisation and jazz ensembles, each coached by a member of NEC's renowned faculty.

Monday, December 7
West of the Moon featuring Eden MacAdam- Somer
Jordan Hall
7:30 p.m.

Contemporary Improvisation faculty member Eden MacAdam-Somer brings her mandolin to a “First Monday at Jordan Hall" chamber music concert. Written by Yehudi Wyner, West of the Moon had its premiere a year ago at New York's SubCulture. In addition to mandolin, the unusual instrumentation of this sextet consists of guitar, flute, oboe, violin, and cello.

Wednesday, December 9
CI Salon Nights & In the Mix
Keller Room
7, 8 and 9 p.m.

Discover the musical innovators of tomorrow in these one-hour concerts featuring NEC’s student Contemporary Improvisation and jazz ensembles, each coached by a member of NEC's renowned faculty.

Thursday, December 10
NEC Jazz Orchestra: Music of Billy Strayhorn
Jordan Hall
7:30 p.m.

NEC Jazz Studies Chair Ken Schaphorst leads the NEC Jazz Orchestra in The Music of Billy Strayhorn. Described by Duke Ellington as “my right arm, my left arm, all the eyes in the back of my head,” Billy Strayhorn is probably best known through his decades-long association with Ellington. But Strayhorn’s own compositions will be the focus of this retrospective, including Blood Count. Chelsea Bridge, Day Dream, Rain Check and Take the ‘A’ Train.

Monday, December 14
CI Salon Nights & In the Mix
Pierce Hall
7, 8 and 9 p.m.

Discover the musical innovators of tomorrow in these one-hour concerts featuring NEC’s student Contemporary Improvisation and jazz ensembles, each coached by a member of NEC's renowned faculty.

Tuesday, December 15
Jazz Composers’ Workshop Orchestra
Brown Hall
7:30 p.m.

The Jazz Composers’ Workshop Orchestra is devoted to rehearsing and performing works by NEC Jazz Composition students. Coached by pianist/composer and NEC jazz faculty member Frank Carlberg, the ensemble gives its composers the opportunity to learn how to rehearse and conduct a band, as well as have their works heard.

Wednesday, December 16
CI Salon Nights & In the Mix
Keller Room
7, 8 and 9 p.m.

Discover the musical innovators of tomorrow in these one-hour concerts featuring NEC’s student Contemporary Improvisation and jazz ensembles, each coached by a member of NEC's renowned faculty.

Thursday, December 17
CI Salon Nights & In the Mix
Pierce Hall
7, 8 and 9 p.m.

Discover the musical innovators of tomorrow in these one-hour concerts featuring NEC’s student Contemporary Improvisation and jazz ensembles, each coached by a member of NEC's renowned faculty.

Friday, December 18
NEC Youth Jazz Orchestra
Brown Hall
7:30 p.m.

Founded in 2008 by NEC Jazz Studies Department chair Ken Schaphorst, the NEC Youth Jazz Orchestra is the only community jazz orchestra of its kind in the Boston area, open by audition to all musicians high school age or younger. The ensemble strives to give young musicians opportunities to learn and perform together in an environment of high expectations and standards.

SPRING 2016

Dates TBA Jason Moran Residency

Monday, January 25 Faculty Spotlight Concert Jordan Hall 7:30 p.m.

NEC’s celebrated Jazz and Contemporary Improvisation faculty showcase their music.

Monday, February 8
Dominique Eade Faculty Recital
Jordan Hall
7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, February 16
Exotica directed by Anthony Coleman
Jordan Hall
7:30 p.m.

With students originating from 17 different countries, NEC's Contemporary Improvisation department has become an important testing ground for stretching the boundaries of contemporary world music. In this concert, directed by CI faculty member Anthony Coleman, students

will bring their original ideas to the concept of musical “Exotica"

as it has been expressed in its many European, American, Middle Eastern and Asian manifestations.

Thursday, February
25 NEC Jazz Orchestra: The Music of Ken Schaphorst
Jordan Hall
7:30 p.m.

Renowned composer/trumpeter and NEC Jazz Studies Chair Ken Schaphorst will celebrate the release of his latest recording Ken Schaphorst Big Band: How to Say Goodbye with a concert featuring the NEC Jazz Orchestra performing Schaphorst’s compositions for big band.

Sunday, March 6
Itzhak Perlman, In the Fiddler's House - 20th Anniversary
Symphony Hall

NEC CI Department Chair Hankus Netsky, musical director. Featuring Itzhak Perlman, Andy Statman and the Klezmer Conservatory Band.

Sunday, March 13
Bob Nieske Faculty Recital
Pierce Hall
7:30 p.m.

Monday, March 14
Eden MacAdam-Somer Faculty Recital
Jordan Hall
7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 29
Jazz/Wildcard Concert
Jordan Hall
7:30 p.m.

Each year, an audition committee selects a few exceptional students to represent NEC in the Honors Jazz and Wild Card ensembles.

Thursday, March 31
CI Salon Nights & In the Mix
Pierce Hall
7, 8 and 9 p.m.

April 4, 5, 6
CI Salon Nights & In the Mix
Pierce Hall
7, 8 and 9 p.m

Thursday, April 7
NEC Gospel Ensemble; NEC Jazz Composers Ensemble
Brown Hall
7:30 p.m.

This concert showcases two of NEC’s exceptional student ensembles. The NEC Gospel Ensemble, coached by Nedelka Prescod, explores contemporary gospel music as it is currently being created and performed. This ensemble works with repertoire composed within the last 20 years of contemporary gospel music and highlights key composers and choir leaders.

The NEC Jazz Composers Ensemble, coached by Jorrit Dijsktra, gives student composers the opportunity to develop their work for small jazz ensemble through rehearsal and performance.

April 12, 13
CI Salon Nights & In the Mix
Pierce Hall 7, 8 and 9 p.m.

Thursday, April 14
Film Noir: Night of the Hunter
Jordan Hall
7:30 p.m.

Co-producers Aaron Hartley and Ran Blake present their 11th Annual Film Noir project, featuring students and faculty of NEC's groundbreaking Contemporary Improvisation department. This year's performance explores Charles Laughton's Night of the Hunter, in which love, mystery, and religious fanaticism keep you on the edge of your seat, heightened by new music created by NEC musicians and special guests.

April 18, 19
CI Salon Nights & In the Mix
Pierce Hall
7, 8 and 9 p.m.

Tuesday, April 19
Masterclass with Bassist/Composer Dave Holland
Pierce Hall
1 p.m.

Thursday, April 21
Masterclass with Bassist/Composer Dave Holland
Pierce Hall
1 p.m.

Thursday, April 21
NEC Jazz Orchestra Tribute to Kenny Wheeler
Featuring Dave Holland
Jordan Hall
7:30 p.m.

The NEC Jazz Orchestra directed by Ken Schaphorst will present two of Kenny Wheeler’s rarely-heard masterpieces, “Windmill Tilter” (1969) and “The Sweet Time Suite” (1991). NEC’s Visiting Artist- in-Residence Dave Holland, who played on both recordings, will be featured on bass.

Monday, April 25
CI Salon Nights & In the Mix
Pierce Hall
7, 8 and 9 p.m.

Tuesday, April 26
Jazz Composers Workshop Orchestra
Jordan Hall
7:30 p.m.

The Jazz Composers’ Workshop Orchestra is devoted to rehearsing and performing works by NEC Jazz Composition students. Coached by pianist/composer and NEC jazz faculty member Frank Carlberg, the ensemble gives its composers the opportunity to learn how to rehearse and conduct a band, as well as have their works heard.

April 27, 28
CI Salon Nights & In the Mix
Keller Room
7, 8 and 9 p.m.

Saturday, April 30
International Jazz Day
Brown Hall

UNESCO has designated April 30 as International Jazz Day in order to highlight jazz and diplomatic role of uniting people in all corners of the globe. NEC joins the celebration with a performance featuring NEC faculty and students playing music embodying the ongoing dialogue between jazz and musical cultures from throughout the world.

May 2, 3
CI Salon Nights & In the Mix
Pierce Hall
7, 8 and 9 p.m.

May 4
CI Salon Nights & In the Mix
Keller Room
7, 8 and 9 p.m.

Wednesday, May 11
NEC Youth Jazz Orchestra
Brown Hall
7:30 p.m.

Founded in 2008 by NEC Jazz Studies Department chair Ken Schaphorst, the NEC Youth Jazz Orchestra is the only community jazz orchestra of its kind in the Boston area, open by audition to all musicians high school age or younger. The ensemble strives to give young musicians opportunities to learn and perform together in an environment of high expectations and standards.

NEC’s Jazz Studies Department was the first fully accredited jazz studies program at a music conservatory. The brainchild of Gunther Schuller, who moved quickly to incorporate jazz into the curriculum when he became President of the Conservatory in 1967, the Jazz Studies faculty has included six MacArthur “genius" grant recipients (three currently teaching) and four NEA Jazz Masters, and alumni that reads like a who’s who of jazz. Now in its 45th year, the program has spawned numerous Grammy winning composers and performers. As Mike West writes in JazzTimes: “NEC’s jazz studies department is among the most acclaimed and successful in the world; so says the roster of visionary artists that have comprised both its faculty and alumni.” The program currently has 95 students; 48 undergraduate and 47 graduate students from 13 countries.

Founded in 1972 by musical visionaries Gunther Schuller and Ran Blake, New England Conservatory's Contemporary Improvisation program is “one of the most versatile in all of music education” (JazzEd). Now in its 43rd year, the program trains composer/performer/ improvisers to broaden their musical palettes and develop unique voices. It is unparalleled in its structured approach to ear training and its emphasis on singing, memorization, harmonic sophistication, aesthetic integrity, and stylistic openness. Under Blake's inspired guidance for its first twenty-six years, the program grew considerably and has expanded its offerings under current chair Hankus Netsky and assistant chair Eden MacAdam-Somer. Alumni include Don Byron, John Medeski, Jacqueline Schwab, Aoife O'Donovan and Sarah Jarosz; faculty include Carla Kihlstedt, Blake, Dominique Eade, and Anthony Coleman. “A thriving hub of musical exploration,” (Jeremy Goodwin, Boston Globe), the program currently has over 50 undergrad and graduate students from 17 countries.

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