Some of New England Conservatory’s top jazz piano faculty — Jason Moran, Fred Hersch and Frank Carlberg — will give workshops or concerts at NEC in October. All events are free and open to the public. For more information, log on to necmusic.edu or call 617-585-1260.
Tuesday, Oct. 1, 10 a.m., Pianist Jason Moran, Pierce Hall
Pianist Moran, a MacArthur Fellow called the most provocative thinker in current jazz" by Rolling Stone magazine, visits NEC each year for teaching residencies during which he works behind-the-scenes in one-on-one studio lessons and in ensemble coachings, as well as participating in a variety of projects that are open to the public. In past years these have ranged from the Mahler Unleashed" festival to the Boston premiere of his In My Mind" project devoted to Thelonious Monk. While Moran is on leave of absence from his regular teaching here this year, he returns to NEC for this masterclass in between appearances at the Jazz Standard in New York and the Kennedy Center where he serves as Artistic Advisor for Jazz.
Sun. Oct. 27, 8 p.m., Pianist/Composer Frank Carlberg’s Word Circus, Jordan Hall
Boston premiere of NEC faculty member Carlberg’s Word Circus, commissioned by Chamber Music America’s New Jazz Works program. Carlberg’s music is set to contemporary poetry by Jim Gustafson, Ron Padgett, Ken Mikolowski, Anselm Hollo and Joe Elliot. Performing are Carlberg on piano, Christine Correa, voice; John O'Gallagher, alto sax; Pascal Niggenkemper, bass; and Michael Sarin, drums. This is the 4th date on the band’s New England tour.
Mon. Oct. 28 1 p.m. Master Class with Frank Carlberg Pierce Hall
Tues. Oct. 29 1 p.m. Master Class with Fred Hersch Pierce Hall
NEC grad and faculty member Fred Hersch is widely recognized as one of the most creative jazz players of his generation. During this public master class Hersch will work with NEC students.
Wed. Oct. 30, 8 p.m., The Music of Fred Hersch, Brown Hall
Hersch will work with NEC students who’ll perform his music in the culmination of his residency. Hersch will not be performing during this concert. Hersch will return to Boston on November 21 for a performance at Scullers with guitarist Julian Lage with whom he recently released the recording Free Flying on Palmetto Records.
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 44th 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 114 students; 67 undergraduate and 47 graduate students from 12 countries.
Tuesday, Oct. 1, 10 a.m., Pianist Jason Moran, Pierce Hall
Pianist Moran, a MacArthur Fellow called the most provocative thinker in current jazz" by Rolling Stone magazine, visits NEC each year for teaching residencies during which he works behind-the-scenes in one-on-one studio lessons and in ensemble coachings, as well as participating in a variety of projects that are open to the public. In past years these have ranged from the Mahler Unleashed" festival to the Boston premiere of his In My Mind" project devoted to Thelonious Monk. While Moran is on leave of absence from his regular teaching here this year, he returns to NEC for this masterclass in between appearances at the Jazz Standard in New York and the Kennedy Center where he serves as Artistic Advisor for Jazz.
Sun. Oct. 27, 8 p.m., Pianist/Composer Frank Carlberg’s Word Circus, Jordan Hall
Boston premiere of NEC faculty member Carlberg’s Word Circus, commissioned by Chamber Music America’s New Jazz Works program. Carlberg’s music is set to contemporary poetry by Jim Gustafson, Ron Padgett, Ken Mikolowski, Anselm Hollo and Joe Elliot. Performing are Carlberg on piano, Christine Correa, voice; John O'Gallagher, alto sax; Pascal Niggenkemper, bass; and Michael Sarin, drums. This is the 4th date on the band’s New England tour.
Mon. Oct. 28 1 p.m. Master Class with Frank Carlberg Pierce Hall
Tues. Oct. 29 1 p.m. Master Class with Fred Hersch Pierce Hall
NEC grad and faculty member Fred Hersch is widely recognized as one of the most creative jazz players of his generation. During this public master class Hersch will work with NEC students.
Wed. Oct. 30, 8 p.m., The Music of Fred Hersch, Brown Hall
Hersch will work with NEC students who’ll perform his music in the culmination of his residency. Hersch will not be performing during this concert. Hersch will return to Boston on November 21 for a performance at Scullers with guitarist Julian Lage with whom he recently released the recording Free Flying on Palmetto Records.
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 44th 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 114 students; 67 undergraduate and 47 graduate students from 12 countries.
For more information contact Braithwaite & Katz Communications.