Upcoming Events: September 2009

Only 19 years old, jazz saxophonist Hailey Niswanger has an impressive list of accomplishments that stretch far beyond her native Portland, Oregon. Niswanger, who won the 2008 Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Saxophone Competition at the Kennedy Center, will perform music from her debut CD during her quartet's Kendall Sqare set. [details]

Adam Deitch and friends, featuring Lettuce members Deitch and Adam "Shmeeans" Smirnoff, and special guests Louis Cato and Nigel Hall. The show will be held at the Berklee Performance Center at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, September 3, 2009.

Liz Longley, one of Berklee's finest songwriters, has earned many accolades, including being voted the number-one all-time female vocalist on GarageBand.com in both acoustic and folk categories. John Mayer called her music "gorgeous." Acoustic guitarist/vocalist Ryan Laperle takes you on an emotional journey that is at once profound and inspiring. [details]

An incredible concert featuring Lettuce members Deitch and Adam "Shmeans" Smirnoff, Eric Krasno, and special guests Louis Cato and Nigel Hall. [details]

Come out and see Break Science, the electrifying duo of Adam Deitch on drums and Borahm Lee on keys. [details]

This Labor Day, hear the Sirius XM radio debut of Berklee's Roy Guzman Quintet, recorded June 11 during the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival in Washington, DC. [details]

Marc's group will be playing music from their critically acclaimed 2008 release Hidden Mandala, as well as new compositions. The music style is original progressive jazz with Indian, Latin, and world influences.

Brooke Waggoner takes a natural and logical approach to letting her music stand on its own and not forcing anything to be different for the sake of being different. To see her performance at the piano and witness her string arrangements come to life on stage often leaves audiences silent in amazement. Also appearing: Denison Witmer and Autumn. [details]

Each fall, Berklee chooses its finest students to perform at the Monterey Jazz Festival, where they perform to standing-room-only audiences. Led by guitarist Roy Guzman, the group featured here performed at the festival in 2007, and are already highly sought after, with dozens of professional credits, major awards, and concerts. [details]

Once again, ASAB (Asian Students at Berklee) brings together the Asian youth and those of similar interest. This will be an extension of the Orientation Week events, geared specifically toward the expression of Asian culture to welcome all incoming students to the Asian community at Berklee.

An explosion of NYC talent takes the stage for one magical night. Apollo Run and Julius C. are two of the most innovative, talented, stage-worthy bands on the east coast. Don't miss this show! [details]

The David Zoffer Differential's original double vocal progressive funk/pop/jazz/rock/blues hybrid brings the incredibly powerful Muse Receptor portable music computer and Native Instruments Komplete 5 software suite to a high-energy live electric/electronic show. [details]

From the stages of sold-out arenas to the most intimate club settings, New York City’s Pete Francis has been delivering his signature sound for over a decade. Known for his sincere songwriting and evocative lyrics, Francis is continuing to make waves, this time as a solo artist.

Presented by Ryan's Smashing Life. From the sad simplicity and grace of his New York Times heralded film scores to the ornate and diverse string sections ringing throughout his brand new LP, Keegan DeWitt is someone who represents the human heart in all its variations. Also appearing: Wakey! Wakey! and Parachute Musical. [details]

Visiting artist Cyrus Chestnut presents a clinic as part of Piano Mondays.

Visiting artist Cyrus Chestnut presents a master class open to piano students as part of Piano Mondays.

As part of Piano Mondays, faculty member Doug Johnson presents a classical piano recital featuring the music of Schubert, Chopin, Beethoven, and Debussy.

World premiere of an original opera based on the play by Romulus Linney. Music by Larry Bell, libretto by Linney and Andrea Olmstead. Bell conducts a cast of 22 opera singers and electronic instrument players (all Berklee faculty). Fully staged with costumes and lighting.

Join the String Department faculty for this welcome-back concert.

The six musicians of Gentlemen Hall will appear at Kendall Square with a seamlessly blended sound that highlights music backgrounds influenced by funk, pop, soul, r&b, rock, and electronica. Some have described it as dance floor funk. Hear them and see if you agree. [details]

Two-time Grammy nominee Tommy Emmanuel has a professional career that spans over four decades and continues to intersect with some of the finest musicians throughout the world. A household name in his native Australia, Emmanuel has garnered hundreds of thousands of loyal fans worldwide. Tommy's unique style—he calls it simply "finger style"—is akin to playing guitar the way a pianist plays piano, using all ten fingers. [details]

This concert features new versions of Weather Report's material with '70s fusion roots opened up and brought into this millennium. Berklee guitar faculty member Roos is joined by faculty member Steve Hunt on keyboards, Victor Bailey on bass, and Dean Johnston on drums. [details]

Guitarist and Berklee alumnus Julian Lage '08, at 21, is already an accomplished artist. He was 8 when he played with Carlos Santana and 13 when he first played with Gary Burton. The Guardian of London calls him a "big talent blossoming." Lage recently released his debut recording, Sounding Point, on EmArcy Records, featuring his working band—saxophonist Ben Roseth, cellist Aristides Rivas, bassist Jorge Roeder and drummer/percussionist Tupac Mantilla. He'll perform two sets at Scullers.

Steve Smith performs with the Berklee Concert Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Greg Hopkins as part of the Zildjian Annual Major Artist Residency.

Noted for his outstanding technical command and identifiable sound as a piano stylist, Ahmad Jamal impresses fellow musicians and record buyers alike with his innovative, minimalist approach. [details]

Professor of voice Lisa Thorson spins her favorite music by legendary jazz vocalists. Thorson, acting as guest DJ, joins WGBH-FM host Steve Schwartz for his Jazz in the Classroom Series, part of the weekly Jazz from Studio Four show. In a broadcast that will run until midnight, Thorson's playlist will feature some of history's great vocal innovators, covering the early days of jazz to today.

The Drops Like Stars tour is a two-hour exploration of the endlessly complex relationship between suffering and creativity. [details]

Composer, pianist, and director of Berklee's new Global Jazz Institute—Grammy winner Danilo Perez is at home on any stage. Tonight his band features guest percussionist Jamey Haddad.

The Berklee Monterey Quintet, led by guitar phenom Roy Guzman, plays two shows at the 52nd Monterey Jazz Festival. [details]

Noted for his outstanding technical command and identifiable sound as a piano stylist, Ahmad Jamal impresses fellow musicians and record buyers alike with his innovative, minimalist approach. [details]

Noted for his outstanding technical command and identifiable sound as a piano stylist, Ahmad Jamal impresses fellow musicians and record buyers alike with his innovative, minimalist approach [details]

Composer, pianist, and director of Berklee's new Global Jazz Institute—Grammy winner Danilo Perez is at home on any stage. Tonight his band features guest percussionist Jamey Haddad.

Barefoot Truth is one of the more promising roots-rock bands on the indie circuit these days, playing a wide array of instruments including upright bass, lap steel, congas, didgeridoo, and lead harmonica. [details]

Every member of the Melissa Aldana Quintet has a full scholarship to Berklee College of Music, where they are currently finishing their studies. This is one of the freshest jazz groups in Boston, playing amazing originals as well as some of the greatest classic standards known to the American songbook. Aldana will be performing with a special guest nightly, September 19-25. [details]

Noted for his outstanding technical command and identifiable sound as a piano stylist, Ahmad Jamal impresses fellow musicians and record buyers alike with his innovative, minimalist approach [details]

Jose Ramos is one of Boston's most exciting and prolific blues and r&b vocalists, and his No Way Jose! Band is a multicultural blend of musicians from all over the world who have been packing the clubs around Boston for more than 20 years. [details]

Listen to Yourself: Deepening Artistry and Technique Through Ear Training and Improvisation. A clinic from trombonist and composer Brian Allen. [details]

Violin Futura is a 21st-century violin project created by virtuoso violinist/composer Piotr Szewczyk: a recital of short, exciting violin pieces written especially for him by composers from around the world. [details]

A multimedia concert tribute to Michael Jackson, directed by the Yo Team, with performances by Berklee students and faculty.

Wally's Stepchildren is a funk/fusion band that has had rotating musicians at Wally's for almost 15 years. [details]

The Mad Pop Tycoons present Galeria Surreal: over 3 dozen genres in less than an hour.

Michael Farquharson and Matthew Nicholl present a joint faculty concert.

Jazz Revelation Records (JRR) presents two artists from its latest release, Dedication. JRR is student-run, artist-driven record label created to present the top jazz composers and performers at Berklee College of Music. Gathered from all over the globe, JRR artists speak the language of jazz in a new way. Their youth, passion, and commitment are the launching pad for a new direction in an established tradition. [details]

Professor of voice Lisa Thorson and her longtime trio will present a spirited mix of innovative arrangements and compositions that look to the past and give a nod to the future. Featuring Thorson, vocals; Tim Ray, piano; David Clark, bass; and George Schuller, drums. [details]

Original instrumental music by the Scott Tarulli Group.

A set of original rock/fusion instrumentals including two guitars, bass, drums, and possibly keys, led by Don Lappin.

Faculty clarinetist Harry Skoler with special guest clarinetist Felix Peikli celebrates the 100th anniversary of Benny Goodman’s birth in a sextet tribute. This jazz concert will feature two clarinets, piano, guitar, bass, and drums.

The "new" Branford Marsalis Quartet includes 18-year-old prodigy Justin Faulkner on drums, Eric Revis on bass, Joey Calderazzo on piano, and, of course, Branford Marsalis on saxophone. [details]

Famed saxophonist David Sanborn presents a clinic. [details]

The Office for Cultural Diversity presents the first installment in its Culture Matters film series, followed by a Q&A with faculty and community members on music and social change. [details]

Kazuyo Kuriya’s performs original compositions with a variety of her ensemble group members for her senior recital.

An original play written and performed by Berklee students, Love and Hunger: A Play with Music about the Life and Work of Billie Holiday is a collaboration between the Advanced Theater Production Workshop, taught by Liberal Arts associate professors Rebecca Perricone and Amy Merrill, and the Billie Holiday Ensemble, taught by Percussion professor Terri Lyne Carrington. [details]

A deep musical conversation between music lovers and music admirers; an intimate session about the intangible.

Berklee Jams Club hosts a Jazz Jam Session in honor of the BeanTown Jazz Festival, at the Red Room @ Cafe 939. Sign up starts at 5:30 p.m., session starts at 7:00 p.m. Free to all Berklee students. [details]

Celebrating Bobby Hackett and Vic Dickenson and other great icons of traditional jazz featuring professors pianist Ray Santisi; bassist Bruce Gertz; drummer John Ramsay along with trombonist Phil Wilson and trumpeter Jeff Stout playing music from the Great American Song Book of Standards.

Three supreme musicians—saxophonist David Sanborn, pianist/vocalist/composer Amina Claudine Myers, and vocalist Kevin Mahogany—come together on one big night at the BPC. [details]

Berklee BeanTown Jazz concertgoers get a rare treat this year: four chances to hear a special performance, "Dedicated To You"—Kurt Elling Sings Coltrane/Hartman, Featuring Joel Frahm and the Laurence Hobgood Trio. Watch as vocalist Kurt Elling takes on an extraordinary challenge: paying homage to the 1963 jazz classic featuring John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman. Elling will be joined by his frequent collaborator, pianist Lawrence Hobgood and saxophonist Joel Frahm. [details]

Berklee BeanTown Jazz concertgoers get a rare treat this year: four chances to hear a special performance, "Dedicated To You"—Kurt Elling Sings Coltrane/Hartman, Featuring Joel Frahm and the Laurence Hobgood Trio. Watch as vocalist Kurt Elling takes on an extraordinary challenge: paying homage to the 1963 jazz classic featuring John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman. Elling will be joined by his frequent collaborator, pianist Lawrence Hobgood and saxophonist Joel Frahm. [details]

The Berklee City Music All-Star Ensemble is composed of the best and brightest City Music students. The ensemble performs multiple genres of contemporary music, including jazz, pop, hip-hop, and rhythm and blues. [details]

Ashanti Munir's powerful voice has earned her comparisons to Lalah Hathaway. She's still riding high from the success of her 2008 debut CD, Balance, which received rave reviews internationally. The single "I'm Staying Home Tonight" was a dance floor favorite in the UK, and Balance was #18 on Solar Radio's Best of 2008 chart in London. [details]

Come dance to the tropical rhythms of the Berklee student Salsa Ensemble, directed by Bernardo Hernández, assistant professor. Hernández, who has played with a wide range of innovative artists—including Israel "Cachao" Lopez and Nancy Wilson—has led the group in a string of performances throughout the Boston area. [details]

JazzBoston hosts Boston-based BeanTown performers and other hometown musicians for informal conversations with fans. The lineup will change throughout the day, so stop by often. Then step into the JazzBoston TV studio and record your answer to the question, "What's YOUR jazz?" Visit jazzboston.org for details.

Listen to the soulful voice of the Donna McElroy Quartet together with Berklee faculty George Russell on piano, John Lockwood on bass and Yoron Israel on drums. [details]

Led by Marcus Santos, Bloco AfroBrazil takes to the streets of Boston throughout the outdoor festival day, mixing traditional Brazilian grooves like samba, maracatu, and baião with funk, rock, jazz, and hip-hop. Always one of the most visible and high-energy groups of the day, Bloco AfroBrazil will spice things up with fun and a mission to make everyone dance. The group consists of more than 20 of the most talented percussionists and musicians in New England. [details]

Barbados native and saxophonist Elan Trotman has made a name for himself as one of New England’s up-and-coming jazz artists. He has performed with Roberta Flack, Brian McKnight, Kirk Whalum, and was named Best Jazz Artist in 2008 at the New England Urban Music Awards. [details]

In the classic jazz genre, Donald Harrison is the originator of the nouveau swing style, which merges acoustic swing with modern r&b, second-line, hip-hop, New Orleans African American roots culture, and reggae rhythms. [details]

Born and raised in San Francisco and now based in Westchester County, New York, Joe Louis Walker is one of the most heralded blues artists of our time. [details]

Drummer, percussionist, composer, band leader. and educator, Yoron Israel is one of the most gifted and sought-after musicians in the music industry today. Over the past 10 years, Israel has performed regularly with the late legendary saxophonist/flutist and composer David "Fathead" Newman in a variety of settings. [details]

Jane Bunnett, the Toronto soprano saxophonist, flutist, and bandleader, has built her career at the crossroads between Cuban music and jazz. Twice nominated for Grammy awards and a fixture of the nominations for Canada’s Juno awards, she has turned her bands into showcases for the finest musical talent from Canada, the United States, and Cuba. [details]

Berklee students will perform the music of classic funk band George Clinton and the Parliament Funkadelic. [details]

Except for the real Tower of Power, this is probably the only band in the world that plays extensive repertoire of Tower of Power's Music. [details]

M.F. Productions presents Defenders of the Groove, featuring vocalist Ernie Andrews, saxophonist Plas Johnson, and guitarist Melvin Sparks. [details]

Growing up in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Eguie Castrillo first showed hints of musical ability playing a tiny organ in his parents' living room. Castrillo began playing the timbales at age 7, profoundly influenced by the music of the great bandleader and percussionist Tito Puente. [details]

Come out and enjoy a night of unique music featuring San Francisco's Still Flyin', whose debut album has been described as "a gorgeous piece of kaleidoscopic pop." Also performing: Pants Yell and Excalibrah. [details]

Berklee BeanTown Jazz concertgoers get a rare treat this year: four chances to hear a special performance, "Dedicated To You"—Kurt Elling Sings Coltrane/Hartman, Featuring Joel Frahm and the Laurence Hobgood Trio. Watch as vocalist Kurt Elling takes on an extraordinary challenge: paying homage to the 1963 jazz classic featuring John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman. Elling will be joined by his frequent collaborator, pianist Lawrence Hobgood and saxophonist Joel Frahm. [details]

Berklee BeanTown Jazz concertgoers get a rare treat this year: four chances to hear a special performance, "Dedicated To You"—Kurt Elling Sings Coltrane/Hartman, Featuring Joel Frahm and the Laurence Hobgood Trio. Watch as vocalist Kurt Elling takes on an extraordinary challenge: paying homage to the 1963 jazz classic featuring John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman. Elling will be joined by his frequent collaborator, pianist Lawrence Hobgood and saxophonist Joel Frahm. [details]

Since the release of his first album in April 1986, Bruce Hornsby has created a musical life that has expanded far and wide to include a broad stylistic range. Hornsby is a 13-time Grammy nominee and winner of three Grammy awards, including Best New Artist, Best Pop Instrumental Performance, and Best Bluegrass Recording. Also performing, The Wood Brothers. [details]

Guitarist Joe Morris has toured throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. He helped organize the Boston Improvisers Group, and has recorded and/or performed with Matthew Shipp, William Parker, Joe and Mat Maneri, and Roy Campbell Jr., among others. [details]

Eyal Hai's saxophone jazz quartet performs some original music with good vibes.

Raul Perales will be featuring a mix of his own compositions and arrangements that sound like a mixture of popular Cuban music, jazz, and other sounds from the Afro-Latino diaspora.

Lincoln Goines performs with his students.

The Javier Rosario Group will perform original tunes written by many of the members.

Tom Plsek, trombone; Joe Morris, guitar; and John Voigt, bass will perform interpretations of graphic scores by legendary Boston pianist Lowell Davidson. The scores will be projected during the performance.

Daniela Schächter and her quintet will perform her compositions and arrangements of jazz standards. [details]

The Jazz Educators Orchestra is a 21-piece group directed by Berklee professor Brian Lewis. The JEO will present a program of Latin jazz featuring some of Berklee's outstanding Latin jazz faculty as guests. Arrangements by Lewis.

Percussionist Alex Acuña presents a clinic. Acuña's South American and Caribbean roots and understanding of contemporary and classical music make him a complete and skilled master musician. In 2000, Alex Acuña y Su Acuarela De Tambores received a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album for Rhythms for a New Millennium. This solo album included varying styles of Latin, South American, and African percussion. [details]

Christian Moran presents some new rhythmic usages through contemporary jazz.

Ten out of Tenn will return this fall with a brand new compilation and tour featuring a third generation of the top artists out of Tennessee. [details]

The concert begins with the Winnie Dahlgren Quintet, featuring vibes, piano, bass, drums, and percussion. A guest saxophonist will perform and the set will end with a couple of five-horn charts. In the second half of the concert, the Big Bang Evolutionary Big Band (BBEBB)—an 18-piece big band/jazz orchestra— will perform. BBEBB will feature compositions and arrangements from the Berklee community. [details]

Drummer Ed Soph's career spans 40 years as a performer, recording artist, author, and teacher. He has worked with Clark Terry, Lee Konitz, Vic Damone, and Marvin Stamm, among others. [details]

Bassist Abe Laboriel presents a clinic. Abraham Laboriel Sr. is a Mexican bassist who has played on more than 4,000 recordings and soundtracks. Guitar Player magazine described him as: "the most widely used session bassist of our time." Laboriel is the father of drummer Abe Laboriel Jr. and of producer, songwriter, and film composer Mateo Laboriel. [details]

Pianist Boyoung Jang's first recital.

Jidam Kang will be performing music she composed and arranged. It will include bossa nova, samba, and ballads. The vision of the music is to heal the people who have scars. The light and beauty of music can clean their hearts and then encourage them to live with hope.

Guitarist Istvan Cseh presents some original pieces in the style of fusion and rock.

Join us for an evening of "classic rock that never gets old . . . even if we do." After its packed concert at Cafe 939 in May 2008, Six returns to Berklee. Learn more about Executive Sessions.

A completely improvised performance with Abraham Laboriel on electric basses, Alex Acuna on drum set and percussion, Jetro da Silva on acoustic piano, and Rhiannon on voice.

Faculty bassist Tom Appleman will be joined by fellow faculty guitarist Joe Musella in a performance of the Beatles' Abbey Road album in its entirety.

The Norm Zocher Quartet will perform original guitar oriented jazz fusion. A critically acclaimed composer and guitarist, Zocher’s long form compositions are inspired as much by rock as by the modern jazz orchestra for which he composes.