Jazz Institute faculty share Grammy
Skidmore Jazz Institute faculty members recently received Grammy awards for their work as members of the Christian McBride Big Band. The band's album Bringin' It won in the Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album category.
The album features two 2018 Skidmore Jazz Institute faculty members: Michael Dease and Steve Davis. Also part of the band are two former Jazz Institute faculty members who were also
students in the program: Brandon Lee and James Burton III.
Trombonist Davis, whose original composition and arrangement "Optimism" was one of
the tracks on Bringin' It, called McBride "a gracious band leader." He said playing in the band is "always
an extreme pleasure. We're looking forward to a European tour later this spring!"
Dease, also a trombonist, cited McBride's diverse musical influences and band personnel
as "a musical melting pot with a incredible core of mutual respect." The Christian
McBride Big Band, he said, "embodies the principles of teamwork, excellence and mentorship-values
modeled by the Skidmore Jazz Institute over its more than 30-year history."
The Skidmore Jazz Institute is accepting applications for the 2018 program (the 31st year) and is still sponsored by the Arthur Zimtbaum
Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the
Arts, and the Howard Bayne Fund.
