Summer Jazz Institute back on campus for 20th year

The Skidmore Jazz Institute celebrates its 20th anniversary season from June 23 to July 7 this year at the Saratoga Springs, N.Y. college.

Known for providing two weeks of serious jazz for students of all ages, the program is under the direction of J. Gerald Zaffuts. Jazz institute faculty are noted jazz educators and performers, who share their knowledge and passion with students. This year’s faculty includes Mark Beaubriand, saxophone; Bill Cunliffe, piano; Todd Coolman, bass; Ed Shaughnessy, drums; Pat LaBarbera, saxophone; Bobby Shew, trumpet; Curtis Fuller, trombone and Jim Pugh, trombone.

Christian Scott performs June 30 	 
 	 

From the start, the Skidmore Jazz Institute has offered a series of free concerts, a wildly popular tradition that draws music fans from throughout the region to performances by top guest artists as well as jazz institute faculty and students. This summer’s schedule includes the following events, all of which begin at 8 p.m. in Janet Kinghorn Bernhard Theater:

 • Tuesday, June 26 – James Moody Quartet. Legendary saxophonist Moody will perform with Renee Rosnes, Todd Coolman, and Adam Nussbaum.

 • Thursday, June 28 – Skidmore Faculty Sextet, featuring Cunliffe, Coolman, Shaughnessy, Pat LaBarbera, Shew, and Fuller.

 • Saturday, June 30 – Christian Scott Quintet. The 2007 Grammy nominated artist (for Rewind That) was a McCormack Scholar at the 1999 Skidmore Jazz Institute. He is a former student at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts.

 • Tuesday, July 3 – Jason Moran and the Bandwagon. Blue Note pianist Moran leads this trio, which include Taurus Mateen and Nasheet Waits.

 • Thursday, July 5 – Skidmore Faculty Sextet.

Concerts by students participating in the institute are scheduled at 1 p.m. Friday, June 29, and Friday, July 6, in Filene Recital Hall. Admission to all performances is free and open to the public.

The Skidmore Jazz Institute is made possible with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, the Howard Bayne Foundation, the New York State Summer School of the Arts, and Blue Note/Capitol-EMI Records.