Institute Faculty

Former Institute faculty members can be seen here.

Todd Coolman - Artistic Director, Bass & Combo Leader

Grammy award-winning bassist Todd Coolman has performed and/or recorded with a virtual, “Who’s who” of jazz artists including Horace Silver, Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, Benny Golson, Ahmad Jamal, Art Farmer, Jay Jay Johnson, The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, and The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, among others. He enjoyed a 25-year stint with the James Moody Quartet and continues to perform with Jon Faddis, Charles McPherson, Renee Rosnes, as well as leading his own small groups. His recordings include Collectables with his trio Trifecta (Bill Cunliffe and Dennis Mackrel), Our Delight, Perfect Strangers, and 4B, the last recording of James Moody and winner of the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album. Coolman holds a Ph.D. from New York University and is the author of two books, The Bass Tradition and The BottomLine. He is Professor Emeritus at SUNY Purchase where he Directed the Jazz Studies Program for ten years and has been a Professor at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music (his Alma mater). Recent projects include e-blog “Tales from the Road–A Jazz Musician’s Diary” and “The Cool Toddcast”–Jazz Interviews with notable musicians and contributors to the industry. Coolman has been with SJI since 1998. 

Bill Cunliffe – Piano & Combo Leader

Pianist, composer and Grammy Award-winning arranger Bill Cunliffe has worked with legends including Buddy Rich, Frank Sinatra, Ray Brown, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard and Art Farmer. He currently performs with his trio; his big band; his Latin band, Imaginación; and his classical-jazz ensemble, Trimotif. Recent releases include his trio album River Edge, New Jersey, and his Overture, Waltz and Rondo for jazz piano, trumpet and orchestra, which won Cunliffe his fifth Grammy nomination for Best Instrumental Composition. Cunliffe is a jazz studies professor at Cal State Fullerton. He received his master’s degree from the Eastman School of Music and was the 1989 winner of the Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition.

Steve Davis - Trombone & Combo Leader

One of today’s leading improvisers on the trombone, Davis’ lyrical, hard-swinging style first gained him broad recognition during the 1990’s while working with the bands of Art Blakey, Jackie McLean, Chick Corea’s Origin and the cooperative sextet, One For All. He has appeared in Downbeat Magazine’s Reader’s and Critic’s Polls and was nominated by The JJA four years in a row as Trombonist of the Year. Recent recordings include For Real and Gettin’ It Done (Positone). He graduated from The Hartt School (Jackie McLean Institute—University of Hartford, CT). McLean helped Davis land his first major gig with Art Blakey in NYC in 1989. In 1991 Davis joined McLean’s sextet and began teaching alongside his mentor at the Artist’s Collective and the Hartt School of Music where he remains on the faculty. As a leader, he frequently performs with Larry Willis, Mike DiRubbo, David Bryant, Dezron Douglas, Eric McPherson, and continues to perform with One For All (Eric Alexander, Jim Rotondi, David Hazeltine, John Webber and Joe Farnsworth). Davis is in demand as a sideman, has been featured on over 100 recordings and has also played with the Larry Willis’ Quintet, Freddie Hubbard and The New Jazz Composers Octet, Slide Hampton and The Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Star Big Band, The Jimmy Heath Big Band, Ron Carter Big Band, Cecil Payne, Horace Silver and Wynton Marsalis’ Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. 

Jimmy Greene - Saxophone & Combo Leader

Connecticut native Jimmy Greene is a saxophonist, composer, and educator. He has released 12 solo recordings to critical acclaim, including While Looking Up. Greene’s two previous albums celebrated the life of his 6-year old daughter, Anna Marquez-Green, whose life was tragically taken at Sandy Hook Elementary. His 2016 album Beautiful Life garnered two Grammy nominations. Greene graduated from the Hartt School, received a master’s in music education from Boston University, and his doctorate degree in jazz arts at the Manhattan School of Music. In addition to his recordings and appearances as a leader, Greene appears on over 100 albums as a sideman, and has toured and/or recorded with a number of jazz greats. Greene is an associate professor of music and co-coordinator of jazz studies at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, Connecticut.

Bob Halek - Drums, Combo & Administration

Bob Halek is a much sought-after drummer, percussionist, educator, clinician and conductor.  Performing jazz, pop, rock, soul, big band, orchestral, concert and opera music, he has shared the stage with many exceptional regional and national musicians. Halek was named Teacher of the Year in the East Greenbush School District where he spent many years teaching instrumental music. He is currently an adjunct professor at Schenectady County Community College and Skidmore College.

Sara Jacovino - Trombone & Combo Leader

Sara Jacovino is a New York City-based trombonist, composer and arranger. In addition to leading her own quartet, she has played with ensembles including the Diva Jazz Orchestra, the Birdland Big Band, Band of Bones, David Berger and The Sultans of Swing, and the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. She has also performed with Michael Feinstein, Steve Davis, Adele and Aretha Franklin among others. Jacovino is an established musician on Broadway, and her credits include Tina, The Tina Turner Musical, King Kong and Elf, in addition to other production and television appearances. She has multiple recordings with the University of North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band and with the Grammy-winning ensemble Snarky Puppy. She has been a featured artist and commissioned composer at the International Women in Brass Conference. Jacovino earned her Bachelors and Masters in Music from the University of North Texas and is a frequent guest artist and clinician.

Clay Jenkins – Trumpet & Combo Leader

Clay Jenkins' career as a performer began when he joined the Stan Kenton Orchestra in 1977. He moved to Los Angeles and soon after joined the The Buddy Rich Big Band and then The Count Basie Orchestra. He became a charter member of The Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra (CHJO) along with the great Snooky Young. He has 8 solo recordings and has recorded with Joe LaBarbera, Milt Jackson, Steve Houghton, Diana Krall, Kim Richmond, Billy Harper, “Trio East,” Lyle Mays, Peter Erskine, Gene Bertoncini, Rufus Reid, Ray Brown, Kurt Elling, Bob Sheppard, Jim Widner, John LaBarbera, Pat LaBarbera and Miki Coltrane among others. He has performed on 3 Grammy Nominated Albums including The Alan Ferber Big Band, The Dave Slonaker Jazz Orchestra and Chuck Owens’ Surge Big Band. Jenkins is a Professor of Jazz Trumpet at The Eastman School of Music and maintains a busy performing schedule.

Brian Lynch - Trumpet & Combo Leader

Trumpeter and composer Brian Lynch honed his skills in the world’s most distinguished academies, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers and the Horace Silver Quintet. He has had long tenures with Latin Jazz legend Eddie Palmieri and straight-ahead master Phil Woods. He has collaborated with Jazz artists such as Benny Golson, Toshiko Akiyoshi, and Charles McPherson; Latin music icons Hector LaVoe and Lila Downs; and pop luminaries such as Prince. As a bandleader and recording artist he has released over 20 critically-acclaimed CDs and toured the world with various ensembles. Lynch is a Professor at the Frost School of Music, University of Miami and is in demand world-wide for clinics and workshops. His talents have been recognized by Downbeat Critics and Readers Polls and with grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, Chamber Music America, and Meet the Composer. He has received multiple Grammy Award nominations and wins for 2007 Best Latin Jazz Album and 2020 Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album.

Dennis Mackrel – Drums & Combo Leader

Mackrel got his start playing in the Count Basie Orchestra in 1983, and would be the last drummer hired by Mr. Basie personally. Since then has played with an impressive list of ensembles, including the Village Vanguard Orchestra, Carla Bley Very Large Band, Slide Hampton and the Jazz Masters, the Hank Jones Trio, Manhattan Symphony Jazz Orchestra, Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra, and the American Jazz Orchestra. Mackrel’s compositions have been recorded and performed internationally, most notably by the McCoy Tyner Band, who’s Grammy-Award-winning CDs The Turning Point (Verve Records, 1992) and Journey (Verve Records, 1993) included Mackrel's arrangements. He has also played with a host of other musicians that include Monty Alexander, Tony Bennett, Quincy Jones, Hank Jones and Sir George Shearing. In 2010 Mackrel returned to the Count Basie Orchestra and served as the ensemble’s leader and chief conductor until 2013. From 2015 to 2020 he was the chief conductor of the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Holland. In 2019, the orchestra was awarded the prestigious "Edison Award" for their double CD "Crossroads". Mackrel is also currently a professor at Queens College.

Mike Moreno - Guitar & Combo Leader

Originally from Houston, Texas, guitarist Mike began studying music formally at the Houston High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, a school renowned for its musical alumni. Later, while attending the New School University, he began to perform and tour with some of the most venerable names and rising stars in Jazz such as Joshua Redman, Nicholas Payton, Stefon Harris, Jason Moran, Terence Blanchard, Robert Glasper, Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, among others. In 2007, Moreno debuted his first album and now has 7 releases as a leader, including his most recent, Standards From Film, in 2022. His latest project, of the same name, explores the cultural history and harmonic evolution of 14 iconic jazz standards from the Golden Age of Hollywood.

John Nazarenko - Recording and Audio Engineering

John Nazarenko is Senior Artist-in-Residence at Skidmore College and a renowned jazz pianist. He is also a music producer and engineer and has owned and operated The Creek Studio, a full production facility offering complete recording services, since 1980.  Nazarenko is also on the faculty at Williams College, directs the jazz ensemble at the Luzerne Music Center, and has authored several books in jazz studies. He performs as a soloist with numerous ensembles at jazz clubs and concert venues and has recorded with Eric Harland, Reuben Rogers, Chuck D'Aloia, and Colleen Pratt among others. His latest live recording project, Some Other Time, features Eric Harland and Larry Grenadier. 

Dave Stryker - Guitar & Combo Leader

Gary Giddins of the Village Voice calls guitarist Dave Stryker "one of the most distinctive guitarists to come along in recent years.” Stryker has 31 CD’s as a leader and is known as a featured sideman with Stanley Turrentine and Jack McDuff. Hot House magazine awarded him Best Guitarist Fans Decision for 2017 and he was once again voted as one of the top Jazz Guitarists in the 2019 Downbeat Critics and Readers Polls. His most recent CD Eight Track III hIt #1 for 6 weeks on the JazzWeek Radio chart, and was chosen as one of the top CD’s of 2019 by Downbeat Magazine. Stryker grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, moved to New York City in 1980, and joined organist Jack McDuff’s group soon after. He has also performed with Freddie Hubbard, James Moody, Dizzy Gillespie, Jimmy Smith, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and many others. He is the author of Dave Stryker’s Jazz Guitar Improvisation Method (Mel Bay Publishing). Stryker is an Adjunct Professor at Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University, and Rutgers University.

Steve Wilson - Saxophone & Combo Leader

Acclaimed jazz saxophonist Steve Wilson has performed on more than 100 recordings with artists such as Michael Brecker, Dianne Reeves, Gerald Wilson, Joe Henderson, Charlie Byrd, Bill Stewart and Mulgrew Miller. He has 7 recordings of his own featuring collaborations with Lewis Nash, Carl Allen, Steve Nelson, Cyrus Chestnut, Greg Hutchinson, Ray Drummond and Nicholas Payton among others. Wilson currently co-leads a trio with pianist Renee Rosnes and bassist Peter Washington and is a member of the Maria Schneider Orchestra, the Billy Childs Quartet, Christian McBride’s Inside Straight and Big Band, and the Buster Williams Quartet. He is an in-demand guest artist and has previously taught at the Juilliard School, William Patterson University, the New School and SUNY Purchase. He is currently the Director of Jazz Studies at City College of New York.

 

Administration

Brian Carucci – Director

Brian Carucci is a band director at Shenendehowa High School where he teaches Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, instrumental lessons and is the pit orchestra director for the High School Musical Company. He is a woodwind adjudicator the NYS School Music Association and coordinates the annual Shen Jazz Festival with over 300 local jazz students. He has played with Albany Pro Musica, Northern Symphonic Winds, Capital Region Wind Ensemble, Schenectady Light Opera Company and Glens Falls Symphony and maintains his own private teaching studio in Rexford. Carucci has served as Assistant Conductor for the NYSSSA School of Orchestral Studies and as adjunct clarinet instructor at Schenectady County Community College. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Music Education and Master's degree in Music Performance from the Crane School of Music.

Donald McCormack - Program Consultant

As Dean of Special Programs at Skidmore College, Don McCormack founded the Skidmore Jazz Institute in 1987. Under McCormack's 20-year tenure as dean, the College launched nationally recognized programs in the arts, among them the NYS Summer Writers Institute, Skidmore Summer Dance Workshop, Skidmore Summer Flute Institute, SITI Company Summer Theater Workshop and the Summer SIX Art Program. A long-time advocate for arts education, McCormack has been the inspiration and the impetus for creating artistic residencies and scholarship funds that serve disadvantaged students. Currently he serves on the Board of Directors at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.