Williams Jazz Fest Day 1!
Sat, May 7th, 2022
12:00 pm - 8:30 pm
- This event has passed.
Williams Jazz Fest is a new way to present the college’s active jazz scene all at one place at one time. During the weekend jazz fans can look forward to enjoying Immanuel Wilkins Quartet, Williams Jazz Orchestra with special guest Alexa Tarantino, Williams Jazz Faculty Ensemble with special guest Jeremy Pelt, and a host of student ensemble performances. Scroll down for schedule.
Immanuel Wilkins
The music of saxophonist and composer Immanuel Wilkins is filled with empathy and conviction, bonding arcs of melody and lamentation to pluming gestures of space and breath. Listeners were introduced to this riveting sound with his acclaimed debut album Omega, which was named the #1 Jazz Album of 2020 by The New York Times. The album also introduced his remarkable quartet with Micah Thomas on piano, Daryl Johns on bass, and Kweku Sumbry on drums, a tight-knit unit that Wilkins features once again on his stunning sophomore album The 7th Hand.
Alexa Tarantino
Alexa Tarantino is an award-winning, vibrant, young jazz saxophonist, woodwind doubler, composer, and educator. Alexa’s “high-octane [performance]” (Jazziz Magazine) and “sharply plotted but gracefully unencumbered straight-ahead jazz [compositions]” (The New York Times) establish her individual voice which shines through as a dynamic performer and educator. Tarantino was recently named one of the “Top 5 Alto Saxophonists of 2019” by the JazzTimes Critics’ Poll and nominated as a “Rising Star – Alto Saxophone” by Downbeat Magazine’s 2020 and 2021 Critics’ Poll.
Jeremy Pelt
Jeremy Pelt has become one of the preeminent young trumpeters within the world of jazz. Forging a bond with the Mingus Big Band very early on, as his career progressed, Pelt built upon these relationships and many others which eventually lead to collaborations with some of the genre’s greatest masters. These projects include performances and recordings with Cliff Barbaro, Keter Betts, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Ravi Coltrane, Frank Foster, Winard Harper, Jimmy Heath, Vincent Herring, John Hicks, Charli Persip, Ralph Peterson, Lonnie Plaxico, Bobby Short, Cedar Walton, Frank Wess, Nancy Wilson and The Skatalites, to name a few.
Jazz Fest Schedule – in front of Paresky Student Center
rain venue denotes “Plan B” location
Saturday, May 7, 2022
12:00pm Saudade Six – coached by Kris Allen
(rain venue: Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall)
1:00pm Better Days Septet – coached by Kris Allen
(rain venue: Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall)
3:00pm Jeremy Pelt “Griot” – talk with guest trumpeter
(rain venue: Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall)
5:00pm Freeloading Freddies – coached by Gregg August
(rain venue: Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall)
6:00pm And of 6 – coached by Zaccai Curtis
(rain venue: Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall)
7:00pm Faculty Jazz Ensemble with special guest Jeremy Pelt, trumpet
Kris Allen, saxophone; Zaccai Curtis, piano; Gregg August, bass; Conor Meehan, drumset
(rain venue: Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall)
Sunday, May 8, 2022
12:00pm Biscuit Flavor – coached by Kris Allen
(rain venue: Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall)
1:00pm Tap For Joy community Tap class with Jenny Herzog in collaboration with the
Williams Ballroom Dance Club http://www.jennyherzog.com/tap-for-joy
(rain venue: Chapin Hall)
2:00pm Alexa Tarantino, flute – Masterclass
Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall
5:00- 6:15pm Williams Jazz Orchestra featuring Alexa Tarantino, flute and saxophone
(rain venue: Chapin Hall)
6:45- 8:00pm Immanuel Wilkins Quartet – Festival Guest Artists
(rain venue: Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall)
Immanuel Wilkins – alto saxophone
Micah Thomas – piano
Rick Rosato – bass
Kweku Sumbry – drumset