Marian McPartland at Eastman in 2006 By Dan Gross An accomplished jazz pianist, Marian McPartland (1918-2013) was a much-beloved presence on National Public Radio as host of Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz for more than three decades. Piano Jazz offered listeners an intimate, insider’s perspective on the elusive world of jazz improvisation. On her weekly broadcast,…
By Dan Gross Eastman School of Music student, composer, and collaborative pianist Yucong “Zoe” Wang is debuting her newest composition, a Violin Concerto, with the Eastman School Symphony Orchestra tonight at 8 p.m. in Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre. Wang, 24, is no stranger to having her work played. In 2013, she entered the Eastman…
This is Part Two of an interview with Eastman School of Music Professor of Theory Betsy Marvin. For a brief moment, the video took over the Internet. A young man on his side with sax in hand, his brain exposed. He played a beautiful melody, and the operating room cheered. But there’s more to the…
Doctors Brad Mahon and Web Pilcher look at post-surgery photographs with patient Dan Fabbio By Dan Gross For a brief moment, the video took over the Internet. A young man on his side with sax in hand, his brain exposed, played a beautiful melody, and the operating room cheered. But there’s more to the story.…
By Dan Gross Dave Rivello – Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media at Eastman – is back at it again, doing another collaborative project for the 2017 KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival, this time with local musician Shawn Drogan. “Worlds Collide” takes place Saturday, September 16 in Kilbourn Hall for two sets, at 7…
By Dan Gross The Eastman Jazz Sextet left today (Thursday, August 24) at 2 p.m. to go around the world. Current students and recent graduates — Christian Crawford, trumpet; C.J. Ziarniak, saxophone; Luke Norris, saxophone; Sterling Cozza, piano; Ryder Eaton, bass; and Chase Ellison, drums — have gathered under the watchful eye of Professor Jeff…
By Dan Gross Pianist-composer Bill Dobbins has been an esteemed member of Eastman’s jazz faculty twice: from 1973 to 1994, and again from 2002 to the present. (He spent the intervening years as music director of the West German Radio [WDR] Big Band.) He is now Professor of Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media, as well…
“An overall inspiring presence”: composer-conductor Juan Trigos By Dan Gross Mexican composer and conductor Juan Trigos was in residence as Eastman’s Howard Hanson Visiting Professor from April 2 to April 8. His music, including the world premiere of his String Quartet No. 2 with Italian soprano Danilla D’Ingulfo, was featured in two recitals, and Trigos…
By Dan Gross Rochester-born David Finck grew up in Philadelphia, but returned in the 1970s to study at Eastman, where he graduated in 1980. Since then he’s become one of the jazz world’s premiere free-lance bassists, making recordings with musicians from André Previn to George Michael. In the most recent, Low Standards on the SoundStream…
Karl Stabnau performing at the Rochester Public Library during Jazz Festival 2016 By Dan Gross Karl Stabnau graduated from Eastman (BM ’11); MM in Music Education with jazz emphasis in December 2013. Among many other things, he is currently the Jazz Director at SUNY Brockport and the college’s music business coordinator. Instead of playing as…