(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Jazz at Princeton, Princeton University Music Department, presents Jazz Festival 2024 on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall. The event runs from 1:00pm to 10:00pm with free sets by Darryl Harper (clarinet), Josh Lawrence (trumpet), Yuhan Su (vibraphone), and the Princeton University Faculty Quintet. At 8:00pm, there is a ticketed concert featuring the Creative Large Ensemble, directed by Darcy James Argue, with drummer/composer/MacArthur genius Dafnis Prieto.
Tickets for the 8:00pm headliner are $15 for the public and $5 for students. Tickets are available for purchase online. Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall is located at 68 Nassau Street in Princeton, New Jersey.
About the Performers
Darryl Harper began studying clarinet at age six in his native Philadelphia and was introduced to jazz at 16 by trombonist Anthony Hurdle. Within a year he was working professionally and began sitting in at sessions and performing with Tony Williams, Tyrone Brown, Eddie Green, Bootsie Barnes and other veteran Philadelphia-based jazz artists. Over the years he has performed with Dee Dee Bridgewater, Roscoe Mitchell, Dave Holland, Orrin Evans, Freddie Bryant, Tim Warfield and Uri Caine. He performed with violinist Regina Carter for two years and toured the U.S., Europe, South America and the Caribbean. He currently holds the clarinet chair in pianist/composer Jason Moran’s tribute project to World War I veteran James Reese Europe: Jason Moran’s Harlem Hellfighters – James Reese Europe and the Absence of Ruin.
Harper’s projects as a leader include The Onus, the piano-clarinet duo Into Something and the C3 Project, an octet that presents multi-media work that include dance, video and poetry. His groups are acclaimed for their “poise and maturity” and “the empathy Harper and cohorts have developed over… years of working together.” As a composer, Harper has published and recorded over two dozen works. He has written a film score for the award-winning documentary film Herskovits: At the Heart of Blackness. Harper has been recognized by critics for his “incisive arrangements” and “richly melodic and…refreshingly inventive” writing.
Harper has a doctorate in Jazz Studies from New England Conservatory, an M.M. in Jazz Studies from Rutgers University, and a B.A. in Music from Amherst College. He currently serves as John William Ward Professor of Music and as chair of the Music Department at Amherst.
Josh Lawrence is a critically acclaimed trumpeter, composer, bandleader, and recording artist who serves as Director of Jazz Studies at Interlochen Center for the Arts.
A “preeminent voice among young composers” (Downbeat 2017), Lawrence has received awards from and produced commissions for the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage (From the Vine), American Composers Forum (Mind Behind Closed Eyes), Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts (Life Mosaic), Revive X Metropolitan Museum of Art (Harlem Suite), Chamber Music America (Lost Works Live), Come Hear North Carolina (We Insist! FCO + Melanie Charles), and Festival of New Trumpet Music (Philly Twisted).
Lawrence has recorded five solo albums with Posi-Tone Records, two albums with Ropeadope Records co-leading the Fresh Cut Orchestra, received two Grammy Award nominations with pianist Orrin Evans’ Captain Black Big Band and Smoke Sessions Records, and can be heard on albums by Boyz II Men, Erykah Badu, Jazmine Sullivan, Laurin Talese, Jonathan Michel, Caleb Curtis, Tarbaby, Adam Baldych, and Brian Marsella’s Imaginarium.
Lawrence holds a Bachelor degree from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, a Master degree from the Juilliard School in New York, and studied with legendary pianist Barry Harris. In 2021, Lawrence was named Director of Jazz Studies at Interlochen Center for the Arts where he now leads the Arts Academy and Summer Camp programs and conducts the Interlochen Jazz Orchestra.
‘Like the best fiction, it’s entirely enveloping’ – Recent Nominee of Downbeat Rising Star of Vibraphone, New York based Taiwanese vibraphonist Yuhan Su’s four records release as a leader including Liberated Gesture(2023, Sunnyside), City Animals(2018, Sunnyside), A Room of One’s Own(2015, Inner Circle Music) and Flying Alone(2021, Inner Circle Music) have received widespread approval and numerous music awards and nominations, including ‘Best Jazz Album of the Year’, ‘Best New Artist’, ’ Best Jazz Single’, ‘Best Instrumentalist Award’ from the Golden Indie Music Award and ‘Best Performance Album of the year’, ’Best Composer Award’ from the Golden Melody Award in Taiwan, and “Best Release of the Year” by All about Jazz and Downbeat. Yuhan has performed with different projects including Vijay Iyer’s group, Amir Elsaffar’s Rivers of Sound, Greg Osby Sextet, Matt Mitchell Quartet, Brian Krock’s Big Heart Machine, Miho Hazama’s M_Unit, Webber/Morris Big Band, Quinsin Nachoff Quintet, Jason Yeager’s Septet, and more. Yuhan received Master Degree in Classical Percussion from Taipei National University of Arts and Performance Diploma in Jazz Vibraphone from Berklee College of Music.
Faculty Quintet
Jazz Program Director & Alto Saxophone, Rudresh Mahanthappa: Hailed by Pitchfork as “jaw-dropping… one of the finest saxophonists going,” alto saxophonist, composer and educator Rudresh Mahanthappa is widely known as one of the premier voices in jazz of the 21st century. He has over a dozen albums to his credit, including the acclaimed Bird Calls, which topped many critics’ best-of-year lists for 2015 and was hailed by PopMatters as “complex, rhythmically vital, free in spirit while still criss-crossed with mutating structures.” His most recent release, Hero Trio, was considered to be one of the best jazz albums of 2020 by critics and fans alike. Rudresh has been named alto saxophonist of the year for nine of the last eleven years running in Downbeat Magazine’s International Critics’ Polls (2011-2013, 2015-2018, 2020-1), and for five consecutive years by the Jazz Journalists’ Association (2009-2013) and again in 2016. He won alto saxophonist of the year in the 2015-2018 & 2020 JazzTimes Magazine Critics’ Polls and was named the Village Voice’s “Best Jazz Artist” in 2015. He has also received the Guggenheim Fellowship and the Doris Duke Performing Artist Award, among other honors, and is currently the Anthony H. P. Lee ’79 Director of Jazz at Princeton University.
Born in Trieste, Italy to Indian émigrés in 1971, Mahanthappa was brought up in Boulder, Colorado and gained proficiency playing everything from current pop to Dixieland. He went on to studies at North Texas, Berklee and DePaul University (as well as the Stanford Jazz Workshop) and came to settle in Chicago. Soon after moving to New York in 1997 he formed his own quartet featuring pianist Vijay Iyer. The band recorded an enduring sequence of albums, Black Water, Mother Tongue and Codebook, each highlighting Mahanthappa’s inventive methodologies and deeply personal approach to composition. He and Iyer also formed the duo Raw Materials.
Coming deeper into contact with the Carnatic music of his parents’ native southern India, Mahanthappa partnered in 2008 with fellow altoist Kadri Gopalnath and the Dakshina Ensemble for Kinsmen, garnering wide acclaim. Apti, the first outing by Mahanthappa’s Indo-Pak Coalition (with Pakistani-born Rez Abbasi on guitar and Dan Weiss on tabla), saw release the same year; Agrima followed nine years later and considerably expanded the trio’s sonic ambitions. In 2020, Rudresh released Hero Trio, an album of “covers” paying tribute to his musical heroes followed by the digital EP Animal Crossing in 2022 with the same trio. He also co-led a project celebrating the centenary of Charlie Parker with the blessing of the Parker estate.
Mahanthappa has also worked with Jack DeJohnette, Mark Dresser, Danilo Pérez, Arturo O’Farrill’s Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, the collaborative trios MSG and Mauger, the co-led quintet Dual Identity with fellow altoist Steve Lehman, and another co-led quintet with fellow altoist and Chicago stalwart Bunky Green (Apex). His exploratory guitar-driven quartets on Samdhi and Gamak featured David Gilmore and Dave “Fuze” Fiuczynski, respectively. In 2015 he was commissioned by Ragamala Dance to create Song of the Jasmine for dancers and a hybrid jazz/South Indian ensemble.
He was also commissioned by the PRISM Saxophone Quartet to compose a chamber piece, “I Will Not Apologize for My Tone Tonight,” which can be heard on the quartet’s 2015 double-disc release Heritage/Evolution, Volume 1. He was recently commissioned by the AACM’s Great Black Music Ensemble to compose “Finding Our Voice” which premiered in 2021.
Mahanthappa is a Yamaha artist and uses Vandoren reeds exclusively.
Trumpet, Ted Chubb: Over the past two decades Ted Chubb has developed into both a deeply expressive trumpeter and an inventive composer. His solo release “Gratified Never Satisfied”, demonstrates an innate ability to adapt his knowledge, talent and worldliness to every aspect of his art and work. He is an accomplished bandleader and has served as sideman to an impressive list of NYC’s top musicians, including Winard Harper, Christian McBride, Wallace Roney, Billy Hart, Antonio Hart, Billy Harper, Houston Person, Charenee Wade, Norman Simmons, Don Braden, Vince Ector, Melissa Walker, Bruce Williams, and Cecil Brooks III. He has performed at venues from NYC jazz clubs Smalls; Fat Cat, The Jazz Standard, and Dizzy’s at Jazz at Lincoln Center, to Jazz Festivals across North America, South America and Europe. Ted received his MM from Rutgers University and studied with master trumpet teacher, William Fielder. From 2006-2011, he toured with the Tony Award-winning show, Jersey Boys. In addition to his performance activities, Ted is currently Adjunct Professor of Jazz Trumpet at Princeton University, as well as Jazz House Kids, Vice President of Jazz Education and Associate Producer. He is a member of the artistic leadership and production team responsible for curating all events for the Montclair Jazz Festival. He has led tours, master classes, and cultural exchange programs across the US as well as the globe from Peru to most recently Bahrain. Along with his wife, Rachel Ryll, Ted is co-owner, President and Artistic Director of “The Statuary” an active artist live/work/present space that serves as a hub for the local jazz community and presents world-class jazz to the people of Jersey City.
Guitarist Miles Okazaki is a NYC-based guitarist originally from Port Townsend, a small seaside town in Washington State. His approach to the guitar is described by the New York Times as “utterly contemporary, free from the expectations of what it means to play a guitar in a group setting — not just in jazz, but any kind. ” His sideman experience over the last two decades covers a broad spectrum, from standards to experimental music (Kenny Barron, John Zorn, Stanley Turrentine, Dan Weiss, Matt Mitchell, Steve Coleman, Jonathan Finlayson, Jane Monheit, Amir ElSaffar, Darcy James Argue, and many others). He has released nine albums of original compositions over the last 12 years on the Sunnyside, Pi, and Cygnus labels. In 2018 Okazaki received wide critical acclaim for his six-album recording of the complete compositions of Thelonious Monk for solo guitar, an unprecedented project that Nate Chinen called “the six-string equivalent of a free solo climb up El Capitan. ” That year, Okazaki was voted the #1 rising star guitarist in the Downbeat Magazine critic’s poll. Other projects include a longstanding duo with drummer Dan Weiss, a duo with percussionist Rajna Swaminathan, and a published book, Fundamentals of Guitar, with Mel Bay. He taught guitar and rhythmic theory at the University of Michigan from 2013-22, joined the faculty at Princeton University in 2021, and holds degrees from Harvard University, Manhattan School of Music, and the Juilliard School.
Matthew Parrish, Bass: Born in the heart of central California, Matthew Parrish emerged from a musical upbringing fueled by hard work and a deep love for jazz. He embodies the very essence of jazz bass performance, captivating audiences with his electrifying talent and magnetic stage presence.
Matthew’s illustrious career is studded with collaborations that read like a who’s who of jazz legends. From sharing the stage with luminaries such as Regina Carter, Wynton Marsalis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Paquito D’Rivera to recording alongside Houston Person, Clark Terry, and Etta Jones, he has left an indelible mark on the music industry. The list goes on, including Miri Ben-Ari, James Williams, Harry Sweets Edison, James Newton, Gary Thomas, Greg Osby, Stefon Harris, and Orrin Evans, among countless others, each encounter further fueling his artistic fire.
His virtuosity on the bass, characterized by a beautiful, warm, and intricate sound, has earned him an unparalleled reputation as a performer, composer, arranger, and producer. Critics and peers alike hail him as a true luminary in the jazz community, recognizing his ability to effortlessly transport listeners to new sonic landscapes with his mesmerizing melodies and pulsating rhythms.
Matthew’s quest for musical excellence knows no bounds, taking him to stages around the globe. From the hallowed jazz clubs of New York City to the vibrant metropolis of Sao Paulo, his name has become synonymous with extraordinary performances that leave audiences breathless and begging for more.
Currently, Matthew finds himself immersed in a whirlwind of thrilling projects and touring engagements. He is a vital member of the enthralling Ute Lemper’s ensemble, sharing the stage with the iconic Ruth Naomi Floyd, Michelle Lordi, and the incomparable Orrin Evans. The legendary saxophonist Houston Person is another esteemed collaborator, whose musical chemistry with Matthew transcends boundaries. Additionally, he is an integral part of the dynamic Vana Gierig Trio, featuring the extraordinary talents of the renowned Paquito D’Rivera.
Matthew Parrish’s journey is a testament to the power of passion, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of artistic excellence. Through his magnetic performances and infectious energy, he continues to reshape the boundaries of jazz, leaving an indelible mark on the music world. With every note he plays, Matthew invites audiences into a realm where music transcends time and place, igniting a fire within their souls that will burn forever.
Drummer Vince Ector hails from the musical city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he attended the University of Pennsylvania. Trained in Music beginning at age nine through GAMP, a music magnet school in Philadelphia that also enabled him to study at Temple University while still a junior high school student. He then began studying privately with drummers such as, Mickey Roker, Ralph Peterson Jr., and Armand Santarelli, as well as performing for six years as a percussionist with the United States Army Band.
As a performer, he has worked with jazz luminaries that include: NEA Jazz Masters, Freddie Hubbard, Randy Weston, James Moody, Slide Hampton Ron Carter and Jimmy Heath as well as Houston Person, Gloria Lynne, Charles Earland, Bobby Watson, Lou Donaldson, Grover Washington Jr., Dr Lonnie Smith, Claudio Roditi, John Lee, Ralph Peterson Jr., Melvin Sparks, and Shirley Scott.
Most recently, Vincent produced his fourth CD as a leader entitled “Theme For Ms. P”,which is receiving rave reviews and was recently featured as “Jazz Album of the Week”on WRTI-FM in Philadelphia. His third CD “Organatomy” features Grammy nominated Brazilian jazz great Claudio Roditi on one of his original compositions. His second CD as a leader entitled “Renewal of the Spirit” features Bobby Watson on Saxophones and four of Vincent’s original compositions. He is featured performing on drum set, djembe and sangba African drums. His first CD, “Rhythm Master” features the great Eddie Henderson on trumpet. Vincent also produced a tribute recording for the late Charles Earland on the High Note record label. This recording features Joey DeFrancesco, Pat Martino and Eric Alexander. Vincent can also be heard on recordings by: Gloria Lynne, Ben E. King, Jimmy Bruno, Onaje Allan Gumbs and Charles Earland, as well as appearing as a musician on ABC television’s “One Life to Live” daytime soap opera, which features Vincent’s recorded drum performance. He performs regularly in New York City with several ensembles such as, The Grammy Award winning Charles Mingus Orchestra & Big Band, The Orrin Evans Quartet and Captain Black Big Band and his own band in venues such as; The Blue Note, Smoke, The Iridium, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Smalls and The Jazz Standard among others.
An accomplished musician with no confinements, Mr. Ector is currently a Lecturer of Jazz Percussion at Princeton University. He has been featured as a Clinician at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Lincoln University, Texas Tech and The Belgrade Serbia Jazz Festival among others.
From Cuba, Dafnis Prieto‘s revolutionary drumming techniques and compositions have had a powerful impact on the Latin and Jazz music scene, nationally and internationally.
Various awards include a 2011 MacArthur Fellowship Award; a GRAMMY Award and a Latin GRAMMY Award nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album for Dafnis Prieto Big Band Back to the Sunset in 2018; a GRAMMY Award nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album for Dafnis Prieto Sextet Transparency in 2021; a GRAMMY Award nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album for Absolute Quintet, and a Latin GRAMMY nomination for “Best New Artist,” in 2007; and “Up & Coming Musician of the Year” by the Jazz Journalists Association in 2006. Also a gifted educator, Prieto has conducted numerous master classes, clinics, and workshops throughout the world. He was a faculty member of Jazz Studies at NYU from 2005 to 2014, and in 2015 became a faculty member of Frost School of Music at UM (University of Miami), where he directs the esteemed Frost Latin Jazz Orchestra.
As a composer, Prieto has created music for dance, film, chamber ensembles, and most notably for his own bands ranging from duets to big bands, including the distinctively different groups featured by nine acclaimed recordings as a leader: About The Monks, Absolute Quintet, Taking The Soul For a Walk, Si o Si Quartet-Live at Jazz Standard, Dafnis Prieto Proverb Trio, Triangles and Circles, Back to the Sunset, Transparency, and Cantar. In 2022 Prieto premiered a new work for Latin band and string orchestra — Tentación — performed by People of Earth with the Louisville Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the New World Symphony, and the Britt Festival Orchestra. He has received new works commissions, grants, and fellowships from Chamber Music America; Princeton University; Jazz at Lincoln Center; Museum of Modern Art; Whitney Museum; National Association of Latino Arts & Cultures; Jerome Foundation; East Carolina University; Painted Bride Art Center; Meet the Composer; WNYC; the Louisville Orchestra, the Britt Festival Orchestra, New Music USA, Hazard Productions, and People of Earth; and the Metropole Orkest.
Prieto has performed at many national and international music festivals as a bandleader presenting his own projects and music. Since his arrival to New York in 1999, Prieto has also worked in bands led by Michel Camilo, Chucho and Bebo Valdés, Henry Threadgill, Steve Coleman, Eddie Palmieri, Chico and Arturo O’Farrill, Dave Samuels & The Caribbean Jazz Project, Jane Bunnett, D.D. Jackson, Edward Simon, Roy Hargrove, Don Byron, and Andrew Hill, among others.
In 2016 Prieto published the groundbreaking analytical and instructional drum book, A World of Rhythmic Possibilities. In 2020 he published Rhythmic Synchronicity, a book for non-drummers inspired by a course of the same name that Prieto developed at the Frost School of Music.
Prieto is the founder of the independent music company Dafnison Music. He endorses: Yamaha Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Latin Percussion, Evans Drumheads, and Vic Firth Sticks.
JAZZ AT PRINCETON UNIVERSITY serves to promote this uniquely American music as a contemporary and relevant art form. Its goals are to convey the vast musical and social history of jazz, establish a strong theoretical and stylistic foundation with regard to improvisation and composition, and emphasize the development of individual expression and creativity. Offerings of this program include academic course work, performing ensembles, master classes, private study, and independent projects. Jazz at Princeton University thanks you for joining them on this evening’s journey of beauty, exploration, discovery, and hope.
