USC Thornton Jazz Orchestra performs at the 2013 Jazz Education Network conference
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Ambrose Akinmusire’s upcoming LP mentioned in Wall Street Journal
Jazz studies faculty Ambrose Akinmusire was mentioned in a Wall Street Journal article on Blue Note Records President, Don Was, who is teaching a music business course at USC Thornton. In the article, Was talks about Akinmusire’s upcoming album, The Imagined Savior is Far Easier to Paint, which will be released via Blue Note on… Continue reading Ambrose Akinmusire’s upcoming LP mentioned in Wall Street Journal
Faculty member Bob Mintzer and students play jazz show at Vitello’s
On Nov. 15, the Bob Mintzer R and Big Band project performed for a packed house at Vitello’s jazz club in Studio City. The band, comprised of five current and three former students, along with some of L.A.’s top musician, played a program of Mintzer arrangements of 60’d R and B songs. The USC contingent did a… Continue reading Faculty member Bob Mintzer and students play jazz show at Vitello’s
Teodross Avery bridges teaching, learning, and performance at USC Thornton
Saxophonist and Thornton DMA candidate Teodross Avery was featured in International Musician, where he spoke on his upbringing, musical influences and how he built and maintained a professional career while being a student. “What you get from college is clear music theories, or clear ways to approach music in a regimented form. Information is spread… Continue reading Teodross Avery bridges teaching, learning, and performance at USC Thornton
Thornton faculty and alumnus join New York City Opera for new premiere
The New York Times reviewed the U.S. premiere of the New York City Opera’s production, Anna Nicole, which features jazz studies faculty Peter Erskine, vocal arts and opera faculty Rod Gilfry, and alumnus Montgomery Hatch. Based on the life of model and actress Anna Nicole Smith, the opera was praised for its balanced and multi-dimensional… Continue reading Thornton faculty and alumnus join New York City Opera for new premiere
“I Want to Be Happy”
Ambrose Akinmusire featured in Jazzwise Magazine
Jazz studies faculty Ambrose Akinmusire was featured in Jazzwise Magazine‘s article on the Siena Jazz Foundation Summer Workshop. The Sienna Jazz Foundation was one of the first jazz education organizations in Italy, launched in the late 1970s. Jazzwise calls Akinmusire one of jazz’s “finest practitioners” and “most inspired educators.”
Thornton Jazz faculty produce new Afro-Cuban music app
Jazz studies faculty Peter Erskine and Aaron Serfaty recently released their new app, Erskine Afro Cuban Essentials, created for musicians and listeners interested in increasing their understanding of Afro-Cuban music. The app lets users create their own Afro-Cuban combos and includes a variety of lead sheets. To download the app, click here.
Aarón Serfaty
Aarón Serfaty was born in Caracas, Venezuela. He began playing the drum set at the age of 15 and started to play professionally at 17. He did extensive work as a session and touring drummer from 1980 until 1991 with local and international artists. In 1991, he moved to Los Angeles to study Jazz and… Continue reading Aarón Serfaty
Jason Goldman
Jason “Spicy G” Goldman is a Grammy-winning, multi-platinum selling record producer, songwriter, composer, arranger and engineer. Goldman has produced and arranged over a dozen songs over several albums for Michael Bublé, all of which have been nominated for Grammy and Juno awards. He was a producer and writer on Bublé’s last four albums, including his… Continue reading Jason Goldman