Staff. |
Steve Davis, Guest Artist
Steve Davis is widely regarded as one of today's leading voices on the trombone. After graduating from The Hartt School's Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz ('89), Davis's first gained widespread recognition in 1990 upon joining Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. As the last to join the Jazz Messengers, Steve’s first record dates would be Blakey's last, including One For All (A&M), the title track penned by Davis. Over the years since, Davis has worked with a broad range of jazz luminaries such as his first mentor Jackie McLean, Chick Corea, Benny Golson, Jimmy Heath, James Moody, Cecil Payne, Harold Mabern, Larry Willis, Freddie Hubbard & The New Jazz Composers Octet, Slide Hampton's World of Trombones, Horace Silver, Cedar Walton, Hank Jones, Roy Hargrove & Willie Jones III. Raised in Binghamton, New York, Steve has performed at major venues around the world including appearances at the North Sea, Montreaux, Newport and Detroit Jazz Festivals, The Jimmy Fallon Show with Stevie Wonder and at The White House Tribute to Ray Charles (PBS). Davis appears on over 150 recordings, including 20 as a leader. His 2022 release "Bluesthetic" (Smoke Sessions) includes an all-star band featuring Steve Nelson, Peter Bernstein, Geoff Kezzer, Christian McBride & Willie Jones III playing a program of Steve's originals. Davis' 2019 release, Correlations (Smoke Sessions) features rising stars Joshua Bruneau & Jonathan Barber, as well as renowned veteran stars Xavier Davis, Wayne Escoffery & Dezron Douglas. Correlations has garnered rave reviews and spent months atop the JazzWeek Radio Charts. Other notable releases include Say When: Celebrating J.J. Johnson and Think Ahead (Smoke Sessions), For Real and Gettin’ It Done (Positone). During 2019, in addition to performing with his own Correlations Band, Steve appeared on Chick Corea's Grammy Winning Spanish Heart Band CD, "Antidote" and toured Europe with the group in July. Davis also continues to work regularly with the collectively-led sextet One For All (feat. Eric Alexander, Jim Rotondi, David Hazeltine, John Webber & Joe Farnsworth), bassist Nat Reeves' Quintet, as well as playing with John Lee's Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars, the Jimmy Heath, Ron Carter and Christian McBride big bands. Steve’s original composition, “Optimism" appears on the McBride Big Band’s Grammy Award winning release Bringin' It (2018). Davis performs and plans to record with both his son, guitarist Tony Davis and his wife, vocalist Abena Koomson-Davis. As always, Steve maintains an active presence on the vibrant local CT jazz scene & appears on bassist Matt Dwonzsyk's Wonderful World CD. A long-time educator, Steve has guided a broad range of emerging musicians at the Hartt School's Jackie McLean Jazz Studies Division, University of Hartford, CT where he was recently honored for over 30 years of service. In Fall '22, Prof Davis will join the Berklee College of Music Brass Dept. as Full Professor. Other prestigious educational affiliations have included the San Francisco Conservatory's RJAM faculty, Jamey Aebersold’s Summer Jazz Workshops, Skidmore Jazz Workshop, Jazz in July at UMASS Amherst, Stanford University Jazz Workshop. www.stevedavismusic.com
Ray Vega, Nonet Director
(Ray Vega's) creating a very, very valuable bridge from the classroom to the bandstand........That's the magic that Ray brings. He transcends academia and makes it real.
--www.toddcoolman.com
A native of the South Bronx, Ray is a veteran of the bands of Tito Puente, Ray Barretto, Mongo Santamaria, and Mario Bauza to name a few. Ray has performed and/or recorded with Joe Henderson, Lionel Hampton, Mel Torme, Paquito D’Rivera, Arturo Sandoval, The Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Poncho Sanchez, Steve Turre, Israel Lopez "Cachao", The Chico O’Farrill Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, Jazz at Lincoln Center Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Paul Simon, Michel Camilo, The Mingus Big Band, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Bebo Valdez, and Celia Cruz, among numerous others.
A multi-talented trumpeter, percussionist, composer, and arranger, he presents Jazz from a refreshingly original and contemporary perspective. He has two recordings on the Concord Picante label, his self-titled debut "Ray Vega", and "Boperation", along with his 1st release on the Palmetto label "Pa'lante"& have been well received by critics, audiences and musicians alike. Vega's 2nd Palmetto CD "Squeeze, Squeeze" has also received critical acclaim including Four Stars in Down Beat Magazine.
Vega grew up immersed in the heart of two vibrant New York City music scenes: Jazz and Salsa. In addition to learning about these two musical styles with some of the great legends, he attended The Long Island University Brooklyn Center and is a graduate of the legendary High School of Music and Art. It was during his time with Barretto that Vega was called upon to join the Tito Puente Latin Jazz Orchestra as lead trumpeter. Vega recorded with Puente's Orchestra many times over including the Grammy winning "Mambo Birdland", "Dancemania '99" and "Obra Maestra".
Ray is currently Senior Lecturer, Jazz History and Trumpet at the University of Vermont and maintains an active performing schedule.
A multi-talented trumpeter, percussionist, composer, and arranger, he presents Jazz from a refreshingly original and contemporary perspective. He has two recordings on the Concord Picante label, his self-titled debut "Ray Vega", and "Boperation", along with his 1st release on the Palmetto label "Pa'lante"& have been well received by critics, audiences and musicians alike. Vega's 2nd Palmetto CD "Squeeze, Squeeze" has also received critical acclaim including Four Stars in Down Beat Magazine.
Vega grew up immersed in the heart of two vibrant New York City music scenes: Jazz and Salsa. In addition to learning about these two musical styles with some of the great legends, he attended The Long Island University Brooklyn Center and is a graduate of the legendary High School of Music and Art. It was during his time with Barretto that Vega was called upon to join the Tito Puente Latin Jazz Orchestra as lead trumpeter. Vega recorded with Puente's Orchestra many times over including the Grammy winning "Mambo Birdland", "Dancemania '99" and "Obra Maestra".
Ray is currently Senior Lecturer, Jazz History and Trumpet at the University of Vermont and maintains an active performing schedule.
Charlie Sarling, Big Band Director
Charlie taught for 38 years in the Brentwood School District where he directed the Freshmen Center Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, the High School Two O’clock and One O’clock Jazz Ensembles respectively and was also musical director for the High School Pit Orchestra. From January of 2017-2018 he held the position of Symphonic Band Director and Jazz Ensemble Director at Suffolk Community College before retiring after the 2018 Spring Semester. He continues teaching trumpet lessons as an adjunct professor at the College.
Since 2012, he has been the SCMEA Jazz Co-coordinator for SCMEA Day Of Jazz, All County Jazz Auditions, and the All County Jazz Concert. After retiring from this position in 2019, his One More Once Jazz Ensemble still conducts Big Band clinics for High School Jazz Ensembles at the annual “Day of Jazz.”
Charlie has had the honor of ‘Guest Conducting” Concert Bands and Jazz Ensembles for NMEA, HMEA, and SCMEA since 1997 and has also served as the NYSSMA All-State Jazz Ensemble Chairperson and has also conducted the All-State Jazz Ensemble at various events.
In his summers off from his teaching responsibilities, Charlie spent the last 20 years as a clinician and Big Band Conductor in both Vermont and Rhode Island at “Jazz Camp for Grown-ups.”
Aside from his teaching career, Charlie’s performance career included a concert at the Berklee Performance Center with the greats, Arturo Sandoval and Maynard Ferguson. He spent 3 years with the Frankie V Jazz Ensemble at Riles Jazz Club in Boston during which time he had the honor of playing in the Alumni Band for Maynard Ferguson’s 75th birthday. During his residence he performed with such featured artists as Alan Wise, Carl Fisher, Stan Mark, Slide Hampton, and Arturo Sandoval.
Since 2012, he has been the SCMEA Jazz Co-coordinator for SCMEA Day Of Jazz, All County Jazz Auditions, and the All County Jazz Concert. After retiring from this position in 2019, his One More Once Jazz Ensemble still conducts Big Band clinics for High School Jazz Ensembles at the annual “Day of Jazz.”
Charlie has had the honor of ‘Guest Conducting” Concert Bands and Jazz Ensembles for NMEA, HMEA, and SCMEA since 1997 and has also served as the NYSSMA All-State Jazz Ensemble Chairperson and has also conducted the All-State Jazz Ensemble at various events.
In his summers off from his teaching responsibilities, Charlie spent the last 20 years as a clinician and Big Band Conductor in both Vermont and Rhode Island at “Jazz Camp for Grown-ups.”
Aside from his teaching career, Charlie’s performance career included a concert at the Berklee Performance Center with the greats, Arturo Sandoval and Maynard Ferguson. He spent 3 years with the Frankie V Jazz Ensemble at Riles Jazz Club in Boston during which time he had the honor of playing in the Alumni Band for Maynard Ferguson’s 75th birthday. During his residence he performed with such featured artists as Alan Wise, Carl Fisher, Stan Mark, Slide Hampton, and Arturo Sandoval.
Glendon Ingalls, Nonet Director
Born in Johnson, Vermont, Glendon is a former public school music educator who worked in the Windsor NW , Barre and Rutland school systems and finds himself busier than ever since retiring from public school teaching. He has been invited to serve as a guest conductor /clinician/instructor at a wide variety of music festivals and music camps in the Northeast and is a two time past president of the Vermont Association for Jazz Education. He is a multi instrumentalist and maintains an active performance schedule directing and playing with several groups on trumpet, double bass, electric bass and sousaphone in a wide variety of musical genres. His Glendon Ingalls Red Clover Jazz Trio has held a weekly jazz gig at the Red Clover Inn and Restaurant in Mendon Vermont since 2015.
His current teaching appointments include private instruction on trumpet and basses at Castleton University, Middlebury College, and on trumpet at Middlebury Community Music Center. During his performance career he has been privileged to perform with many acclaimed jazz, classical, and popular music artists including the Onion River Jazz Band, Jenni Johnson, The Vermont Jazz Ensemble, Joey Leone’s Chop Shop, The Vermont Philharmonic, The Vermont Symphony Orchestra’ “Fanfare” Brass Trio, The Red Clover Jazz Trio, Fontella Bass, Jimmy Beaumont and The Skyliners, Jerry Bergonzi, Jon Faddis, Lester Bowie, Joshua Bruneau, Vinnie Cutro, Greg Abate, Steve Davis, The Temptations, Nick Brignola, and Chris Vadala as well as many others. He has also performed internationally with Jenni Johnson in the Jazz Over Volga River Festival in Yaroslavl Russia.
His current teaching appointments include private instruction on trumpet and basses at Castleton University, Middlebury College, and on trumpet at Middlebury Community Music Center. During his performance career he has been privileged to perform with many acclaimed jazz, classical, and popular music artists including the Onion River Jazz Band, Jenni Johnson, The Vermont Jazz Ensemble, Joey Leone’s Chop Shop, The Vermont Philharmonic, The Vermont Symphony Orchestra’ “Fanfare” Brass Trio, The Red Clover Jazz Trio, Fontella Bass, Jimmy Beaumont and The Skyliners, Jerry Bergonzi, Jon Faddis, Lester Bowie, Joshua Bruneau, Vinnie Cutro, Greg Abate, Steve Davis, The Temptations, Nick Brignola, and Chris Vadala as well as many others. He has also performed internationally with Jenni Johnson in the Jazz Over Volga River Festival in Yaroslavl Russia.
Rich Davidian, Camp Administrator, Big Band Director
Rich has played woodwind instruments in all genres of music and shared the stage with many talented Vermont musicians as well as an array of national talent ranging from Big Joe Burrell and Ray Vega, to The Temptations, Eddie Palmieri, and The Who. Rich has performed with numerous Vermont bands including Dr. Burma, Pine Street Jazz, the Keynotes, the Swingin' VT Big Band, and others.
He is a charter member and music director of VT's premier big band, the Vermont Jazz Ensemble [since 1976] producing and directing both of its CD projects as well as hundreds of events and concerts. In 2010, Rich retired from a 40 year career teaching instrumental music, but still works at a variety of summer music camps. He was also instrumental in the creation of the Vermont Association for Jazz Education and has received special recognition from the Vermont Music Educators Association.
Rich also runs an audio recording business, Stolen Moments Audio, and does live sound reinforcement & recording for musical & community groups.
He lives in East Montpelier with his wife Shawn and has 2 grown sons (also musicians).
He is a charter member and music director of VT's premier big band, the Vermont Jazz Ensemble [since 1976] producing and directing both of its CD projects as well as hundreds of events and concerts. In 2010, Rich retired from a 40 year career teaching instrumental music, but still works at a variety of summer music camps. He was also instrumental in the creation of the Vermont Association for Jazz Education and has received special recognition from the Vermont Music Educators Association.
Rich also runs an audio recording business, Stolen Moments Audio, and does live sound reinforcement & recording for musical & community groups.
He lives in East Montpelier with his wife Shawn and has 2 grown sons (also musicians).
Joe Davidian, Staff Musician
Jazz pianist and educator Joe Davidian was born into a musical family in rural Vermont. His mother and father nurtured his musical proclivities by enrolling him in classical piano lessons at age 6 and adding private jazz study a few years later. He attended numerous summer jazz camps throughout his grade school years, including the Berklee Summer Music Program in Boston. During his senior year of high school, he was accepted into the National Grammy Band and released his debut album.
Joe went to college at the University of Miami where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Jazz Piano Performance. While there, he served as Teaching Assistant in the jazz program, and met the other members of his Miami trio: bassist Jamie Ousley and drummer Austin McMahon. Over the course of the past two decades, the trio has toured internationally, performed at numerous jazz festivals, clubs, and universities, and presented master classes on improvisation and trio playing. They have recorded five albums, the most recent of which, “New Songs for Old Souls” (2020), was released under their new name, The Lost Melody.
Joe has performed as a sideman on dozens of recordings and has released five albums as a leader: “For the Birds” (1999), “JD3: Live” (2003), “Silent Fire” (2008), “Live at the Jazz Cave: Volume One” (2013), and “Live at the Jazz Cave: Volume Two” (2017).
From 2007 until 2016, Joe lived in Nashville, Tennessee, where he played and recorded with the region’s finest jazz talent, including drum legends Chester Thompson and Duffy Jackson and saxophonist Jeff Coffin. He was hired as piano instructor at Belmont University and at Middle Tennessee State University, and taught various theory, ensemble, and improvisation classes at the Nashville Jazz Workshop. He also taught jazz history and directed small ensembles and a big band at the University of Vermont.
Joe now lives, teaches, and performs in New York City, where, with the help of a win at the 2019 Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition, he is quickly gaining recognition as a major player on the world’s foremost jazz scene. In each of his teaching and performing endeavors, Joe strives to honor jazz’s ancestral forebears by carrying on the legacy of groove, harmonic ingenuity, and melodic integrity, and he is excited to share his passion for the music with the students of the “Jazz in the Mountains” summer camp in 2021.
Bill Reynolds, Staff Musician
Bill Reynolds is an extremely versatile and highly sought-after jazz and studio drummer. He is an alumnus of the Berklee School of Music and the Navy School of Music where he served on the staff as percussion teacher and drummer with the renowned Faculty Lab Band.
He has performed and/or recorded with such varied artists as Jerry Bergonzi, Gene Bertoncini, Keith Ingham's Manhatten Swingtet, Ernie Watts, Rufus Ried, Dick Oatts, Vince Giordano, Mark Soskin, Harold Danko, Scott Robinson, The New Black Eagle Jazz Band, Billy Novick, The Washington Ballet, The New Direction Jazz Ensemble, The Back Bay Ramblers and many others.
Performances include The Gateway Jazz Festival, The Sacramento Jazz Festival, The Smithsonian Concert Series, The Wirral International Jazz Festival, The Hot Steam Jazz Festival, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The Newport Jazz Festival, Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts, and many more.
As a studio artist, a sampling of his soundtrack and jingle credits include the following movie and television productions: Seabiscuit, The Honeydripper, Eight Men Out, This Old House, The 2006 Academy Awards, Sex In the City, Ally McBeal, and The American Experience to name a few.
Bill has enjoyed 20 plus years of teaching jazz drum set and directing small ensembles at The University of Connecticut and is currently busy as a freelance performer, clinician, and private teacher in the Boston area.
He has performed and/or recorded with such varied artists as Jerry Bergonzi, Gene Bertoncini, Keith Ingham's Manhatten Swingtet, Ernie Watts, Rufus Ried, Dick Oatts, Vince Giordano, Mark Soskin, Harold Danko, Scott Robinson, The New Black Eagle Jazz Band, Billy Novick, The Washington Ballet, The New Direction Jazz Ensemble, The Back Bay Ramblers and many others.
Performances include The Gateway Jazz Festival, The Sacramento Jazz Festival, The Smithsonian Concert Series, The Wirral International Jazz Festival, The Hot Steam Jazz Festival, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The Newport Jazz Festival, Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts, and many more.
As a studio artist, a sampling of his soundtrack and jingle credits include the following movie and television productions: Seabiscuit, The Honeydripper, Eight Men Out, This Old House, The 2006 Academy Awards, Sex In the City, Ally McBeal, and The American Experience to name a few.
Bill has enjoyed 20 plus years of teaching jazz drum set and directing small ensembles at The University of Connecticut and is currently busy as a freelance performer, clinician, and private teacher in the Boston area.
Bear Irwin, Staff Musician
Bear Irwin began teaching instrumental music in public schools in 1970 in Enosburgh Falls, VT, and before retiring in 2015, also taught in public schools in Montgomery, Bakersfield, Middlebury, Rutland Town, and Mill River UHS. Bear also taught Senior High Methods and Brass Methods on the Adjunct Faculty of Johnson State College and Castleton State College, and presently teaches trombone at Middlebury College.
Mr. Irwin served on the Vermont Music Educators Association Executive Board as District Divisions Coordinator and as President. Bear served as Vice President and President of the International Association of Jazz Educators Vermont Unit. Between 2000 and 2004, Bear was the Manager of the Vermont All State Music Festival Jazz Ensemble.
Bear was a Director of the Lakes Region Youth Orchestra Concert Band from 2000 to 2014. Mr. Irwin organized, manages and plays Lead Trombone for the Vermont Jazz Ensemble (since 1976), and he also performs with Satin ‘n’ Steel, Stolen Moments, Moments Notice, The DoughBoys, and other ensembles throughout Vermont. He also does guest conducting and workshops and clinics several times per year.
Mr. Irwin was presented the Outstanding Vermont Teacher Award by the University of Vermont three times over twenty-two years. Bear was named Vermont Educator of the Year by the Vermont VFW Auxiliary in 2000, and in May of 2009, Mr. Irwin was inducted into the Vermont Principals Association Hall of Fame. In 2017, Bear Irwin received the Special Recognition Award presented by the Green Mountain District V Music Festival and the Vermont Music Educators Association.
Mr. Irwin served on the Vermont Music Educators Association Executive Board as District Divisions Coordinator and as President. Bear served as Vice President and President of the International Association of Jazz Educators Vermont Unit. Between 2000 and 2004, Bear was the Manager of the Vermont All State Music Festival Jazz Ensemble.
Bear was a Director of the Lakes Region Youth Orchestra Concert Band from 2000 to 2014. Mr. Irwin organized, manages and plays Lead Trombone for the Vermont Jazz Ensemble (since 1976), and he also performs with Satin ‘n’ Steel, Stolen Moments, Moments Notice, The DoughBoys, and other ensembles throughout Vermont. He also does guest conducting and workshops and clinics several times per year.
Mr. Irwin was presented the Outstanding Vermont Teacher Award by the University of Vermont three times over twenty-two years. Bear was named Vermont Educator of the Year by the Vermont VFW Auxiliary in 2000, and in May of 2009, Mr. Irwin was inducted into the Vermont Principals Association Hall of Fame. In 2017, Bear Irwin received the Special Recognition Award presented by the Green Mountain District V Music Festival and the Vermont Music Educators Association.
Paul Asbell, Staff Musician
In his 50 year professional career, Paul Asbell has played and recorded with Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Howlin’ Wolf, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Paul Butterfield, Magic Sam, Earl Hooker, David Bromberg, Paul Siebel, Mary McCaslin, Sonny Stitt, Jon Hendricks, Bobby McFerrin, and many others. His jazz-fusion group Kilimanjaro has released several award-winning recordings, and performed at jazz festivals worldwide, including Montreux, Montreal, Atlanta, and Roskilde, in Copenhagen. Their “Homecoming" CD was picked by Jazziz magazine for their “Best of 2009” CD, along with tracks by Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, Branford Marsalis, and other heavyweights. Paul’s three solo acoustic CDs, “Steel-String Americana”, “Roots and Branches”, and “From Adamant To Atchafalaya”, received numerous rave reviews for their fresh takes on blues and jazz standards, old-timey country tunes, and original pieces from the “american roots” tradition. Recent appearances include Healdsburg, Woodstock (NY) and Newport Guitar Festivals, MerleFest, Lunenburg Folk Festival, and many other venues. Acoustic Guitar Magazine recently did an article on him, featuring his composition “Chunky Monkey Gumbo”. Paul has taught guitar for over 50 years, including workshops at the Healdsburg, Woodstock (NY) and Newport Guitar Festivals, and positions at Dartmouth, Skidmore, and other colleges. He presently teaches at Middlebury College and the University of Vermont.
Tony Barrows, Sound Technician, Media Manager
A Vermont native, Tony has devoted countless hours to local musical and theatrical productions, both as a technician and performer. Focusing on high-quality productions, he sought seamless sound reinforcement integration working for Montpelier High School, meeting the needs of a variety of performances.
He plays clarinet, saxophone, and bass guitar with local groups like the Vermont Symphonic Winds, Green Mountain Mahler Festival, and in pit orchestras with the Lamoille County Players. Tony directed Montpelier's Capitol City Band for its 2019 season.
When he’s not musically engaged, he is a graduate student and research coordinator at the University of Vermont who enjoys mountain biking, hiking, and skiing.
He plays clarinet, saxophone, and bass guitar with local groups like the Vermont Symphonic Winds, Green Mountain Mahler Festival, and in pit orchestras with the Lamoille County Players. Tony directed Montpelier's Capitol City Band for its 2019 season.
When he’s not musically engaged, he is a graduate student and research coordinator at the University of Vermont who enjoys mountain biking, hiking, and skiing.
Jared Johnson (Magnum PA), Sound Technician
Shawn Davidian, Assistant Camp Administrator
Shawn Davidian is the Assistant Camp Administrator for Jazz in the Mountains - and will have responsibility for managing many of the organizational details for the duration of the 2021 inaugural session of the camp, held at the Killington Grand Resort Hotel.
Shawn is the go-to person for questions about schedule, lessons, room assignments, clinic registrations, outings for partners who are attending the camp, and other office-related support. Her organizational and clerical skills are next to none.
Shawn's full-time job is as a sales rep for International Coins and Currency in Montpelier - a job she has held for 41 years. She has been married to Rich Davidian for going on 50 years. [They met in the high school clarinet section back in the 60's - that's the 1960's!] Shawn has given up the clarinet, but has been active in the Montpelier Community Gospel Choir for 26 years and selflessly offers her voice to the Central VT Hospice Choir.
Shawn is also mother to PJ (drums) and Joe (piano) and is clearly their biggest fan! In her spare time (hah!) she plays some mean pickleball!
Shawn is the go-to person for questions about schedule, lessons, room assignments, clinic registrations, outings for partners who are attending the camp, and other office-related support. Her organizational and clerical skills are next to none.
Shawn's full-time job is as a sales rep for International Coins and Currency in Montpelier - a job she has held for 41 years. She has been married to Rich Davidian for going on 50 years. [They met in the high school clarinet section back in the 60's - that's the 1960's!] Shawn has given up the clarinet, but has been active in the Montpelier Community Gospel Choir for 26 years and selflessly offers her voice to the Central VT Hospice Choir.
Shawn is also mother to PJ (drums) and Joe (piano) and is clearly their biggest fan! In her spare time (hah!) she plays some mean pickleball!