The Department of Music will host jazz clinics and performances presented by James Johnson III (drums), Glenn Zaleski (piano), Dan Wilson (guitar), and Ivan Taylor (bass). The guest artists will will give two short performances and conduct clinics with members of Pitt's Jazz Ensemble and Small Jazz Ensemble. All events are free and open to the public.

Schedule

4:30-5  Concert by the clinicians
5-5:45  Clinic with the Pitt Jazz Ensemble students
5:45-6  break
6-6:30 Concert by the clinicians
6:30-7:30 Clinic with the Small Ensemble class students

Clinicians

Drummer James Johnson III has performed with jazz masters including Geroge George Coleman, James Moody, Geri Allen, Bob James, Benny Golson, Kenny Garrett, and Bob Mintzer. James has served as Artist in Residence at the Pitt Department of Music and is faculty at Afro American Music Institute.

Originally from Boylston, Glenn Zaleski has made a name for himself playing piano with the likes of Ravi Coltrane, Lage Lund, and Ari Hoenig. From 2009-2011, while working towards his graduate degree at NYU, Glenn was also on NYU faculty, teaching a variety of classes and private students.

Guitarist Dan Wilson has been touring nationally and internationally with three-time Grammy nominated jazz organ legend, Joey DeFrancesco. In April of 2017, Dan joined  legendary bassist Christian Mcbride's "Tip City."

Born in Southern, Illinois in 1984, Ivan Taylor has been playing the bass since he was nine years old. Ivan was a star performer at the 2002 Essentially Ellington competition where he met Wynton Marsalis. This meeting led him to enroll in the Juilliard School of Music. He had a strong impact on the New York scene, performing with Rashid Ali, Juilliard Jazz Orchestra, louis Hayes, Nicholas Payton, Curtis Fuller, Mike Philips, Kenny Garrett, Delfeayo Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis.