New School Jazz Ensemble

In 1986, the New School created a college, the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, at which professional jazz musicians could teach students all about jazz. There the spontaneity of the music is integrated with a solid academic foundation, matching brilliant professional musicians with talented students. The focus is on small-group performance and creating a community of creative musicians, with youngsters being mentored by major jazz musicians. A partial list of the alumni shows just how successful this jazz college has been, for it includes Peter Bernstein, Brad Mehldau, Larry Goldings, Walter Blanding, Avishai Cohen, Jesse Davis, Rebecca Coupe Franks, Robert Glasper, Roy Hargrove, Virginia Mayhew and Marcus Strickland, among the many young talents. The faculty members include such notables as Junior Mance, Reggie Workman, Jane Ira Bloom and Chico Hamilton. The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music has created many jazz ensembles covering a wide range of styles and periods. Their occasional appearances at clubs and festivals are always well worth savoring, giving one a chance to see close up the future of jazz.