This weekend, the Vermont Jazz Center (VJC) will present its fourth annual Solo Jazz Piano Festival as planned … sort of. Due to the ongoing pandemic, all of the festival’s performances and master classes, both tonight (April 24) and tomorrow (April 25), will be webcast on the VJC’s website from the home piano studio of each artist.
The festival’s headliners this year are NEA Jazz Master Toshiko Akiyoshi and Bad Plus member/Captain Black Big Band leader Orrin Evans. Also performing are Shamie Royston, Manuel Valera, and a trio of emerging artists.
The full schedule is as follows:
FRIDAY, APRIL 24
8pm Toshiko Akiyoshi Interview & Performance
9pm Manuel Valera Interview & Performance
SATURDAY, APRIL 25
10am Masterclass: Manuel Valera
11am Emerging Artist Performance: Matt Twaddle
noon Lunch Break
1pm Masterclass: Shamie Royston
2pm Emerging Artist Performance: Franz Robert
3pm Masterclass: Orrin Evans
4pm Emerging Artist Performance: Maya Keren
5pm Performer Panel Facilitated by Helen Sung
6pm-8pm Dinner Break
8pm Shamie Royston Interview & Performance
9pm Orrin Evans Interview & Performance
Go to the Vermont Jazz Center website for more information about the Solo Jazz Piano Festival.