Event details

Jazz Festival Festival Schedule

Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall
1:00-6:00- Free, Unticketed

1:00-2:00 PM- Virginia MacDonald (Clarinet) with Small Group X (with support from the Humanities Council's Fund for Canadian Studies)

2:15-3:15 PM- Michael Rodriguez (Trumpet) with Small Group A (with support from Program in Latin American Studies)

3:30- 4:30 PM- Patrick Bartley (Alto Saxophone) with Small Group I

4:45- 5:45 PM- Princeton University Faculty Septet featuring:

Rudresh Mahanthappa (alto saxophone), Ted Chubb (trumpet), Michelle Lordi (voice), Miles Okazaki (guitar), Elio Villafranca (piano), Matthew Parrish (bass), Jerome Jennings (drums).

8:00 PM Concert

Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall
Ticketed | Passport to the Arts Eligible

Jazz at Princeton present the Creative Large Ensemble, directed by Todd Bashore and special guest, alto saxophonist Gary Bartz. For tickets and more about this 8 PM headlining event, click here. (with support from the Department of African American Studies)

Ticketing

1-6:00 PM Festival: Free, Unticketed

8:00 PM Concert: Ticketed

Passport to the Arts Eligible

* Faculty and Staff only: In addition to two (2) free tickets, all university Faculty and Staff can also purchase additional tickets at a price point of $6 per ticket. To reserve tickets, please visit the Princeton University ticketing site and log in using your Princeton ID.

Get Tickets

Past Creative Large Ensemble performance

Faculty Septet

Jazz Program Director & Alto Saxophone, Rudresh Mahanthappa: Hailed by Pitchfork as “jaw-dropping… one of the finest saxophonists going,” alto saxophonist, composer and educator Rudresh Mahanthappa is widely known as one of the premier voices in jazz of the 21st century. He has over a dozen albums to his credit, including the acclaimed Bird Calls, which topped many critics’ best-of-year lists for 2015 and was hailed by PopMatters as “complex, rhythmically vital, free in spirit while still criss-crossed with mutating structures.” His most recent release, Hero Trio, was considered to be one of the best jazz albums of 2020 by critics and fans alike.  Rudresh has been named alto saxophonist of the year for nine of the last eleven years running in Downbeat Magazine’s International Critics’ Polls (2011-2013, 2015-2018, 2020-1), and for five consecutive years by the Jazz Journalists’ Association (2009-2013) and again in 2016. He won alto saxophonist of the year in the 2015-2018 & 2020 JazzTimes Magazine Critics’ Polls and was named the Village Voice’s “Best Jazz Artist” in 2015.  He has also received the Guggenheim Fellowship and the Doris Duke Performing Artist Award, among other honors, and is currently the Anthony H. P. Lee ’79 Director of Jazz at Princeton University.

Born in Trieste, Italy to Indian émigrés in 1971, Mahanthappa was brought up in Boulder, Colorado and gained proficiency playing everything from current pop to Dixieland. He went on to studies at North Texas, Berklee and DePaul University (as well as the Stanford Jazz Workshop) and came to settle in Chicago. Soon after moving to New York in 1997 he formed his own quartet featuring pianist Vijay Iyer. The band recorded an enduring sequence of albums, Black Water, Mother Tongue and Codebook, each highlighting Mahanthappa’s inventive methodologies and deeply personal approach to composition. He and Iyer also formed the duo Raw Materials.

Coming deeper into contact with the Carnatic music of his parents’ native southern India, Mahanthappa partnered in 2008 with fellow altoist Kadri Gopalnath and the Dakshina Ensemble for Kinsmen, garnering wide acclaim. Apti, the first outing by Mahanthappa’s Indo-Pak Coalition (with Pakistani-born Rez Abbasi on guitar and Dan Weiss on tabla), saw release the same year; Agrima followed nine years later and considerably expanded the trio’s sonic ambitions.  In 2020, Rudresh released Hero Trio, an album of “covers” paying tribute to his musical heroes followed by the digital EP Animal Crossing in 2022 with the same trio.  He also co-led a project celebrating the centenary of Charlie Parker with the blessing of the Parker estate. 

Mahanthappa has also worked with Jack DeJohnette, Mark Dresser, Danilo Pérez, Arturo O’Farrill’s Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, the collaborative trios MSG and Mauger, the co-led quintet Dual Identity with fellow altoist Steve Lehman, and another co-led quintet with fellow altoist and Chicago stalwart Bunky Green (Apex). His exploratory guitar-driven quartets on Samdhi and Gamak featured David Gilmore and Dave “Fuze” Fiuczynski, respectively. In 2015 he was commissioned by Ragamala Dance to create Song of the Jasmine for dancers and a hybrid jazz/South Indian ensemble. He was also commissioned by the PRISM Saxophone Quartet to compose a chamber piece, “I Will Not Apologize for My Tone Tonight,” which can be heard on the quartet’s 2015 double-disc release Heritage/Evolution, Volume 1.   He was recently commissioned by the AACM’s Great Black Music Ensemble to compose “Finding Our Voice” which premiered in 2021.

Trumpet, Ted Chubb: Over the past two decades Ted Chubb has developed into both a deeply expressive trumpeter and an inventive composer. He has served as both sideman and bandleader to an impressive list of NYC’s top musicians, including Winard Harper, Christian McBride, Wallace Roney, Antonio Hart, Houston Person, Charenee Wade, Norman Simmons, Melissa Walker, Bruce Williams, and Cecil Brooks III. Ted received his MM from Rutgers University and studied with master trumpet teacher, William Fielder. From 2006-2011, he toured with the Tony Award-winning show, Jersey Boys. Ted is a passionate jazz educator and served as Jazz House Kids, Director of Music from 2012-2015. He currently serves as the Jazz House Kids, Director of Cultural Programming, as well as Jazz at Lincoln Center, MSJA Band Director. He has led master classes and cultural exchange programs in schools across the US as well as internationally. On such recordings as 2011’s New Tricks, Alternate Side and his 2017 solo release, Gratified Never Satisfied, Chubb has demonstrated an innate ability to adapt his knowledge, talent and worldliness to every aspect of his art and work. “I am in a phase in my life where I am trying to connect with and develop relationships through the music around the globe, anywhere there are people that can benefit from the positive and universal power of the music. In a time where so much of the world is trying to divide us from one another, I believe this is of the highest importance.”

Vocalist, educator, bandleader Michelle Lordi has received international accolades and heavy rotation on jazz/AAA radio stations in the US and abroad for her jazz and genre bending recording projects. Lordi has performed in jazz clubs, festivals and performance venues all across the US and in Europe, including Birdland, Smoke (NYC), Le Duc des Lombards (Paris), The Jazz Cruise (FLA), World Café Live, Mann Music Center, The Kimmel Center (PA). Her albums have garnered favorable reviews in Downbeat, JazzTimes, Jazziz (US), Jazz Journal, JazzWise (UK), JazzLife & Jaz.In (Japan). Lordi’s music has been featured by NPR Music and on Fresh Air With Terry Gross. Whether Lordi is performing american songbook standards with jazz legends such as Houston Person, exploring experimental soundscapes in her original music or delivering her taut, mesmerizing interpretations of pop ballads, a profound love of the music she chooses to sing and the musicians she creates with is evident in every note of her vividly expressive and elegantly communicative voice. Lordi brings an innate ability for insightful connection, creativity, and artistic collaboration that has been honed on the bandstand to her teaching to draw out the best performances in her students.

Guitarist Miles Okazaki is a NYC-based guitarist originally from Port Townsend, a small seaside town in Washington State. His approach to the guitar is described by the New York Times as “utterly contemporary, free from the expectations of what it means to play a guitar in a group setting — not just in jazz, but any kind. ” His sideman experience over the last two decades covers a broad spectrum, from standards to experimental music (Kenny Barron, John Zorn, Stanley Turrentine, Dan Weiss, Matt Mitchell, Steve Coleman, Jonathan Finlayson, Jane Monheit, Amir ElSaffar, Darcy James Argue, and many others). He has released nine albums of original compositions over the last 12 years on the Sunnyside, Pi, and Cygnus labels. In 2018 Okazaki received wide critical acclaim for his six-album recording of the complete compositions of Thelonious Monk for solo guitar, an unprecedented project that Nate Chinen called “the six-string equivalent of a free solo climb up El Capitan. ” That year, Okazaki was voted the #1 rising star guitarist in the Downbeat Magazine critic’s poll. Other projects include a longstanding duo with drummer Dan Weiss, a duo with percussionist Rajna Swaminathan, and a published book, Fundamentals of Guitar, with Mel Bay. He taught guitar and rhythmic theory at the University of Michigan from 2013-22, joined the faculty at Princeton University in 2021, and holds degrees from Harvard University, Manhattan School of Music, and the Juilliard School.

Born in the province of Pinar del Río, Cuba, Elio Villafranca is a Steinway Artist, cultural activist, and one of the most innovative voices in modern jazz. A Grammy-nominated composer and pianist, he is a 2021 Guggenheim Fellowship recipient and a two-time Grammy nominee. He was named Rising Stars Pianist in the 2019 DownBeat Critics Poll and Rising Stars Keyboard winner in 2018. In 2017, Villafranca became the first Cuban-born artist to receive the Sunshine Award, honoring excellence across the Caribbean, South and Central America, and Africa. In 2014, Jazz at Lincoln Center presented him with its inaugural Millennium Swing Award for his visionary contributions to jazz and Afro-Caribbean music.

Originally trained as a painter, Villafranca studied classical piano, percussion, and composition at Havana’s prestigious Instituto Superior de Arte. Since relocating to the U.S., he has emerged as a leading figure among contemporary jazz pianists, blending classical technique with jazz language and the deep rhythmic traditions of the African diaspora. His debut album, Incantations/Encantaciones (Universal Latin, 2003), was named among JazzTimes’ 50 Best Jazz Albums of the Year. His most recent release, Standing by the Crossroads (ArtistShare), was selected by DownBeat Magazine as one of the Best Jazz Albums of 2023.

Villafranca’s discography includes ten acclaimed albums as a leader and collaborations with jazz legends such as Chick Corea, Wynton Marsalis, Johnny Pacheco, Pat Martino, Paquito D’Rivera, Joe Lovano, Pat Martino, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Billy Hart, David Murrey, Lewis Nash, Jon Faddis, Billy Harper, and Steve Turre. In 2001, he was commissioned by WHYY-TV (PBS) to compose the score for Murals, a documentary series exploring Philadelphia’s public art. His 2009 album received a Grammy nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album, and his 2014 project Caribbean Tinge (Motéma) was internationally praised and nominated for the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik. That same year, Chick Corea handpicked Villafranca as one of five pianists to perform at the inaugural Chick Corea Jazz Festival at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

In 2018, he released CINQUE (ArtistShare), a powerful double album inspired by Joseph Cinqué and the Amistad rebellion. The album earned a Grammy nomination and further established Villafranca’s reputation as a leading composer of Afro-Caribbean jazz. That year, he also served as Artist-in-Residence with the Miami Symphony Orchestra. Most recently, Villafranca premiered his large-scale big band suite TRES AGUAS, commissioned by Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, performed at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater.

A passionate educator and author, Villafranca is on the jazz faculty at The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, Princeton University, and Temple University.

Matthew Parrish, Bass: Born in the heart of central California, Matthew Parrish emerged from a musical upbringing fueled by hard work and a deep love for jazz. He embodies the very essence of jazz bass performance, captivating audiences with his electrifying talent and magnetic stage presence.

Matthew’s illustrious career is studded with collaborations that read like a who’s who of jazz legends. From sharing the stage with luminaries such as Regina Carter, Wynton Marsalis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Paquito D’Rivera to recording alongside Houston Person, Clark Terry, and Etta Jones, he has left an indelible mark on the music industry. The list goes on, including Miri Ben-Ari, James Williams, Harry Sweets Edison, James Newton, Gary Thomas, Greg Osby, Stefon Harris, and Orrin Evans, among countless others, each encounter further fueling his artistic fire.

His virtuosity on the bass, characterized by a beautiful, warm, and intricate sound, has earned him an unparalleled reputation as a performer, composer, arranger, and producer. Critics and peers alike hail him as a true luminary in the jazz community, recognizing his ability to effortlessly transport listeners to new sonic landscapes with his mesmerizing melodies and pulsating rhythms.

Matthew’s quest for musical excellence knows no bounds, taking him to stages around the globe. From the hallowed jazz clubs of New York City to the vibrant metropolis of Sao Paulo, his name has become synonymous with extraordinary performances that leave audiences breathless and begging for more.

Currently, Matthew finds himself immersed in a whirlwind of thrilling projects and touring engagements. He is a vital member of the enthralling Ute Lemper’s ensemble, sharing the stage with the iconic Ruth Naomi Floyd, Michelle Lordi, and the incomparable Orrin Evans. The legendary saxophonist Houston Person is another esteemed collaborator, whose musical chemistry with Matthew transcends boundaries. Additionally, he is an integral part of the dynamic Vana Gierig Trio, featuring the extraordinary talents of the renowned Paquito D’Rivera.

Matthew Parrish’s journey is a testament to the power of passion, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of artistic excellence. Through his magnetic performances and infectious energy, he continues to reshape the boundaries of jazz, leaving an indelible mark on the music world. With every note he plays, Matthew invites audiences into a realm where music transcends time and place, igniting a fire within their souls that will burn forever.

Jerome Jennings is a drummer, activist, bandleader, sideman, and Emmy Award winning composer. His debut recording ‘The Beast’ is a reflection of the every day joys and traumas of black life in the U.S. It was named one of the top three jazz releases by NPR, received a four star rating in Downbeat Magazine, and was nominated for the prestigious French ‘Grand Prix du Disque’ award for Album of the Year in 2016. Jerome’s sophomore recording, ‘Solidarity’, released November 2019 was recognized by NPR as best music that spoke truth to power of 2019.

To date, Jerome has performed, toured and recorded with legendary musicians like Sonny Rollins, Hank Jones, Gerald Wilson, Christian McBride, Ron Carter, George Cables, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Wynton Marsalis (J@LC), The Count Basie Orchestra, Philip Bailey, Henry Butler, and countless others. He has also made recordings and shared the stage with contemporary musicians, Brandee Younger, Camille Thurman, Jazzmeia Horn, Endea Owens, Christian Sands, and Thembelihle Dunjana, to name a few.

The summer of 2007 Jerome earned a MM from the prestigious Juilliard School in Manhattan NY. In 2014, he passed Jazz At Lincoln Centers Swing University 301 history course. He was the Resident Director of The Juilliard Jazz Orchestra from fall 2017 to 2021. While on faculty at Juilliard, he designed a class entitled The Juilliard Jazz Community Project. Jerome is a jazz scholar. Since 2022, Jerome has been a professor of graduate jazz history at Montclair State University.

Jerome has participated on several panels including Chamber Music America: Music, Language, and Revolution; Lincoln Center: Freedom’s State of Mind; Winter Jazz Festival: Jazz & Gender: A Discussion Of Community, Culture & Participatory Allies, 2024 Lincoln Center Presents: James Reese Europe - A Musical Life, to name a few. Fall 2020, Jerome co-curated with Naomi Extra, a series of panels, performances and discussions at The National Jazz Museum in Harlem entitled ‘Jazz in The Era of Black Lives Matter.’ He has also designed and taught several courses for Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Swing University.

Currently, Jerome is keeping busy teaching, conducting clinics and educational youth out reach nationally and internationally. Jerome has been artist in residence, and have lectured at dozens of Universities and Academy’s, nationally and internationally including UNC Greensboro, John Hopkins Peabody Institute, Rutgers University, The Juilliard School, Jazz Music Institute JMI (Brisbane, AU), Sydney Conservatory of Music, Xavier College (Melbourne, AU), The Ohio State University, Aspen Colorado, Brigham Young University, University Of Ghana - Legon School Of Performing Arts, Rockport Jazz Workshop, and the Universidad Sergio Arboleda (Bogota Colombia) and The National Taiwan University of The Arts.

Patrick Bartley

Patrick Bartley, Jr. is a GRAMMY-nominated saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, and bandleader from Hollywood, Florida who is known for his boundless versatility, virtuosic technique and expressive vocal-like sound. Since moving to New York City, Patrick has performed and recorded with some of the greatest musical masters in the world, including Wynton Marsalis, Jon Batiste, Emmet Cohen, Larry Grenadier, Steve Miller, Herbie Hancock, Louis Hayes, Carole King, Jimmy Cobb, Marquis Hill, Bobby Sanabria, Marcus Printup, and many others. Patrick is currently most known for his appearances on the multi-million-viewed "Live from Emmet's Place" YouTube sessions (namely, "After You've Gone", etc.), as well as for starting the J-MUSIC Ensemble, a band dedicated to examining the world of modern Japanese music through the lens of jazz. Since its inception, J-MUSIC has garnered millions of views and hundreds of thousands of fans worldwide and has led to Patrick connecting and working with some of the greatest names in modern Japanese music, such as Sayaka Yamamoto, sasakure.UK, Donna Burke, Awich, Miho Hazama, and more.