Brubeck Summer Jazz Colony

The Summer Jazz Colony is a one-week, full-scholarship, intensive educational program in jazz performance for a very limited number of exceptionally talented students who have just completed their freshman through junior years in high school. They come from throughout the United States and beyond to study with Brubeck Institute faculty, guest artists and master teachers in combo rehearsals, master classes and private instruction, classes in jazz theory and advanced jazz improvisation, and seminars on the music of Dave Brubeck and other topics. Colonists have extensive opportunity to visit with the artists and clinicians, visit the Brubeck Archive, participate in numerous jam sessions, and perform a final concert.

What the guest artist faculty say about the SJC:

• "The Summer Jazz Colony is about the mentoring of wonderfully talented young people by a faculty of caring, experienced, and talented educator/performers.  It's all about the music. Period!" ... Ed Soph, drums
• "The Summer Jazz Colony is an excellent program of the highest quality, always with an outstanding faculty. The nationally selected students coached and guided by a faculty of top professionals will find only the best of jazz experiences at the Institute. It is one of the best summer events I have ever encountered!" ... Marvin Stamm, trumpet
• "What a wonderful week. This Colony is special because of its treatment of singers. Of all the summer teaching I've done, these are the most musically sophisticated singers I've worked with." ... Madeline Eastman, voice
• "This is perhaps the most important jazz education event I do all year. The Brubeck Summer Jazz Colony is the springboard to the future of jazz music, identifying tomorrow's leaders today. What a privilege to be a part of it!" ... Bart Marantz, trumpet
• "The Summer Jazz Colony is simply the best and most profound learning experience a young student of jazz could ever hope for! This goes for the faculty as well." ... Steve Homan, guitar

 
What the 2007 Colonists say about the SJC...

• "The Colony is the perfect representation of what music education is all about... a positive learning environment where people can exchange ideas in order to advance the music." ... Noah Kellman, piano
• "The Colony was an 'immersion experience'... I've never gained so much in so little time." ... David Meder, piano
• "I had an amazing experience at the Brubeck Institute. It was thrilling for me to be able to play with other musicians at such a high level." ... Kate Davis, bass
• "Spectacular!" ... Paul Melhus, saxophone

Summer Jazz Colony Application Process

The Institute encourages applications from talented, accomplished, and highly motivated students who have completed their freshman, sophomore, or junior years in high school. Those who have graduated from high school are not eligible. For application guidelines, deadlines, and application forms, click here.

The Colonists

To learn more about past Colony students, click on each of the following.

•  2007 Summer Jazz Colony participants

•  2006 Summer Jazz Colony participants

•  2005 Summer Jazz Colony participants

•  2004 Summer Jazz Colony participants

•  2003 Summer Jazz Colony participants

•  2002 Summer Jazz Colony participants

Summer Jazz Colony Artists & Clinicians

The following artists and clinicians have worked with the musicians in the Summer Jazz Colony over the past several years.

• 2007 Summer Jazz Colony Faculty Artists & Clinicians
Joe Gilman, artistic director and piano
Madeline Eastman, voice
Essiet Essiet, bass
Steve Homan, guitar
Brian Kendrick, drums
Patrick Langham, saxophone
Bart Marantz, trumpet
Paul McKee, trombone
Frank Morgan, saxophone
Ed Soph, drums
Marvin Stamm, trumpet

And from the 2006-07 Brubeck Fellowship Program - Brian Chahley, trumpet, Cory Cox, drums, Chris Smith, bass, and Glenn Zaleski, piano

• 2006 Summer Jazz Colony Faculty Artists & Clinicians
Patrick Langham, Director
Steve Wilson, Alto/Sop
Donald Brown, piano
Gilbert Castellanos, trumpet
Bart Marantz, trumpet/combo
Joe Gilman, piano/theory
Willie Jones III, drums
Rick Simerly, trombone/theory
Miles Griffith, vocal
Essiet Essiet, bass
Mark Boling, guitar/theory

• 2005 Summer Jazz Colony Faculty Artists & Clinicians
Ingrid Jensen, Artistic Director & trumpet
J.B. Dyas, Education Director
Doug Ramsey, Jazz Scholar in Residence
Terence Blanchard, Artist in Residence - trumpet
Chris Brubeck, trombone & bass
Dan Brubeck, drums
Jeff Chambers, bass
Hal Crook, trombone
Mike DeMicco, guitar
Madeline Eastman, voice
Taylor Eigsti, piano
Joe Gilman, piano
Geoffrey Keezer, piano
Brian Kendrick, drums
Patrick Langham, saxophone
Bart Marantz, trumpet
Greg Tardy, saxophone

• 2004 Summer Jazz Colony Faculty Artists & Clinicians
Nicholas Payton, Artistic Director & trumpet
J.B. Dyas, Education Director
Mulgrew Miller, Artist in Residence - piano
Jerry Bergonzi, saxophone
Jeff Chambers, bass
Madeline Eastman, voice
Joe Gilman, piano
Geoffrey Keezer, piano
Brian Kendrick, drums
Patrick Langham, saxophone
Bart Marantz, trumpet
Steve Perdicaris, trombone

• 2003 Summer Jazz Colony Faculty Artists & Clinicians
Chris Potter, Artistic Director & saxophone
J.B. Dyas, Education Director
Roy Hargrove, Artist in Residence – trumpet
Jeff Chambers, bass
Madeline Eastman, voice
Joe Gilman, piano
Brian Kendrick, drums
Bart Marantz, trumpet
Steve Perdicaris, trombone

• 2002 Summer Jazz Colony Faculty Artists & Clinicians
Christian McBride, Artistic Director & bass
J.B. Dyas, Education Director
Jeff “Tain” Watts, Artist in Residence – drums
Joe Gilman, piano
Jason Goldman, composer/arranger
Bart Marantz, trumpet
Dianne Mower, voice
Steve Perdicaris, trombone