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Rudresh Mahanthappa
Program Director, Small Ensembles
(609) 258-2219
rudreshm@princeton.edu
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.
Office: E201 New Music Building
Matthew Parrish
Performance Faculty: Jazz Bass, Small Ensembles
mparrish@princeton.edu
My work focuses on Jazz Bass Performance. Born in central California to hard-working, music-loving parents of four children, Matthew Parrish epitomizes the heart of jazz bass performance and livelihood.
Matthew Clayton
Jazz History
mdc8@princeton.edu
Dr. Matthew Clayton, a Philadelphia area native, is a saxophonist, educator, scholar and composer. Initially drawn to the saxophone by the music of Charlie Parker, Dr. Clayton has been dedicated to the performance and teaching of music for more than 20 years and it has remained central to his life ever since he first touched the saxophone at age 10.
David Miller
Performance Faculty: Jazz Trombone
dm43@princeton.edu
Dave Miller has been active in the commercial music scene in New York Cityfor over 25 years. Versatility has been a hallmark, as he's performed in a variety of genres, be it jazz, salsa, pop, or Broadway.
Todd Bashore
Director of the Creative Large Ensemble; Lecturer in Jazz Composition and Arranging
todd.bashore@princeton.edu
Originally from Durham, NC, Todd Bashore has been a highly acclaimed saxophonist, composer, and arranger in the New York City area for more than 30 years. His work as a performer and arranger has been featured on recordings nominated for GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY awards 14 times, including 7 wins.
Ted Chubb
Performance Faculty: Jazz Trumpet
tchubb@princeton.edu
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.
Jerome Jennings
Performance Faculty: Jazz Percussion
jj4312@princeton.edu
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.
Michelle Lordi
Performance Faculty: Voice
ml5926@princeton.edu
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.
Miles Okazaki
Performance Faculty: Jazz Guitar
milesokazaki@princeton.edu
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.”
Julius Tolentino
Performance Faculty: Saxophone
jt2485@princeton.edu
Saxophonist and educator Julius Tolentino has been on the New York jazz scene for over 20 years. He has played and recorded with numerous small groups and big bands including Louis Haye’s Cannonball Adderley Legacy Band and the Louis Hayes Quartet, Eric Reed’s Sextet, Jeremy Pelt’s Quintet, Natalie Cole, Wycliffe Gordon, Connie Francis, Gloria Gaynor, the Illinois Jacquet Big Band, the Christian McBride Big Band, and the Duke Ellington Orchestra amongst many others.
Sumi Tonooka
Performance Faculty: Jazz Piano
st5778@princeton.edu
Jazz has famously been described as the sound of surprise, but Sumi Tonooka makes a vivid case for the way jazz careers can evolve in astonishing directions. As a veteran improviser, the Philadelphia pianist, composer, and bandleader knows all about navigating unexpected twists and turns on the bandstand.
Elio Villafranca
Performance Faculty: Jazz Piano
ev2323@princeton.edu
Born in the province of Pinar del Río, Cuba, Steinway Artist, pianist and composer Elio Villafranca was classically trained in piano, percussion and composition at the Instituto Superior de Arte in Havana, Cuba.