Dr. Colleen Clark, Ludwig artist and a rising voice in jazz, stopped by our Monroe, NC studio to pick up her new kit and talk with us about her career, teaching, and musical journey.
As the Founder and Artistic Director of Jazz Girls Day at the University of South Carolina, Colleen has dedicated her work to elevating the next generation of jazz musicians. Learn more about this important initiative here: https://www.colleendrums.com/jazzgirlsday
In this video, she shares her thoughts on the evolution of jazz education, what inspires her behind the kit, and performs a piece that highlights her deep sense of groove, phrasing, and artistry.
Juno Award-winning clarinetist Virginia MacDonald has established herself as a leading voice of her generation. Known for her lyrical and dynamic approach to the clarinet, she has been described by legendary clarinetist Doreen Ketchens as playing “like a scholar, very refined with plenty of soul.” As an in-demand bandleader, sidewoman, and composer, she maintains a busy international performance schedule, regularly appearing at renowned venues such as Birdland, Smalls, Ronnie Scott’s, Le Duc des Lombards, and Dizzy’s. Her festival appearances span the globe, with performances at the Detroit, Rochester, Torino, Montreal, and Toronto Jazz Festivals, among others.
The transformation of nostalgia is both innovative and intricate, a delicate balance of appealing to the old while tiptoeing at the forefront of the entirely cutting edge. Unbound by any predisposed ideals around genre or delivery, trombonist Audrey Ochoa has achieved the ideal: presenting meticulously influential compositions with a playful and liberated approach. Classically trained but with a voracious appetite for honing her craft in any genre, Ochoa has shared stages with Hilario Duran, PJ Perry, and Tommy Banks, and with international greats Lew Tebackin, Marcus Miller, Chris Potter, the UNT One O’Clock Lab Band, and recently the Dave Matthews Band.