In 1975, a handful of music students attended a summer jazz program facilitated by the late Atilla Zoller. The informal summer school in Newfane, Vt. proved wildly popular—over the next five years, students traveled from across the country and Europe to attend Zoller's workshops.
In order to meet the demands of his growing student body, the jazzophile called on several of his friends in the New York City jazz scene, including Lee Konitz, George Mraz and Don Friedman, to help teach classes. In 1980, Zoller collaborated with Gene Rush, the head of Memphis State University's jazz department, to create a more regimented program, complete with theory classes, ensembles and supervised jam sessions.
The duo rented classroom space from an area private school, hired a staff, and the Vermont Jazz Center was born. Now housed in a permanent space in a refurbished factory building in Brattleboro, the VJC offers year-round vocal and instrumental instruction, youth and intergenerational ensemble programs, a summer workshop series, Wednesday night jam sessions and a monthly concert series featuring some of the world's top jazz musicians.
Upcoming acts include the Gabriel Alegria Afro-Peruvian Sextet, featuring Alegria (pictured) and percussionists Hugo Alcazar and Huevito Lobaton; the Badal Roy Quartet, performing compositions centered around the tabla; and Howard Brofsky, otherwise known as Dr. Bebop, a music professor and current president of the center."
The VJC is located at 72 Cotton Mill Hill, Studio 222, Brattleboro, (802) 254-9088, www.vtjazz.org.
