NEW SCHOOL
JAZZ NEWS
THE NEW SCHOOL FOR JAZZ AND CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
Ali Jackson ’00, member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and an advocate of Jazz music.  Photo: Frédéric Thaly
Ali Jackson—So Much Art to Give
Ali Jackson ’00 grew up in a musically talented
family in Detroit and started drumming at a
very early age. “I always played on a practice
pad that I got when I was two or three years
old and still own today.” Ali’s father was
an educator and a great jazz bassist, and his
mother, a classical pianist, taught her son
how to play the piano at age five. By age
eight, Ali was performing professionally, and
as a teenager, Ali came to New York City
where his uncle, jazz drummer Oliver “Bops”
Jackson Jr., took him on gigs as a roadie.
The experience gave him a taste of the city’s
jazz scene.
Ali’s first introduction to New School
Jazz was as a freshman in high school
when he played drums during his cousin’s
audition. New School Jazz faculty were
impressed with Ali’s musical ability
and stayed in touch with him. Ali was
attracted to the school’s intimate learning
environment and the opportunity to
Fall 2010
study with teachers who were great jazz
musicians. “I attended at a time when
the concept of becoming a professional
musician while earning a degree didn’t
coincide,” Ali says. “New School Jazz
helped to bridge that gap.” Ali also credits
the school for his growth as an artist.
“When you’re around professionals and jazz
legends, it allows you to refine your talent
and shape it into something that is quite
palpable. In my particular case, I had the
Continues on page 3...
Alumni News
Send news about your latest
achievements to alumni@newschool.edu
and see more news about your fellow
alumni on the Class Notes page at
www.newschool.edu/alumni.
1990
In January, Peter Bernstein (guitar)
participated in the New York Jazz Master
series at the Einav Center in Tel Aviv,
along with 69-year-old trumpeter Eddie
Henderson and octogenarian drummer
Jimmy Cobb.
Although he is a mainstay of the Seattle
music scene, Brooks Giles (saxophone,
vocals) still calls Brooklyn home. In
2008, he traveled to Santiago, Chile
to record Romance de Los Andes with
The Pancho Aranda Trio. Giles was the
group’s featured artist for four months,
performing with Chile’s well known
pianist, Aranda.
1993
Brad Mehldau (piano) was named as
Carnegie Hall’s Richard and Barbara Debs
Composer’s Chair. He is the first jazz
artist to occupy the position since it was
established in 1995. His residency began
in November 2010 with the New York
premiere of his new concert-length work
Highway Rider at Carnegie Hall.
1995
In June, Vision Festival XV featured Billy
Bang’s Spirit of Sir One with Andrew
Bemkey (piano) on the Main Stage of
Abrons Arts Center in New York City.
Stefan Schatz (drums) received a
Grammy for Best Traditional Folk Album
for his work on High Wide & Handsome:
The Charlie Poole Project, by Loudon
Wainwright III. Schatz also received the
ASCAP Adventurous Programming Award
as a member of the Chris Byars Quartet,
for their innovative Bronx Jazz Series.
Schatz has been traveling to the Middle
East as a jazz ambassador, as well as
playing in the bands of vibraphonist Teddy
Charles and pianist Freddie Redd.
2 | THE NEW SCHOOL FOR JAZZ
AND CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
Message from the
Executive Director
Martin Mueller
The New School is a name as fresh today as
it was in 1919, when The New School first
began as a bastion of intellectual and artistic
freedom. And the “new” in the name continues
to signify educational and artistic innovation, Martin Mueller  Photo: Matthew Sussman
part of our DNA from then to now.
But the real truth is that “new” can only understanding tradition while always reaching
be understood if you know where you are for the new, ensures that The New School
coming from. As part of our evolution at will always represent the future of jazz.
The New School for Jazz and Contemporary
Music, we have established norms, values,
beliefs, traditions, and rituals as we’ve Sincerely yours,
worked, learned, and created together. This
set of informal expectations and values has
shaped who we are and how we think, feel
and act, and from the past to the present,
it brings us to this very moment, where our Martin Mueller
students can choose to make everything new. Executive Director, The New School for
At The New School, we seek that moment Jazz and Contemporary Music
when each student discovers himself or
herself free of immediate influences. As
Nietzsche said, “one repays a teacher badly
BOARD OF GOVERNORS 2010–2011
Kent A. Clark, Chair
if one always remains only a pupil.” This
James C. Freund, Vice Chair
newsletter speaks to how our students have
Roxanne Griffith
been influenced by the combination of
Bertram H. Lubin
our great faculty, their own determination,
J. Gregory Milmoe
and the school’s emphasis on self-directed
Hank O’Neal
education. The result of that experience is
evidenced by alumni commitment to the
Timothy L. Porter
Mark A. Schulman
art form itself, and to their “giving back” to
Ruth Sheetrit
others as told in the Ali Jackson story on the
first page.
Here at New School Jazz, we believe that
jazz is a flexible art—an enduring expression
that continues to evolve. Each student
asserts his or her own personal identity while
simultaneously reinvigorating elements from
jazz’s rich cultural legacy. This process, of
... Continued from cover
opportunity to work with greats like Cecil
McBee, Buster Williams, and Frank Foster,
just by going to class.”
Today Ali performs with the Jazz at Lincoln
Center Orchestra, the Wynton Marsalis
Quintet, and the “phenom ensemble” Horns
in the Hood. He also leads his own band, the
Ali Jackson Quartet. In October he traveled to
Cuba with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
and taught classes on the history of rhythm
and jazz. With so much art to give, Ali is also
busy working on a variety of projects. He is
composing music for his trio’s next record,
which will feature Wynton Marsalis, George
Vincent, Josh Redman, Vincent Gardner,
and many others. He is working on a series
of video podcasts called “How to Listen to
Jazz,” which helps newcomers become familiar
with jazz music. He lends his voice to many
different characters on the visual book series,
Baby Loves Jazz. He is also working on the
Victoria Suite project with long-time friend
and collaborator, Wynton Marsalis. Along with
Marsalis and other jazz musicians, Ali recently
finished a five-city tour of playing live musical
accompaniment to Louis, The Movie, a silent
film about Louis Armstrong.
In addition to performing, Ali also finds
time to give back to the jazz community he
loves. He carves out time to talk to students
of all ages about jazz and its impact on the
world. He also visits New School Jazz from
time to time to perform at senior recitals and
even envisions teaching there in the future.
Explaining why the school is unique, he says,
“It’s an institution that preserves the essence
of what the art form is about and it does that
with more success than any other institution.”
He continues, “I just love the environment
and the concept of the school. There are not
a lot of schools like this. And the fact that it’s
still a relatively small school gives students an
opportunity to get a lot of attention.”
Preserving jazz music and nurturing new
talent is very important to Ali. “I think music
is crucial to our culture and to our society.
Jazz music is the number one representation of
American culture. You could even call it high
art. It’s alive and well. It’s important that we
preserve that. For those donors or people that
are wondering what they should contribute to,
I would argue there is nothing greater than to
contribute to the heritage of ourselves and of
our nation.”  2
Jazz Welcomes
New Board
Member,
Ruth Sheetrit
The New School Jazz board of governors
is pleased to announce Ruth Sheetrit as its
newest board member. Sheetrit is CEO and
owner of Sheetrit Media Group (SMG), a
major international marketing and public
relations firm based in Israel. Her public
achievements are varied and impressive.
She received the Presidential Award
for Volunteerism in 1997 and a special
presidential citation for her activity in 2008
(the only recipient in Israel that year). She is
affiliated with many organizations dedicated
to improving children’s lives and supporting
the arts. She has been on the board of
directors of several nonprofit organizations
including Give Children the World, Hand in
Hand Association, Israel Cancer Association,
Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Tel
Aviv Museum of Art. Sheetrit is the chair of
the Israel Public Relations Foundation and
founder of Warm Home in Yavneh, which
takes care of 22 children from disadvantaged
homes. Together with her husband, Meir
Sheetrit, a member of the Knesset (Israeli
parliament), she established the Miri Sheetrit
Pediatric Oncology wing at Rambam Medical
Center and founded the Miri Sheetrit
Memorial Foundation in honor of their
daughter, who lost her battle with cancer in
her teens. Her son David is a New School Jazz
student and an accomplished pianist.  2
Ruth Sheetrit  Photo: Daniel Hakim
1998
Tomas Fujiwara (drums) performed at
Jazz Gallery in April with his band Hook
Up, featuring Jonathan Finlayson ’04
(trumpet) and others.
1999
Kenyatta Beasley (trumpet) continues to
teach full-time at Ohio State University.
He scored the films Three Can Play That
Game and Get Rich or Die Tryin' and
occasionally fills in on trumpet with the
Saturday Night Live house band.
Tomer Tzur (drums) is a principal
musician in The Sway Machinery. In
December 2009, they performed at
The Festival of the Desert in a remote
location in the Sahara outside of
Timbuktu, Mali, for an audience of
thousands. As part of the project,
they played for nomadic people in an
Islamic area where cultural exchange of
this kind has never occurred.
2000
Michaelangelo L’Acqua (guitar)
recently released his Symmetry album
in conjunction with the W Hotels, where
he serves as global music director.
2001
Marcus Strickland (saxophone) led
his quartet, featuring E.J. Strickland ’02
(drums), at Jazz Standard in July.
2002
Manuel Engel (piano) and his new
big band, Bienne City (BNC) Arkestra,
toured extensively this year. Engel also
collaborated with Hans Koch, one of
the most innovative improvisational
reed-players in Europe. He also led his
group, Meta Marie Louise.
2003
Robert Glasper (piano) and the Robert
Glasper Experiment joined former
student Jose James (vocals) and his
band, Blackmagic, for a double bill at
Lincoln Center Out Of Doors in August.
Skye Steele (violin) played at the
Newport Jazz Festival in August with
his group late bloomer, and with
Matt Wilson.
3
2005
Sharel Cassity (alto sax) released
Relentless (Jazz Legacy Productions).
Assaf Hakimi (bass) released Some
Other Day (self produced). For this
debut CD, Hakimi recruited Israeli jazz
comrades Eli Degibri (sax), Jonathan
Voltzok ’08 (trombone), and Alon Yavnai
(piano), who split their time between New
York and Israel.
2006
Colin Dean (bass) led his jazz group
Roots and Grooves in a year-long
collaboration with hip hop MC Hasan
Salaam, culminating in a performance
at the Nuyorican Poets Café in New York
City in May.
Jean Rohe (vocals) was seen and heard
throughout the year leading various
bands in locations from Brooklyn, New
York, to Burlington, Vermont, to Tbilisi,
Georgia. She often performs with Benjy
Fox-Rosen ’07 (bass) and Aaron Shafer-
Haiss ’09 (percussion).
Jamire Williams (drums) and his band
Erimaj were featured by Ben Ratliff in
the New York Times in April, following
a performance at Jazz Gallery. The
band included John Ellis ’99 (tenor
sax and clarinet), former student Corey
King (trombone), Ivan Taylor (bass),
Jason Moran (piano), and Matthew
Stevens (guitar). The following month,
Ellis released his CD, Puppet Mischief
(ObliqueSound).
2007
In April, Ryan Anselmi (tenor sax) and
Andrew Hadro (baritone sax) performed
with faculty member Junior Mance and
others at The Blue Room in Kansas City.
Yeahwon Shin (vocals) finished mixing
her album via ArtistShare. Her self-
titled work debuted in September and
features Egberto Gismonti, as well as
collaborations with many other well-
known musicians.
Michael Spiegel (guitar) won the 83rd
Annual New York Daily News Golden
Gloves Championship in the 178-lb novice
division in March.
4 | THE NEW SCHOOL FOR JAZZ
AND CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
First Alumni
Association
Board Members
Appointed
The New School Alumni Association is pleased
to announce its first cohort of board members.
Drawing from a strong pool of candidates,
the university has appointed 11 alumni
representing all aspects of the university. The
new members began serving two-year terms
on July 1, 2010. With advisement from this
new group, a full 40 member board will be
in place by July 2012. One of the group’s first
tasks is to help recruit future board members.
They will also develop board objectives and
goals and help shape an alumni program that
provides alumni with even more opportunities
to network, socialize, and connect with and
support the university. The first group of
board members come from a wide range of
professional backgrounds and graduation
years. Their expertise in various fields and
their common desire to build a strong alumni
presence within the New School community
will be invaluable. To learn more about the
new board of directors, visit www.newschool.
edu/alumni/about.
The New School Alumni Association
Board of Directors
Martha Alexander ’79 (Parsons, BFA,
Communication Design)
Mark Cajigao ’08 (New School Drama,
MFA, Acting)
Colin Dean ’06 (New School Jazz, BFA,
Jazz Performance)
Angela Gadeliya ’05 (Mannes, PDPL,
Performance)
Chasson Gracie ’03 (Milano, MS, Urban Policy)
Michelle Hartman ’06 (The New School for
Social Research, PhD, Political Science)
Jahmila Joseph ’06 (Eugene Lang College,
BA, Liberal Arts)
Dee MacDonald-Miller ’75 (Parsons, BFA,
Environmental Design)
Michael McKinnon ’05 (Parsons, Cert.,
Interior Design)
James Stenerson ’80 (The New School,
MA, Media Studies)
Morris Yankell ’86 (Milano, MA,
Human Resources)  2
In Class and Out
In spring 2010, New School Jazz welcomed
faculty member Yosvany Terry to direct the
West African Heritage Ensemble. The
ensemble explored the rich musical heritage
of West Africa and the West African diaspora
in the Americas with students applying West
African concepts to their understanding of
jazz and improvisation.
In addition, Martin Mueller launched
the course Listening Discovery. Students
shared recordings keeping in mind quality,
range, personal preference (meaning and/
or relevance), and the element of surprise.
Each class consisted of blind listening rounds,
commentary, rationale for selections, and
a discussion of what a given piece meant
to each student personally, artistically, and
academically.
The master class series Eyes of the Masters
featured a line-up of artists, including Barry
Harris, Carl Allen, Giacomo Gates, Ethan
Iverson, Lawrence “Butch” Morris, Greg
Osby, Suphala Patankar, Marc Ribot, and
Jenny Scheinman.
New School Jazz was also part of numerous
interdisciplinary projects, including hosting
The New School for Social Research for
their panel on and screening of Beats of
Freedom as part of Rebel Waltz: Underground
Music from Behind the Iron Curtain. Other
collaborations included faculty member Andrew
Cyrille participating in The New School for
General Studies’ Riggio Forum: Poetry and
Jazz with Robert Pinsky, and faculty member
David Lopato composing for the university-wide
exhibition, Re-Imagining Orozco.
In May, faculty member Jane Ira Bloom
directed Max Jaffe ’10 (drums), Or Baraket
(bass), Michael Bjella ’10 (sax), Angelo Spagnolo
’10 (guitar), and Mallory Glaser ’10 (vocals) in
a special presentation in the Sheila Johnson
Design Center at Parsons The New School for
Design. The performance, presented under
the auspices of The New School-Ashoka
Partnership: Creativity as a Vehicle for Social
Innovation, united dancers, visual artists,
and musicians in an exploration of how risk,
experimentation, and improvisation can play a
role in social change.  2
Parents and
Partnerships
Meadmore Scholarship
The New School for Jazz and Contemporary
Music has received a $50,000 grant from the
Clement Meadmore Foundation. The award
provides need-based tuition assistance to young,
outstanding jazz musicians. The late Clement
Meadmore was one of the most highly respected
2 and electric bass).
artists of his generation and was known for his
commitment to creating public art.
Jazz Welcomes Parents
On August 20, parents of incoming New
School Jazz students gathered at the annual
welcome reception in the Jazz Performance
Space. With more than 85 attendees, the event
featured speakers including Executive Director
Martin Mueller, faculty members Junior Mance
and Richard Boukas, Admission Director Peter
Layton, and New School Jazz student Melanie
Charles (vocals). Charles stressed the importance
of parental encouragement in her speech. “You
have no idea how important it is to support
your children right now in every way,” she said.
“Come to their performances. Ask them what
they are doing. Ask them how their lessons were
that week. It does make a difference.”
A trio of Jazz students played as parents and
New School Jazz faculty and staff members
mingled. New, full-time faculty member Dr.
Chris Stover was introduced, and a short video
compilation of student performances was on
continuous display. These clips were culled
from recordings taken with new 3-D motion
sensor cameras that make it possible to provide
graduating students with archival videos of their
senior recitals in addition to a professionally-
engineered audio CD.  2
1 2008
Natalie John (vocals) celebrated the
release of her debut CD, Unveiled, at
Zinc Bar in June. John self-produced
the album with Dominic Fallacaro
’08 (piano/organ/Rhodes/vocals),
who also performs on the recording
along with Travis Reuter ’08 (acoustic
and electric bass), Stuart Bidwell ’09
(drums), and Aiden Carroll (acoustic
2009
Yotam Silberstein (guitar) released
Resonance (Jazz Legacy Productions)
with Christian McBride (bass), Greg
Hutchinson (drums), and former
students Aaron Goldberg (piano) and
Roy Hargrove (trumpet).
Glenn Zaleski (piano) is one of five
3
finalists selected to compete for a
$50,000 prize and the title of 2011 Cole
Porter Fellow in Jazz of the American
Pianists Association. The fellowship
is the largest prize in the world for a
young jazz pianist; the competition’s last
phase is in April 2011.
2010
Eyal Vilner (sax) and his big band
4
debuted at the Iridium in New York City
in a special series, New Faces.
Nitzan Gavrieli (piano) and Lukas
Gabric (saxophone) were band leaders
who represented New School Jazz at
the International JazzFestival Bern in
Switzerland. Other leaders included
current students Sarah Elizabeth
Charles, Mike Rood, Rotem Sivan, and
5 Melanie Charles. These groups were
part of a roster that included headliners
McCoy Tyner, Jack DeJohnette, Diane
Reeves, and others. They performed
to standing room crowds, with some
players singled out by international
press and invited by festival producers
to headline at Bern in fall 2010.

(1) Miriam Wall, Barbara Detkin, David Kikoler, Peter Wall,

and Celina Palacios (2) Melanie Charles and Alphonso Arnold
(3) Stephen Kennon, faculty members Dr. Chris Stover and
MAKE A GIFT
Richard Boukas (4) Juli Nakano, Tad Nakano, and faculty Your participation makes a difference!
member Junior Mance (5) Sam Buss, Teresa Buss, Sharon To make a gift, visit
Chambers, and Dennis Chambers  Photos: Mary Kaltenberg www.newschool.edu/giving.

5
Events
Hot Jazz and BBQ
On April 13, The New School returned to Jazz
Standard for an evening of Afro-Cuban jazz
featuring students and National Endowment
for the Arts Jazz Master Candido. The event
was directed by faculty member Bobby Sanabria.
Standout moments included “The Afro-
Cuban Jazz Suite for Duke Ellington,”
arranged by Michael Philip Mossaman, and
a soulful conga solo by Candido based on
A.K. Salim’s “Conversation.” Band members
were made up of current students and alumni
Joe Beaty ’05 (trombone) and Joseph Pramik-
Holdaway ’10 (timbales).
Jazz Presents: New School Drum Sets!
The spring 2010 Jazz Presents series, New
School Drum Sets!, started out sizzling
on March 10 with faculty member Charli
Persip and his big band Supersound. Persip’s
performance showcased his unrelenting swing
and the dramatic accenting strokes that signify
his style. Supersound featured Persip (drums)
and various artists, including James Zeller ’05
(trombone), Mike McGarril ’08 (alto sax and
flute), and Chelsea Crowe ’09 (vocals).
On April 8, faculty member Amir Ziv ’98
led his band Droid featuring Ziv (percussion),
Shahzad Ismaily (bass), faculty member Adam
Holzman (synthesizer), former student Jordan
McLean (trumpet and electronics), and
Sissy Clemens ’10 (vocals), with visuals by
Chris Jordan. Using innovative techniques
drawn from Ziv’s knowledge of cinematic,
pop, and jazz music history, Droid created
a dynamic multimedia experience for a
transfixed audience.
Jazz Presents showcases New School Jazz
faculty in collaboration with affiliated artists
and students and alumni. This series is made
possible in part by a grant from the New York
State Council on the Arts.
Prez Fest 2010
Through instruction and performance, New
School Jazz has long upheld the legacy of
drummer and bandleader Art Blakey. On
March 14, the tradition continued with the
school strongly represented at Prez Fest,
a day-long celebration of Blakey’s life and
music at St. Peter’s Church in New York
City. Hosted by faculty member Billy Harper,
the event featured the New School Blakey/
Jazz Messenger Ensemble directed by faculty
member Charles Tolliver. The ensemble opened
6 | THE NEW SCHOOL FOR JAZZ
AND CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
1 3
2 4
5
the concert portion of the day’s activities,
which also included panel discussions, an
art show, and jazz vespers. Highlights also
included performances by faculty members
Joanne Brackeen (piano), Reggie Workman
(bass), Charli Persip (drums), Billy Harper
(tenor sax), David Schnitter (tenor saxophone),
6
and Charles Tolliver (trumpet)—all Blakey
colleagues or alumni of his bands.
Our Favorite Things
On January 26, New School Jazz partnered
with the National Jazz Museum of Harlem
to present Jazz For Curious Listeners: Our
Favorite Things—Lar Lubovitch and the Music
of John Coltrane. Lubovitch discussed his 7
choreographic inspiration and interpretation
of Coltrane’s live recording in Copenhagen of
“My Favorite Things” with faculty member
Reggie Workman, long-time bassist for Coltrane.
During their conversation, members of the
Lubovitch Dance Company demonstrated
excerpts from a forthcoming dance
performance based on that recording. 8
And They’re Off!
More than 70 members of the class of 2010
were honored at The New School for Jazz and
Contemporary Music Recognition Ceremony
on campus in May. Executive Director Martin
Mueller hosted the event; invited speakers
included faculty member Richard Boukas,
student Melanie Charles, and executive 9
director of the National Jazz Museum in
Harlem Loren Schoenberg. The program
also featured original music and spoken word
performances by class of 2010 members Angelo
Spagnolo, Ross Gallagher, Max Jaffe, Steven
Lugerner, and David Scanlon, and a short video
memoir by former student Darah Golub.  2
 10
Faculty News February and is heard on the CD Fracture:
Anti-Social Music (Innova Recordings).

The Happening 2010 in New York City featured
Jane Ira Bloom (soprano sax) and her trio,
Bobby Sanabria (percussion) and his group
Quarteto Aché, and Trio 3 with Reggie
Workman (bass), Andrew Cyrille (drums), and
Oliver Lake (saxes).
11
In May, Steve Cardenas (guitar) released
West of Middle (Sunnyside Records) and in
August performed with The Ben Allison Band
at the Newport Jazz Festival.
Jeff Carney (bass) worked on a score for a
Barry Levinson film starring Al Pacino. Carney
is also featured on the recently released
Bobby Sanabria (percussion) performed in
August at Lincoln Center Out of Doors with
Ruben Blades in the New York City premiere
of Larry Harlow’s 1977 La Raza Latina, a
Salsa Suite. Sanabria was also a nominee
for the Jazz Journalists Association 2010
Percussionist of the Year.
In May, the Iridium presented Joan Stiles
(vocals/piano) and her sextet performing
“Mostly Mary Lou,” a celebration of the 100th
birthday of Mary Lou Williams.

In Memoriam:
12 Barbra Streisand and Quartet One Night Only
Live at The Village Vanguard (Columbia).

Alexis Cuadrado (bass) released his CD,

(1) Faculty member Bobby Sanabria (2) Bobby Sanabria
and Jazz Master Candido (3) Alicia Clemens ’10 (4) Faculty
member Amir Ziv ’98 (5) James Zeller ’05 (6) Chelsea Crowe
’09 (7) Supersound (8) Faculty member Charli Persip
(9) Faculty member Joanne Brackeen (10) Faculty member
Andrew Cyrille (11) New School Blakey Ensemble (12) Loren
Schoenberg, Executive Director of National Jazz Museum in
Harlem  Photos: Karinna Gylfphe, Erika Kapin, and Conway Liao
Alumni Join
Puzzles (Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records).
Benny Powell
George Fontenette (trumpet) composed
Longtime New School Jazz faculty member
music for the film Multiple Sarcasms, starring
and renowned trombonist and composer
Timothy Hutton, Mira Sorvino, Dana Delany,
Benny Powell died on June 26 from
Mario Van Peebles, Stockard Channing, Laila
complications related to back surgery. He was
Robins, and India Ennenga.
80 years old.
Dave Glasser (alto sax) released Evolution (Here “All of us who knew Benny feel his loss
Tiz Music) and was a guest DJ for “Everything Old deeply; he contributed his musical gifts and
is New Again” on WBAI.FM in July. positive human spirit to the world around him
in every moment of his full and productive
In June, Adam Holzman (piano/keyboards/
life,” Executive Director Martin Mueller
synthesizer) accompanied the top cantor from
said. “Benny played his horn like he lived his
Vienna, Shmuel Barzilai, in a concert that also
life: straight ahead, completely honest, and
featured Café Da Silva (percussion) and Yair
Barzilai (guitar/vocals). The concert fused
cantorial music, world music, and jazz at the
completely present.”

Young Patrons Edmond J. Safra Hall at the Museum of Jewish

Society
The New School Young Patrons Society is
a network of young professionals under 45
who share a desire to help emerging artists.
Through its work, the society supports the
gifted students at the performing arts divisions
of The New School—Mannes College The
New School for Music, The New School for
Drama, and The New School for Jazz and
Contemporary Music.
Alumni members include Mark Cajigao,
Drama ’08; Sherri Eden Barber, Drama ’09;
Cody Franchetti, Mannes ’99; Steven Ganz, Jazz
’93; and Geoffrey McDonald, Mannes ’09.
For more information, contact Lane Peace at
peacelr@newschool.edu or visit www.newschool.
edu/giving/youngpatronssociety.  2
Heritage in New York City.
In March, Andy McKee (bass) toured
Guatemala under the auspices of the U.S. State
Department with Luis Bonilla and the group
Trombonilla playing concerts and conducting
master classes in Guatemala City, including at
the Conservatorio Nacional de Musica.
Benny Powell  Photo: Matthew Sussman
Diane Moser (piano) composed music for the
award-winning short documentary Breaking
Boundaries: The Art of Alex Masket, directed
Pam Sabrin, Director of Administration
by Dennis Connors.
212.229.5896 x4583
sabrinp@newschool.edu
Jimmy Owens (trumpet) was interviewed for
Jessica Arnold, Director of Alumni Relations
Jazz Inside in February. 212.229.5662 x3557
alumni@newschool.edu
Gene Perla (bass) released his latest CD, Live
Contributors Latoya Crump, Mary Hastings,
in Berlin (P.M. Records). Randi Irwin, and Pam Sabrin
Produced by Communications and External Affairs
Evan Rapport (alto sax) reviewed The George
Gershwin Reader for Music and Letters in

7
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NEWS | Fall 2010

In This Issue
Cover Story: Ali Jackson—So Much
Art to Give
Message from the Executive Director
Alumni News
Events
In Class and Out
Faculty News
Parents and Partnerships

Stay Connected Upcoming Events What’s New

Tweet, tweet! Find out about the
latest happenings by following The
New School Alumni Association at
www.twitter.com/newschoolalumni.
Join more than 2,200 alumni as
fans of The New School Alumni
Association at www.facebook.com/
newschoolalumni.
To receive invitations and news
about future alumni events, don’t
forget to send your current email
address to alumni@newschool.edu.
Extend your professional network
with your classmates and other
alumni by joining the official alumni
group on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.
com/in/newschoolalumni.
NEW SCHOOL JAZZ AT FAT CAT
New School Alumni Directory:
First Monday of every month
Ready in 2012
Sets start at 8:30 p.m. The next alumni directory will be ready in
Join us for live music, fun, and games. 2012. Harris Connect will start contacting
alumni next year. If you do not wish to be part
Fat Cat
of the list, email alumni@newschool.edu or
75 Christopher Street
call 212.229.5662 x3784.
$3 cover
Information: 212.675.6056
ENSEMBLE AND RECITAL SERIES
Now through December 17
More than 50 free concerts feature senior
recitals and final projects of all levels of
ensemble classes.
Jazz Performance Space
55 West 13th Street, 5th Floor
For a complete schedule of concerts,
visit www.newschool.edu/jazz.