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Comments About The Jazz Studies Program
New Jersey City University's Celebrated Jazz Program
"Swinging All the Way"
“The word is out on how good this jazz program really is, ...”
Read more ... I don't have the slightest doubt that the best jazz music concert for hundreds of miles around took place this night at NJCU. The student ensemble players have grown in sophistication and confidence so much that they tackled Bernstein's "Prelude, Fugue and Riffs" to open the program. This was a "sit up and take notice " experience for the audience, featuring Jason Teborek (piano) and Joseph d'Auguste (clarinet) on this homage of Lenny's to Benny Goodman. Say hello to Maria Schneider's newest big fan [guest artist for the concert]. She uses all the voices of the jazz orchestra like a painter uses all the colors on his palette... The final selection, "Hang Gliding"from the "Allegresse" Cd, was my favorite... Masterful solos by Justin Hernandez (flugelhorn) and Jeremy Fratti (tenor) were heard almost throughout, right up to the climactic ending. If this wonderful concert were repeated the next day, I would be there. -Columnist Frank Mulvaney from Jersey Jazz magazine, July/August 2009 Thanks for everything Ed. Was great to see you and to get to work with your students. Some killer solos too... Great program you've created there. Awesome. Thank your kids for bustin' butt for the music! They did great. -Composr/Bandleader Maria Schneider to Ed Joffe, 5/6/09
"I have witnessed some incredible music thanks to your insight and persistence. We will continue to support what you're doing because it needs to be heard.... It has been an extreme pleasure to be a small part of such a hip program dedicated to furthering this music. The excitement of performance nights at NJCU is a constant reminder why I do this."
- Gary Walker, Program Director of WBGO-FM to Ed Joffe, 3/21/08 "HOPE is beautifully done. I remember that your student soloists were excellent and they certainly are, along with the faculty players on this CD. Congratulations on a lovely recording—I listened to every note!" -Saxophonist Gary Foster to Ed Joffe about the new NJCU Jazz Ensembles CD entitled HOPE, 3/4/08
"Your big band sounds like pros...& I really mean that. Wonderful arrangements...beautifully played... and perhaps the most unusual thing is the quality of the soloists. Compared to most college big bands....where the soloists sound like they're still just getting experience at playing changes."
- Clarinetist/Saxophonist Gary Gray to Ed Joffe about the new NJCU Jazz Ensembles CD entitled HOPE, 3/18/08 "The band sounds exceptional. Great ensemble work, and fantastic soloing. It sure doesn't sound like a college group. Congratulations on a great project." "I really enjoyed working with your students and playing with the faculty trio. I thought there was a lot of good music from the two student groups, and the trio was just magnificent. Thank YOU for setting everything up so that it all was a purely musical encounter. It couldn't have been better or more musically rewarding. And please know that I don't say that lightly. I take any educational endeavor very seriously, and my biggest frustration is that one like this [NJCU] is truly a rarity. Most times it's shamefully unmusical with very little educational value to anyone, especially the students because of woefully inadequate teachers and a great complacency among the young people. I know that you know exactly what I mean! It was exactly the opposite at New Jersey City University , and you all should be proud of the work that you, the jazz faculty, are doing there. For all that, I sincerely thank you all very much, Ed." -Trumpeter Marvin Stamm, 11/25/06 "I had a blast playing with your band." -Clarinetist/saxophonist Eddie Daniels to Ed Joffe, 5/22/07
"We both had a great time - your band was wonderful! You should be very proud of what you've achieved there."
-Brian Lynch to Ed Joffe, |
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