Sunday, July 25 at 4 p.m. — POULTNEY — While jazz is historically the “only American-born music” we will connect jazz to its roots in Africa and its journey to mainstream media.
The masterclass will look at how racism and the life that Black Americans live fueled the development of jazz through the lens of freedom and restraint; joy and suffering. We’ll explore how “jazz” came to be through its development from Spirituals, to the churches of the South, to the stages of New York and Chicago. Attendees will be treated to some live performances of music covered and a Q&A will be provided at Taps Tavern on Main Street.
Zak Hampton, a Berklee College of Music alumni and Masters Candidate at Castleton University teaches elementary music and middle and high school bands at the West Rutland School, located in West Rutland. He has studied the saxophone and jazz since 2000 studying and has had a chance to play and work with musicians from across the country. Social and emotional wellness is at the center of Zak’s teaching philosophy; music is the vehicle in which he explores that wellness.
Moose Crossing brings together a talented group of musical friends from across the Northeast region to bring high energy jazz fused with popular music for every occasion. Performing youthful takes on classics from Duke Ellington and Frank Sinatra, to Miles Davis and John Coltrane, Moose Crossing is the go-to group for the jazz connoisseur. The group was established in 2011 and is based out of Poultney. For more info, visit tapstavern.com.
