The Schulich School of Music is聽delighted聽to welcome new members to its distinguished faculty.聽聽聽
An intense search for a new tenure-stream Jazz Studies position was carried out in Winter 2021 seeking an individual with an international profile as jazz musician and educator who has made a significant contribution to jazz. The search was an unequivocal success.聽聽聽
Committed in its efforts to offer聽exceptional聽opportunities聽to both faculty and students, the聽School聽has chosen to welcome not one, but three new members in the Jazz Area: full-time tenure-stream faculty聽Camille Thurman听补苍诲听Ira Coleman聽as well as聽Darrell Green聽as part-time ranked contract academic staff. The knowledge,聽training, and expertise that each possesses will enhance and make meaningful and necessary contributions to the Schulich community.聽聽聽
鈥淭he聽School聽is very fortunate to have these extraordinary, world-class performing artists and jazz educators joining us thanks to the opportunity offered through Provost Manfredi鈥檚聽priority hiring initiative,鈥澛爏hares聽Dean Brenda Ravenscroft of the Schulich School of Music. 鈥淲e are delighted that the strengths, experience and passion they bring will not only contribute to the excellence of the jazz education offered by Schulich but also advance the聽School鈥檚聽priorities, from curricular enhancement (particularly in the Jazz Vocal program) to our strategic goals in聽diversity聽and community聽outreach.鈥�
Camille Thurman聽is a jazz vocalist,聽multi-instrumentalist (playing tenor saxophone as well as bass, clarinet, flute, and piccolo), and composer聽with extensive performing, touring and recording experience. She聽is a聽unique interpreter of the jazz tradition听补苍诲听is quickly becoming one of the standard-bearers for the form.聽聽
The New York City native has already amassed several distinctive honours for her musicianship, including runner-up in the 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Competition. Her vocal approach 鈥� including an impressive scatting ability 鈥� has been compared to聽that聽of Ella Fitzgerald and Betty Carter. Thurman makes considerable and dynamic contributions to the legacy of jazz while paying tribute to its heroes.聽聽One needs only check out her virtual mentorship series聽聽to witness her聽advocacy for gender inclusivity and equity in music at work.聽She is an engaging and experienced educator, well positioned to lead the enhancement and development of the聽School鈥檚聽jazz vocal program.聽聽
Thurman has shared stages with聽many聽jazz聽and R&B luminaries,聽including聽George Coleman, Roy Haynes, Dianne Reeves, The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JALCO) featuring Wynton Marsalis, Terri聽Lyne聽Carrington, Jon Hendricks, Jon Batiste, Audra MacDonald, Diana Krall, Louis Hayes,聽Jacky聽Terrasson, Janelle聽Mon谩e, Alicia Keys,听补苍诲听Lalah聽Hathaway.聽A charismatic and聽committed聽artist, Thurman mindfully connects the present moment to the musical tradition that came before, encouraging one's individual and singular voice to be heard.聽
Jazz bass player聽Ira Coleman聽is as comfortable playing Jamaican rhythms as he is accompanying a gospel choir or performing in a聽jazz trio. He has built an international reputation for versatility, working with such well-known figures as Tony Williams, Cab Calloway, Freddie Hubbard, Betty Carter, Milt Jackson, Branford Marsalis, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Jessye Norman, Grover Washington Jr., Barbara Hendricks, Sting,听补苍诲听Kathleen聽Battle.聽He has taught at Bard College since 2002, basing his educational philosophy on student empowerment and the belief that 鈥渃ultural competence makes for excellent teaching.鈥澛�
A true citizen of the world, Coleman was born in Stockholm, Sweden, raised in Southern France, lived in Germany and studied at Cologne鈥檚 Hochschule聽f眉r聽Musik聽before moving to the US to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston.聽Nuanced and deliberate,聽Coleman is a聽veteran musician and self-described eternal student who continues to explore rhythm, sound, structure, and more. He聽has said that聽鈥渢he bass fits my character. In most musical genres the bass is the pivotal centrepiece, the instrument that provides a discrete and clear foundation, and I enjoy the many challenges its function poses.鈥澛燙oleman聽is passionate about supporting youth聽鈥斅燼nd his fluency in French will facilitate these important activities聽within Montreal鈥檚 francophone communities.聽聽
滨苍苍辞惫补迟颈惫别听箩补锄锄听诲谤耻尘尘别谤听Darrell Green聽is聽renowned for his extraordinary versatility, which ranges from traditional jazz to West African music.聽He is聽a聽sought-after drummer聽who聽contributes聽as聽sideman, bandleader, educator, clinician, composer,聽and producer.聽Hailing from聽Oakland, California, Green has developed a style rooted in modern post-bop, while retaining elements of his gospel and classical lineage.聽He has performed, recorded,聽and toured with leading jazz artists such as聽Cassandra Wilson, Pharoah Sanders, Benny Golson, Mary Stallings, Houston Person,听补苍诲听Dr. Lonnie Smith,聽and in venerated jazz venues and festivals around the world.聽Green鈥檚聽deep commitment to education and to mentoring young musicians will聽enable聽him to contribute significantly both within the classroom and in the聽School鈥檚聽outreach activities.聽聽
Schulich Jazz Area Coordinator R茅mi Bolduc is 鈥渢hrilled to count Camille, Ira, and Darrell as part of our faculty,鈥� adding that 鈥渢hese artists are so inspiring, and I can鈥檛聽wait for them to start teaching with us. I have no doubt that our students will be extremely happy as well.鈥�
The Schulich School of Music聽looks聽forward聽to聽Camille聽Thurman, Ira Coleman, and Darrell Green joining聽its聽community聽as musicians, educators, performers, and colleagues聽this academic year.聽聽聽
