Through the pandemic the UVa Jazz Program completed a year long recording project over the fall and spring semesters of 2020/2021. We called the project Infernal Resilience, referencing the resiliency needed to meet the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the infernal resiliency of adversity itself whether it comes in the form of disease and natural catastrophe, or in man-made forms of adversity brought on by ignorance, prejudice, and greed.
Infernal Resilience was a big tent that housed the UVa Jazz Ensemble, the four UVa Jazz Chamber Groups, the UVa Jazz Singers, two Distinguished Major Projects and collaborators from the Dance Program, Visual Arts, and Media Studies. The ensembles could not safely rehearse and perform together during that year, but they did create what has fueled the evolution of jazz from the beginning and inspired most modern musicians to make music in the first place: recorded statements, “albums.”
We could not have completed this work without the staunch support of our friend and ally, Mark Graham, owner of The Sound recording studio. There, we were able to isolate wind players and singers, recording three at a time in a multi-track format while the rhythm section recorded basic tracks together, in one room, wearing masks. Mark’s generosity and talent as an engineer and producer are evident everywhere on these recordings.
The UVa Jazz Program and the Department of Music are eternally grateful for a generous gift from Jim and Nancy Dunton, without which these recordings could not have happened.
This page is still being developed. It houses seven finished recordings and co-creative work done by UVA visual and movement artists.
This is a really fun album with lots of student writing. Special thanks to Lester Young for his remark about jazz sensitivity.
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Album II features more student writing. Thanks to Peter Wellman, Michael McNulty, Joey Rudek and to Rami Stucky for mentoring our fledgling composers...keep it simple!
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Tina received Highest Distinction from the faculty for this album. Tina is a great jazz singer with ears to burn! She's as strong and solid as any instrumentalist, and a rising star!
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Thomas was one of the key contributors to this project, no pun intended, as were drummer Peter Wellman and bassist Ethan Blazer. This piano trio album is killing!
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The small groups are a testament to the generosity and passion of their instructors. Of Peter Spaar we say, "...without whom, nothing!"
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Pete, again...this group is playing some classic tunes!
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Guitarist Mike Rosensky is the person who makes sure everybody who wants to play at UVA is playing. He's tough but fair; good cop and bad cop all in one stellar human being!
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We call Jeff "The Archivist" He knows and finds everything for his bandmates (Free Bridge Quintet) and for his students. He's a saxophone colossus and a great singer!
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