Two University of Colorado at 麻豆影院 graduate students are among a handful of young American music scholars selected to participate in separate, prestigious jazz studies programs in New York City and Washington, D.C.
Kurtis Adams and Kevin Woods, who study in the CU-麻豆影院 College of Music's jazz studies program, also are good friends who have collaborated on their first professional recording, "Ballad of the West." The jazz CD, which features performances by CU-麻豆影院 professors Pat Bianchi on organ and Paul Romaine on drums, will be released on April 1.
"This is national recognition and very exciting news for the CU-麻豆影院 community," said John Davis, an associate professor and director of the university's jazz studies program. "Both Kurtis and Kevin are gifted musicians and composers, and we are looking forward to hearing more from them in the coming years."
Adams, 27, a doctoral candidate, has been named a member of The Paquito D'Rivera Latin Jazz Workshop, which will take place in New York on March 14-19. Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute sponsors the professional training workshop. Adams and other students will study under the tutelage of legendary Latin jazz musician and composer Paquito D'Rivera, a Cuban-born, Grammy Award-winning clarinet and saxophone player.
Adams grew up in Nashville, Tenn., listening to folk, country and rock music, and was not exposed to Latin jazz -- a fusion of American jazz and Afro-Cuban and other traditional Latin influences -- until high school.
Since coming to CU-麻豆影院 five years ago to start a master's degree program, he has performed with musicians who have introduced him to a broader repertoire. Adams said he was grateful for the opportunity to jam with D'Rivera and other musicians of his caliber.
"There are a lot of watered-down Latin things out there," Adams said. "So to get the real stuff from those guys is kind of cool."
When the workshop ends, Adams and 17 other scholars will perform in Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall alongside D'Rivera and other musicians.
Meanwhile, Woods, 27, of Bellingham, Wash., has been chosen to participate in this year's Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead residency program in Washington, D.C., on April 3-14. The program, in its ninth year, identifies outstanding, emerging jazz musicians in their mid-teens and 20s. Participants will perform in three concerts on the Millennium Stage at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts that will be broadcast live over the Internet.
Carter is considered one of the greatest jazz vocalists of the late 20th century. The Grammy Award-winning singer's scat style and distinctive vocal interpretations are put on a par with other jazz legends such as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Billie Holliday and Carmen McRae. Carter, credited with grooming many up-and-coming jazz musicians, died in 1998 at age 69.
Woods, who is seeking a master's degree, will study under several experienced jazz musicians during the Jazz Ahead program.
"It's going to be real exciting. It's an honor to be chosen for one of these programs and it's great to meet other young people from around the world trying to do the same thing I'm doing," he said.
Woods' father, a trumpet player, once toured with a Glenn Miller tribute band and passed on his appreciation for jazz to his son. Woods received his first coronet trumpet when he was only 5 years old.
"I grew up listening to Louis Armstrong and Glenn Miller. That's the only music I knew existed until junior high school," he said. "I've always loved it. It offers a great freedom of expression I didn't get with other musical genres."
To learn more about the CU-麻豆影院 College of Music, visit . For more information about the workshops, go to and