INFORMATION FOR
Three William Paterson University student groups—the William Paterson University Jazz Orchestra and two other small jazz ensembles—will perform at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola/Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 with sets at 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., respectively.
Internationally acclaimed pianist Bill Charlap, director of William Paterson’s Jazz Studies Program, will join the WP Jazz Orchestra, under the direction of David Demsey, professor of music and coordinator of jazz studies, for the first set.
The second set will feature two William Paterson University small groups, the WP Joe Henderson-Kenny Dorham Ensemble, directed by Bill Charlap, and the WP Jazz Vocal Workshop and soloists, directed by Pete McGuinness, professor of music. The ensembles represent three of the 29 jazz groups that are the core of William Paterson’s historic Jazz Studies Program, currently in its 52nd year.
The William Paterson University Jazz Studies Program is unique among college programs, with an emphasis on small group playing, improvisation, and a genuine commitment to the jazz tradition. Its artist/teacher faculty is made up of world-class, New York-area professionals. Jazz majors come to William Paterson this year from 18 states and 11 foreign countries; enrollment has included numerous international Fulbright Scholars. The program is one of the five longest-running jazz programs in the U.S.
For more information, or to make a reservation, visit Dizzy’s Club.
The WP Jazz Orchestra features Nate Tota, Clinton, NJ, and Aiden Woods, Warwick, NY, alto saxophone; Owen Walter, Farmington, MN, and Fortunato Occhino, Orlando, FL, tenor saxophone; Evan Gongora, Hanover Park, NJ, baritone saxophone; Mayuko Abe, Tokyo, Japan, Seth Burke, Fairbanks, AK, Josh Mercado, Orlando, FL, Nicholas Mikhail, Wayne, NJ, and Violet Mujica, Montclair, NJ, trumpet; Brian Simontacci, Jersey City, NJ, Bryan Castillo, Paterson, NJ, Richard LaRouech, E. Aurora, NY, trombone; George Ferguson, Bergenfield, NJ, bass trombone; Leon Hsu, Taichung, Taiwan, piano; Benno Marmur, New York, NY, guitar; Gabe Case, San Francisco, CA, bass; and Jackson Bernstein, Brooklyn, NY, drums.
The WP Joe Henderson-Kenny Dorham Ensemble features Nick Mikhail, Wayne, NJ, trumpet; Sydney Mecca, Barrington, RI, tenor saxophone; Lasse Corson, Minneapolis, MN, piano; Misha Mendelenko, Kyiv, Ukraine, guitar; Evan Wohlrabe, St. Louis, MO, bass; and Cole Johnson, Los Angeles, CA, drums.
The WP Jazz Vocal Workshop features Dylan Childs, Standish, ME, Kyra Cioffi, Rutherford, NJ, Logan Friedman, Port Jefferson, NY, Andres Guerra, Paterson, NJ, Koushani Gupta, Bengal, India, Rea Hyseni, Caldwell, NJ, Drew McGuinness, Clifton, NJ, Niamh Morrison, Hawthorne, NJ, Michaela Shin, Saddle Brook, NJ, and Lily Tirch, Pompton Lakes, NJ. They will be joined by Duncan LeMay, Cullowhee, NC, piano; Gabe Schmid-Doyle, Canton, NY, bass; and Hunter Allison, drums.
