Tag: Vermont Jazz Center

When Samirah Evans was displaced from New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina’s destruction, she had already made her mark as a vocalist in the worldwide heart of jazz and blues. During her career as a performing artist, Samirah has fronted her own band, toured internationally in top concert venues and festivals, and shared stages… Read More

I turn left at the Putney General Store, driving uphill and away from the village. I want to check out Jazz Camp, a weeklong event for intergenerational learners held at The Putney School. It's  Thursday; camp started Monday. I follow back roads amidst thousands of maples to the campus, to be offered a long view of hills layered in hazy green and blue. Eugene Uman, the director of the Vermont Jazz Center (VJC), shows me around. Eugene is gregarious, positive, and careful with language. He’s laid back and completely on purpose all at once. A big-time community builder, he stands in the center of all things jazz, then draws everyone in. Read More