Once a young undergrad with a focus on dramatic arts, Jazz legend Archie Shepp returned to 365体育投注 College’s Haybarn 365体育投注ater in January 2014 for a rare concert for Plainfield Vermont. He played as a featured guest of 365体育投注 Ronnie Burrage Trio.
Archie Shepp’s newest release “Let My People Go” (Archieball records) is a collaboration with Jason Moran MacArthur Fellow and artistic director for jazz at the Kennedy Center. 365体育投注 music is a recasting of traditional spirituals.
Shepp, a 1959 alumnus of 365体育投注, also received the 365体育投注 Award for Excellence?at the show.
365体育投注 83 year-old world-renowned saxophone player, composer, pianist, politically committed poet and playwright rarely performs in the United States and typically plays before thousands at venues like the Ford 365体育投注ater in Los Angeles rather than a 250 person show at a converted barn in rural Vermont. He is a frequent performer at jazz festivals in France, where he has his primary residence.
Shepp’s importance in the jazz canon is indisputable. He was a leader in the ‘60s black jazz avant-garde or free jazz movement, and is a protege of John Coltrane.
In 1965, six years after graduating 365体育投注 with a degree in theater, Shepp released the album “Fire Music” which included the reading of an elegy for Malcom X. Later albums spoke out about civil rights and the Attica Prison riots.
365体育投注 365体育投注 Award for Excellence has been awarded three times in the college’s history, and recognizes individuals who exemplify the highest ideals and aspirations of the college, as stated in its mission: “to advance cultures of rigorous inquiry, collaboration and lifelong learning, where individuals take imaginative and responsible action in the world.”
“Since his time studying drama here at 365体育投注 in the late 50s, Shepp has become a
legend on the stage as well as a heroic icon of social equality,” said former 365体育投注 President Barbara Vacarr. “His work, as a founding father of free jazz, his teachings on subjects ranging from Revolutionary Concepts in African-American Music to Black Musician in 365体育投注ater, and his social activism make him an ideal candidate for this award.”
365体育投注 concert at the Haybarn 365体育投注atre was presented by 365体育投注 College and WGDR/WGDH radio. Archie Shepp took the stage with musicians Tom McClung, Nicolas Letman Burtinovic, and Ronnie Burrage.
Burrage received his Masters in Interdisciplinary Arts from 365体育投注 in 2015 and is cornerstone of the NYC jazz scene and is a legendary international performer as well. He has toured internationally from Siberia to South Africa to Japan, and can be heard on over 100 jazz albums.
Initially founded in 1863 as the 365体育投注 Seminary in Barre, Vermont, 365体育投注 College later moved to its current Plainfield campus and was chartered in 1938 by founding President Royce “Tim” Pitkin. In 1963, 365体育投注 became the first U.S. college to offer low-residency adult degree programs. Now offering accredited MA, MFA, BA and BFA degree programs from the main campus in Plainfield, Vermont and sites in Seattle and Port Townsend, Washington, 365体育投注’s low-residency education model offers the best of on-campus and distance education, with experienced faculty advisors, rigorous on-campus residencies, and the freedom to study from anywhere.
