Columbia Jazz Ensemble Wins Top Prize at Next Generation Jazz Festival

April 26, 2019

The Jazz Ensemble from Columbia University's Louis Armstrong Jazz Performance Program, directed by Bruce Barth, won the first prize in the College Combo Division at the Next Generation Jazz Festival competition in Monterey, CA on Saturday, April 6, 2019. The ensemble features current students, Liam Broderick '21CC on guitar, Joseph Block '21CC on piano, Aaron Kranzler '21CC on alto sax, James Haddad '22CC on trumpet, Daniel Mesko '19CC on drums and Jack Aylor '19CC on bass. In addition to winning first place as a group, four of the musicians also won individual soloist awards at the competition. The Outstanding Soloist Awards were awarded to the following:

Liam Broderick, guitar / Columbia University

Aaron Kranzler, alto saxophone / Columbia University

Daniel Mesko, drums / Columbia University

Joseph Block, piano / Columbia University

The Next Generation Jazz Festival (NGJF) is a three-day festival which showcases over 1,300 of the nation’s top student musicians from middle, high school and collegiate groups of every kind: big bands, combos, vocal ensembles, vocal soloists, and conglomerate bands.

The Columbia Jazz Ensemble as one of the winning ensembles from the competitive divisions will be invited back to perform at the annual Monterey Jazz Festival in September.