Welcome to Hudson Jazzworks

We offer the Hudson Jazz Workshop, a weekend immersion in Jazz improvisation and composition in a supportive and focused atmosphere conducive to intensive study and mutual encouragement, through individual and group instruction, jam sessions and a faculty/student concert, with two of today's leading practitioners of duo playing, Armen Donelian and Marc Mommaas.

 

Armen Donelian

An experienced educator and artist of distinction. Pianist, producer of 12 recordings featuring dozens of penetrating originals with world-class musicians, author of Training the Ear Vol. 1 & 2 and Whole Notes: A Piano Masterclass, Fulbright Scholar in 5 countries, 6-time NEA Fellow, faculty of New School and Wm. Paterson University for over 2 decades. Performed or taught in 23 countries with Sonny Rollins and others. Graduate Westchester Conservatory of Music, Columbia University, private studies with Michael Pollon, Ludmila Ulehla, Carl Bamberger, Richie Beirach and Harold Seletsky.

 

Marc Mommaas

A gifted communicator and strong presence in today’s global Jazz scene. Saxophonist, Cum Laude graduate Manhattan School of Music, William Borden Award recipient, international guest lecturer at MSM , NYU, William Paterson University, Rhythmic Music Conservatory/Denmark and the Conservatory of Amsterdam, co-director of the New York Jazz Workshop, bandleader of his celebrated formation Global Motion and composer of innovative works featured on Global Motion, Balance and Landmarc (Sunnyside Records). As a side-man he can be heard with the quintet and duo of Armen Donelian, the sextet of Amina Figarova and the octetand quintet of Tim Horner.

 

Special guest Joe Locke

The critical community continually cites Joe Locke for his artistic work. "There seems little doubt that Locke, with his ability to play cool and funky, heady and relaxed, is set to become the pre-eminent vibraphonist in jazz." (The Times, London). He has been voted the #1 vibist in DownBeat Magazine's Critic's Poll (TDWR) and Brazil's International Jazz Poll, has recorded over 25 CDs as a band leader, and as producer and a sideman he appears on almost 100 recordings. In 2008 Joe put together a unique new quartet by gathering the young talents and distinct musical personalities of Robert Rodriguez (piano), Johnathan Blake (drums) and Ricardo Rodriguez (bass), building this fresh sounding ensemble. The influences of New York, Cuba, Philadelphia and Puerto Rico, as well as the many places travelled by these four player/composers, come together in this group; their first recording, "Force of Four" (Origin) becoming an overwhelming success.

Joe Locke is a faculty member of the Manhattan School of Music and has been International Vibraphone Consultant at the Royal Academy of Music, London, on a visiting basis since 2008.