State of Jazz Composition Symposium and Concert Series April 22-27

Six days of panels, workshops, and performances with guest artists such as Maria Schneider, Billy Childs, Geri Allen, Vijay Iyer, and others will culminate with Terence Blanchard and the Berklee Concert Jazz Orchestra at the Berklee Performance Center.  

March 21, 2014

Jazz is a living art form that is constantly evolving, but what is the current state of that evolution, and what forces are influencing the next step in its evolution? To seek these answers and more, Berklee presents the State of Jazz Composition Symposium and Concert Series, offering six days of panels, workshops, and performances April 22-27, 2014. Most events are free and all are open to the public.

The event culminates with Grammy-winning jazz trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard performing with the Berklee Concert Jazz Orchestra at the Berklee Performance Center on Sunday, April 27.

Featured panelists and performers include keynote speaker Don Was, President of Blue Note Records, Maria Schneider, Billy Childs, Geri Allen, Vijay Iyer, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Shamie Royston, Patrice Rushen, Meghan Stabile, and others.

Watch excerpts from symposium performances and panels below:

View the registration and full schedule here. 

Schedule highlights:

Tuesday, April 22

Dave Fiuczynski's Planet MicroJam with Rudresh Mahanthappa. 8:00 p.m. Cafe 939. Free.

Wednesday, April 23

Rudresh Mahanthappa. 7:30 p.m. David Friend Recital Hall. Free.

Vijay Iyer. 9:00 p.m. Cafe 939. Free.

Thursday, April 24

Don Was keynote address. 7:30 p.m. David Friend Recital Hall. Free.

Billy Childs. 8:00 p.m. David Friend Recital Hall. Free. 

Patrice Rushen. 9:00 p.m. Cafe 939. Free.

Friday, April 25

Geri Allen and Shamie Royston. 7:30 p.m. David Friend Recital Hall. Free.

Saturday, April 26

Maria Schneider Orchestra. 8:00 p.m. Berklee Performance Center. Tickets: $60, $52, $44, reserved seating.

Sunday, April 27

Terence Blanchard and the Berklee Concert Jazz Orchestra. 7:00 p.m. Berklee Performance Center. Tickets: $16, $8 in advance (discount applied at checkout), $20, $12 day of show, reserved seating.

The Berklee Performance Center is located at 136 Massachusetts Avenue; Cafe 939 at 939 Boylston Street; David Friend Recital Hall at 921 Boylston Street; and the Fenway Center at 77 St. Stephen Street.