02/13/2023- 02/15/2025, Emory Jazz Fest 2025 | Schwartz Artist-In-Residence
SCHWARTZ ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM
This concert is presented by the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts and is made possible by the Donna and Marvin Schwartz Foundation Artist-in-Residence program.
Please turn off all electronic devices. Photography, recording, or digital capture of this concert is not permitted.
Audience Information
The Schwartz Center welcomes a volunteer usher corps of about 40 members each year. Visit schwartz.emory.edu/volunteer or call 404.727.6640 for ushering opportunities.
The Schwartz Center is committed to providing performances and facilities accessible to all. Please direct accommodation requests to the Schwartz Center Box Office at 404.727.5050, or by email at boxoffice@ emory.edu.
The Schwartz Center wishes to gratefully acknowledge the generous ongoing support of Donna and Marvin Schwartz.
Design and Photography Credits
David Sánchez photos provided by the artist
Cover Design: Nick Surbey | Program Design: Bebe Rogers
SCHWARTZ
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
Emory Jazz Fest 2025
Gary Motley, director of jazz studies
David Sánchez, saxophone, and the Gary Motley Trio
Gary Motley, piano
Kaleb Thompkins, bass
Leon Anderson, drums
Friday, February 14, 2025, 8:00 p.m.
Emory Big Band
Saturday, February 15, 2025, 8:00 p.m.
Emerson Concert Hall
Schwartz Center for Performing Arts 2024 2025
Friday, February 14, 2025
Jazz Fest 2025 Guest Artist Program
David Sánchez, saxophone, and the Gary Motley Trio
Gary Motley, piano; Kaleb Thompkins, bass; and Leon Anderson, drums
Tonight’s selections will be announced from the stage.
Schwartz Artist-in-Residence Program
The Donna and Marvin Schwartz Foundation Artist-in-Residence program at Emory seeks to substantially increase the depth, diversity, and profile of performing arts education in the Emory and greater Atlanta communities by providing opportunities for meaningful contact with performing artists, composers, and art scholars from throughout the world. To learn more about performances and interactive learning workshops with Schwartz artists in residence, visit schwartz.emory.edu/SAIR.
David Sánchez, saxophone
Grammy Award winner David Sánchez is recognized around the world as one of the finest saxophonists of his generation. His mastery of the instrument is undeniable and his sound unmistakable. Combine that with Sánchez’s deep-seated knowledge of both jazz and Latin music—and the traditions that mold them— and the results are extraordinary. In a review, jazz writer and critic Howard Reich saluted the bandleader, saying, “Sánchez’s prowess on saxophone is matched by the intellectual depth of his concept and compositions.” Reich has also noted, “Technically, tonally and creatively, he seems to have it all. Recordings such as The Departure (1994), Sketches of Dreams (1995), Obsesión (1998) and Cultural Survival (2008) showed Sánchez merging jazz syntax with the musical dialects of his native Puerto Rico and other Caribbean and Latin American sources.”
Sánchez tours the world as a bandleader, bringing his mix of mainstream jazz with pan-African influences to global audiences. His much-anticipated recording, Carib (2019), features original compositions inspired by melodies and rhythms coming from the Afro-Puerto Rican and Haitian traditions. Two pieces on this recording, “Canto” and “Fernando’s Theme,” are featured in the soundtrack of the film Windows on the World by Robert Mailer Anderson.
He is also a member of the SFJazz Collective, an all-star octet representing the SFJAZZ institution. The Collective has been one of the most prolific ensembles of the last decade—recognized for its stellar musicians, groundbreaking compositions, and innovative takes on the music of some of the world’s most influential artists.
Sánchez’s unique musical sensibility can be traced to his home, Puerto Rico, where he began playing percussion and drums at age eight. He migrated to tenor saxophone a few years later. While a scholar at the prestigious La Escuela Libre de Música in San Juan, he took up the flute, clarinet, and soprano saxophone with teachers Angel Marrero and Leslie López. The bomba and plena rhythms of his homeland, along with Cuban, Caribbean, and Brazilian traditions, were among the biggest
influences on Sánchez’s early taste in music. Soon, jazz masters such as Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, and John Coltrane would command his ear and his imagination. Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Wayne Shorter, and Joe Henderson have also been major influences. In 1988, Sánchez auditioned for and gained a music scholarship at Rutgers University.
In New York’s jazz scene, Sánchez was quickly recruited to tour with piano giant and mentor Eddie Palmieri. He also performed with Hilton Ruiz and Claudio Roditi, who brought him to the attention of jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie. In 1991, Gillespie invited the young saxophonist to join his “Live the Future” tour with Miriam Makeba. Later, having the opportunity to be a part of Gillespie’s recording, Live At The Blue Note, Sánchez also performed and recorded with jazz master and mentor Kenny Barron (album The Spirit Song), Roy Haynes (album Praise), Charlie Haden (Grammy Award–winning album Nocturne), Roy Hargrove (Grammy Award–winning album Nocturne), Pat Metheny, Lalo Schiffrin, Danilo Perez, Tom Harrell, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Kenny Werner, and legendary drummer Elvin Jones.
Sánchez is also “Maestro Sánchez” to students at the Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico, where, after a decade of teaching, he has proven to be a compelling presence with students and is in demand for workshops and master classes worldwide. In the United States he has served on the Georgia State University School of Music faculty as the Artist in Residence in the Jazz Studies program from 2018 to 2024 at the Berklee Global Institute, North Texas University, Peabody Conservatory, Manhattan School of Music, Temple University, Indiana University’s School of Music, Stanford University, and Emory University. Internationally, he has worked with students in Sao Paulo, Brazil; Paris, France; Barcelona, Spain; and Lopud, Croatia.
Sánchez’s passion for teaching and sharing his art with up-andcoming musicians is palpable. In 2017, he took this passion a step further by helping to establish a groundbreaking program at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music: The RJAM (Roots, Jazz, and American Music), where he is currently a faculty member. Such work, he says, “gives me great satisfaction. At the same time, it’s a challenge because part of my responsibility is to provide the students with guidance by sharing my experiences but also understanding that it’s their own journey. In the process, as instructors, we also learn.”
Gary Motley, piano
Gary Motley is a jazz pianist, teacher, composer, arranger, and author who has been a prominent figure in the jazz scene of the southeastern United States since he began his solo career in 1994. He is renowned for his exceptional skills as a pianist and composer across various genres, such as straight-ahead jazz and chamber music. Motley’s talent has been recognized by multiple organizations including the American Composers Forum, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Great American Jazz Piano Competition. In 2015 he was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. Throughout his career, Motley has collaborated with many leading jazz artists and released more than 30 albums. His latest album, Spectrum (2024), features Edwin Livingston (bass) and Clarence Penn (drums). He has appeared as a guest on NPR’s Piano Jazz with Marian McPartland and performed with renowned musicians including Dave Brubeck, Regina Carter, Mel Tormé, and Bob Mintzer. Motley’s compositions span multiple genres and have premiered at national and international festivals. Apart from his artistic work, Motley is committed to jazz education. He is a professor of practice and the founding director of jazz studies at Emory University. He authored Harmonic Development and Contrapuntal Techniques for the Jazz Pianist (Taylor & Francis, 2024).
“Gary Motley is a very individual jazz pianist who stretches the modern mainstream. His chord voicings are harmonically advanced and personal, and he is also an excellent songwriter. While he is often heard as a bandleader both in concert and on record dates, Motley has also contributed important work behind the scenes including as an influential educator based in Atlanta.”
—Scott Yanow, jazz journalist/historian
Kaleb Thompkins, bass
Kaleb Thompkins is a native of Tallahassee, Florida, where he grew up playing music in his family’s church. Thompkins is a young bassist who plays various genres of music including jazz, R&B/funk, gospel, and rap. Thompkins has been inspired by B.B. King, James Brown, Erykah Badu, Miles Davis, and Marvin Gaye. He is currently a first year master’s scholar in Jazz Performance at Florida State University. Thompkins has had the opportunity to travel the country to perform and showcase his talent. He has performed with some of the most well-known jazz musicians including Grammy Award–winning artists such as the legendary Count Basie Orchestra, Wycliffe Gordon, Ulysses Owens Jr., Dan Wilson, Scotty Barnhart, Brad Leali, Sherman Irby, Leon Anderson, Vincent Herring, The Four Freshmen, and Longineu Parsons. Thompkins was also selected for the prestigious donor–funded Jazz Aspen Academy under Artistic Director Christian McBride in 2024.
“Jazz music is the power of now. There is no script. It’s conversation. The emotion is given to you by musicians as they make split-second decisions to fulfill what they feel the moment requires.”
—Wynton Marsalis
Leon Anderson, drums
Leon Anderson, Jr., is the Director of Jazz Studies at Florida State University. His musical experience includes that of a classical and jazz percussionist, educator, clinician, and composer. In 1997 Anderson was a featured soloist with The Marcus Roberts Trio’s performance with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl, and he was the selected drummer for the “Great Saxophone Legends” concert at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, featuring Jimmy Heath, David Sánchez, Javon Jackson, and Red Holloway. Among others, he has performed with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra and the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra in roles of drummer and percussionist. Additionally, he has performed with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra with the Ellis Marsalis Trio; National Orchestra de France with the Marcus Roberts Trio conducted by Seiji Ozawa; and Umbria Jazz Festival, Perugia Italy.
His professional collaborations include performances with artists such as: David Sánchez, Red Holloway, Donald Brown, Wynton Marsalis, Mike Wolf, Nathen Page, Allan Harris, Stephanie Nakasien, Phyllis Hyman, Barry Greene, Dianne Reeves, Harold Baptiste, Donald Harrison, Mary Stallings, Judy Collins, Wessell Anderson, Wycliffe Gordon, Kent Jordan, Oliver Lake, James Moody, Deborah Brown, Rufus Reid, Henry Mancini, and many more. Anderson earned the BA degree in Music Education at Louisiana Tech University and the MA degree in Percussion Performance at Southeastern Louisiana University. His mentors have included Ellis Marsalis, Willis Delony, and Victor Goines of the New Orleans jazz scene, as well as the late bassist Ben Tucker.
Anderson’s professional recordings include Victor Goines’ Joe’s Blues (1998), Marcus Roberts’ Cole After Midnight Vol. 1 (1998); To Those We Love So Dearly (1999) with Victor Goines; Sunrise to Midnight (2000) The Victor Goines Quartet; Five By Design’s Club Swing (2001); Richie Summa’s Tear It Down (2001); Etienne Charles’ Culture Shock (2006); David Detweiler’s New York Stories (2009); Melvin Jones’ (Grammy–nominated) Pivot, (2011); Larry Panella’s The Gestures Project (2012); and Joy Road Vol 2 (The Complete Works of Pepper Adams) with the Kevin Bales Quartet (2017).
Saturday, February 15, 2025
Emory Big Band Program
Our Man Dan by Mike Tomaro
Full House by John L. (Wes) Montgomery
Jeannine by Duke Pearson arr. Mike Dana
The following two selections are performed with Gary Motley, piano; Kaleb Thompkins, bass; and Leon Anderson, drums.
Fiesta! by Vince Gassi
Señor Salsa by John Wasson
The Neighbor from Naylor by Bryan Carter
Emory Big Band Personnel
Gary Motley, big band director and director of jazz studies
Randy Hunter, assistant big band director
Devin Allen, student assistant
Michael Wang, social media coordinator
Saxophone
Alex Greenberg, Jay Hammond, Paulark Yan, Mason Hardwick, Randy Hunter (artist affiliate)
Trombone
Michael Hu, Adam Rhude, Tim Brewer, Danny Wytanis
Trumpet
Joey Chen, Jeffrey Zheng, Jin Nguyen, Henry Donath, Andy Blumberg
Rhythm Section
Aaron Tyutyunik, piano; Justin Hahm, guitar; Kevin Wu, bass; Ved Dattarav, drums
Emory Jazz Studies
The Emory Jazz Studies program features courses in improvisation and history, as well as private instruction and performance opportunities. Our mission is to educate students about the rich tradition of American jazz while providing insight into the creative process through performance and analysis. The program includes undergraduate and graduate students spanning the liberal arts. Musicians develop skills in performance through the study of classic repertory in smaller ensembles or in the big band, which focuses on traditional works of the past and present.
Emory Jazz Faculty and Artist Affiliates
Gary Motley, Director of Jazz Studies
Since launching a solo career in 1994, Gary Motley has been at the forefront of jazz in the southeastern United States, establishing himself as both a keyboard virtuoso and a composer. His captivating performances transport audiences back in time as Motley blends musicianship, creativity, and tradition. Recognized by Downbeat magazine, the American Composers Forum, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Great American Jazz Piano Competition, Motley was recently cited by his home state for his artistic and educational achievements with his induction into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. Motley is also committed to jazz education and awareness. In his role at Emory, Motley developed the Robert Strickland Jazz Studio—an innovative, interactive teaching facility that integrates the rich heritage of American jazz with today’s technology practices.
Dan Baraszu, Guitar
Detroit-born, guitarist-composer Dan Baraszu started playing guitar at age nine. Early in his career, he explored many different styles of music. However, when he first heard the genius of jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery, Baraszu devoted himself to becoming a die-hard jazz artist. His major influences include guitarists Joe Pass, Pat Martino, Pat Metheny, and John Scofield, as well as other instrumentalists like Bill Evans, Horace Silver, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, and Charlie Parker. Baraszu received a bachelor’s degree from the renowned Berklee College of Music, where he majored in jazz composition and arranging, and a master’s degree from the University of Miami with a major in jazz pedagogy.
Justin Chesarek, Drums
After earning a bachelor’s degree in music education from Slippery Rock University, Justin Chesarek attained a master of music degree in jazz studies at Georgia State University. He performs regularly with Joe Alterman, Trey Wright, Gary Motley, Joe Gransden, Sam Burchfield, and the ATL Collective. Chesarek has appeared at the Iridium and the Blue Note in New York City; the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.; a TED Talk; the Juneau Jazz and Classics Festival in Alaska; the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands; and the Montreaux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. Chesarek also teaches jazz percussion at Kennesaw State University. He is a board member of the Atlanta Lovers of Music Association, and he endorses Vic Firth drum sticks.
Randy Hunter, Saxophone
Randy Hunter is a professional saxophonist, educational author, and private music instructor from Marietta, Georgia. He studied music education with an emphasis in jazz pedagogy at Valdosta State College. Focused on generating educational jazz material, Hunter developed a series of étude, duet, and combo method books titled Complete Jazz Styles, that has been endorsed by several well-known jazz artists including Joe Lovano, Jerry Bergonzi, Randy Brecker, Bobby Shew, and John Fedchock. He also created jazz improvisation-oriented instructional material in multimedia format, including several eBooks. At Emory, Hunter teaches jazz saxophone and is the assistant director of the Emory Big Band.
Justin Powell, Trumpet
Atlanta-based trumpeter, composer, arranger, and educator Justin Powell has been active in the Atlanta music scene since moving to the area in 2013. Powell has a master of music degree from the University of Cincinnati
College–Conservatory of Music, and a bachelor of music degree in jazz performance from Valdosta State University. He stays busy performing and recording with the Terminus Horns. As a performer Powell has been able to share the stage and collaborate with incredible artists including the Gorillaz, Josh Groban, the Floozies, American Authors, Red Wanting Blue, Sister Hazel, the Isley Brothers, Bobby Feeno, Angie Stone, Chuck Israels of the Bill Evans Trio, the Atlanta Pops Orchestra, Balsam Range, and the O’Jays. Powell is well-versed in all styles of music and has worked with several classical orchestras, brass quintets, and pop and rock bands, and is a top call session player in the Atlanta area. In addition to performing live, he has arranged horn parts in a variety of styles for live performance and studio sessions.
Chris Riggenbach, Double Bass and Electric Bass
Chris Riggenbach has played bass with Josh Groban, Chloe Agnew, Gary Motley, Wycliffe Gordon, Victor Goines, Audrey Shakir, Karla Harris, Ted Howe, Keith David, Sarah Partridge, Marcus Lewis, Josh Lawrence, Raphael Imbert, Matt Catingub, Jens Lindemann, Steve Moretti, Macon Pops, Atlanta Pops Orchestra, Atlanta Opera, Jazz Legacy Big Band, 4th Ward Afro Klezmer Orchestra, Sweetwater Junction, and Gold Sparkle Band. He has also played bass on Wicked, The Sound of Music, Catch Me If You Can, Dreamgirls, Bonnie & Clyde, and Thoroughly Modern Millie. In 2010, Riggenbach performed in Poland with the Josh Lawrence Jazz 3 at the Sopot Molo Jazz Festival and Piwnica pod Baranami in Krakow. Riggenbach has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from Georgia State University. He studied bass with Dee Moses, Ralph Jones, Thomas Thoreson, Neal Starkey, Rich Nanista, and Robert Dickson. Riggenbach teaches bass and directs jazz combos at Emory University.
Penelope Williams, Piano and Vocals
Penelope Williams, MM, piano/keyboards/vocals, has performed in countless venues across the globe. A longtime resident of Atlanta, her musical residencies have included the Ritz Carlton Atlanta, Omni Hotel, and Hotel Nikko, among others. Williams’s love of music keeps her active as an instructor of jazz and performance at Emory University, Global Village Project, and the Lovett School. Additionally, she is a creative arts director with the Spiritual Living Center Atlanta and the founder of Gratitude Jazz Foundation, an organization raising awareness of women jazz musicians and composers by providing a positive and supportive environment, i.e., a haven for artistic growth.
Emory Jazz Alliance
The Emory Jazz Alliance is devoted to supporting jazz education, awareness, and performance at Emory University. Donations will support Emory Jazz Studies by providing funding for residencies, program development, and community outreach. Students of Emory Jazz have been a part of an exceptional and nurturing space that prepares students to be the next generation of jazz artists and also creates connections and educational experiences with the industry’s top jazz artists. Become a member today by visiting music.emory.edu/home/about/support or scanning the QR code.
Upcoming Emory Jazz Concerts
Many concerts at Emory are free to attend. Visit music.emory.edu or schwartz.emory.edu to view complete event information for all Music at Emory events. If a ticket is required for attendance, prices are indicated in the listings below in the following order: Full price/Emory student price (unless otherwise noted as the price for all students).
Saturday, March 1, 4:00 p.m., Penelope Williams, jazz, Artist Affliliate Recital, Performing Arts Studio
Sunday, March 23, 4:00 p.m., Just Jazzin’ Around with the Gary Motley Trio, ECMSA: Family Series, Carlos Museum, Ackerman Hall
Tuesday, March 25, 8:00 p.m., Emory Jazz Combos, Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall
Thursday, April 17, 6:30 p.m., Jazz on the Green, Patterson Green
SCHWARTZ CENTER UPCOMING CONCERTS
Emory Jazz Fest 2025
Lecture/Demonstration with David Sánchez
Thursday, February 13 at 2:30 p.m.
Free—No tickets required
David Sánchez, saxophone, and the Gary Motley Trio
