Experience Jazz
Artistic Director
Dawn Clement
Pianist, vocalist, and composer Dawn Clement is a joyful and formidable force in the landscape of modern creative music. For over two decades, Clement has served as both a torchbearer of the jazz tradition and as a trailblazer in fresh sonic explorations. “In all this world of jazz, there are very few individual voices, no matter what the instrument, but Dawn has come up with a voice that’s unique...” says legendary jazz trombonist Julian Priester.
Artist Faculty
2026 Artist Faculty
Adam Benjamin
Piano
Adam Benjamin is a Grammy-nominated and critically acclaimed pianist, keyboardist, composer and writer based in New Orleans. Recognized as a “Rising Star in Jazz” in DownBeat magazine’s critic’s and reader’s polls for six years running, his unmistakable sound crosses stylistic boundaries and challenges traditional notions of jazz. Benjamin maintains a humble and humorous approach that connects him with his audiences worldwide.…
Pat Bianchi
Faculty
Piano/Organ
Pat Bianchi has never been afraid to take the concepts of “Jazz Organ” into new directions. His playing draws from a wide range of musical influences including organists Dr. Lonnie Smith and Joey DeFrancesco (both who mentored Bianchi in his early years) but also encompasses other instrumentalists and approaches that stretch beyond the Hammond B-3 world.…
George Cables
Faculty
Piano
When George Cables was going to school in New York City he used to walk the streets at night, taking in the cosmopolitan sights and sounds, mentally recording his encounters with “so many different kinds of people.” In his musical career as well, Cables has prowled side streets and main thoroughfares in relative anonymity, absorbing countless influences into his personal style.…
Sara Caswell
Faculty
Violin
Grammy® Nominee Sara Caswell “is a brilliant world-class violinist…one of the very best of the present generation of emerging young jazz stars” according to the late David Baker, internationally-renowned jazz educator and Director of the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra. Rooted in an early exposure to a variety of musical genres, Sara’s technical facility intertwined with her gift for lyricism continue to attract growing attention to her artistry as a jazz soloist, sideman, and teacher. …
Anat Cohen
Faculty
Clarinet & Saxophone
Ever charismatic, prolific and inspired, Grammy-nominated clarinetist-saxophonist Anat Cohen has won hearts and minds the world over with her expressive virtuosity and delightful stage presence. The New York Times writes, “Ms. Cohen on the clarinet was a revelation. Using the clarinet’s upper register, she could evoke infectious joy.…
Quincy Davis
Faculty
Drums
Currently Associate Professor of Jazz Drum Set at the University of North Texas, QUINCY DAVIS was born in Grand Rapids, MI, and comes from a very musical family. He began taking piano and drum lessons at age 6. In his elementary and middle school bands, he also played trumpet and tuba.…
Dominique Eade
Faculty
Voice
Poetic and passionate, American vocalist, composer and improviser Dominique Eade blends musical virtuosity with a songwriter’s straightforward emotional sensibility, creating music that has garnered critical acclaim, inspired audiences, and served as a creative signpost for generations of singers. The New York Times called Eade “an exceptional singer” with a “wide vocal range and a grasp on the intricacies of style,” one “who weighs a chanteuse’s coolness against a jazz musician’s exploratory instincts.” The Atlantic Monthly recognized Eade for her “rich voice and effortless delivery” while the Boston Phoenix called her music “sublime and daring.” Eade’s performances throughout the United States, Latin America and Europe include the Buenos Aires Jazz Festival, the Bell Atlantic Jazz Festival, Mountain Stage, the Rigas Ritmi Jazz Festival, the Panama Jazz Festival, the Molde International Jazz Festival, and the What is Jazz Festival, and clubs such as Los Angeles’ The Jazz Bakery, New York’s The Blue Note, The Five Spot and The Jazz Standard, D.C.’s Jazz Alley and Boston’s RegattaBar. …
Shane Endsley
Faculty
Trumpet
The child of symphony musicians, Shane Endsley grew up immersed in the sound of trumpet and flute practice and surrounded by stacks of vinyl records. This early classical instruction served him well in terms of technique and tone production. Then using his father’s Bix Beiderbeck and big band records as a springboard, Shane began pointing his horn in a more experimental direction as he grew older.…
Trevor Ford
Vocal Accompanist
Bass
Trevor is from Bend, Oregon where he grew up enjoying the outdoors, caring for the goats on his family farm, and honing his skills in the performing arts. He’s had a passion for music from a young age, and would fall asleep to the sound of his parents practicing cello and piano. Eventually, he picked up violin and cello to study classical music.…
Michael Glynn
Faculty
Bass
Born in Seattle, Michael Glynn began playing bass at the age of 11. Beginning his jazz studies with former Count Basie and Louis Armstrong bassist Buddy Catlett, Michael starting working professionally while still a student at Garfield High School, where he played for four years in that school’s renowned jazz band. After two years in engineering school at Columbia University in New York City, Michael returned to Seattle where he graduated summa cum laude in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of Washington, where he studied under Doug Miller and Barry Lieberman.…
Wycliffe Gordon
Faculty
Trombone
Wycliffe Gordon’s busy schedule encompasses performing, composing, arranging and recording. He is the recipient of many awards: He has been named him “Trombonist of the Year” 12 times The Jazz Journalists Association, and “Best Trombone” five of the past six years by the Downbeat Critics Poll.
In addition to his solo career, Wycliffe tours regularly leading his quintet.…
John Hansen
Vocal Accompaniment
Piano
John Hansen is one of the most in-demand jazz pianists in the Northwest. A studied and musical ensemble player with a strong melodic vocabulary, John has always been recognizable for a unique personal voice. His performance history includes top US venues as well as tours in France, Japan, Korea, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Russia, and Central America.…
Christine Jensen
Faculty, Centrum All Star Big Band Director
Saxophone
Canadian Saxophonist and composer Christine Jensen has led a distinct voice to the creative jazz scene for the last twenty-five years with her large and small ensembles. She is set to release her third jazz orchestra album Harbour (2024) on Justin-Time Records. It features her Montreal-based orchestra, along with guest soloists NY-based Ingrid Jensen on trumpet and electronics, Gary Versace on piano, Chet Doxas on tenor saxophone, Jon Wikan on drums, and and Montreal-based Steve Raegele on guitar.…
Steve Kovalcheck
Faculty
Guitar
Guitarist/composer/educator Steve Kovalcheck has a diverse musical background. Hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, Kovalcheck grew up in a rich musical environment. While his roots are in hard rock, he became interested in jazz in his late teens, and has gone on to work with well known artists including Jeff Hamilton, Joey DeFrancesco, Terrell Stafford, Grammy Award winner Howard Levy, Jeff Coffin, Pat Bianchi, Lewis Nash, Danny Gottlieb, Adam Nussbaum, Chris Potter, Nicholas Payton, and Ingrid Jensen, to name a few.…
Kelby MacNayr
Vocal Accompanist
Drums
Drummer / composer / band-leader Kelby MacNayr performs groundbreaking original music, soulful swinging jazz, reaching contemporary music and traditional music from around the world. A dynamic and creative musician MacNayr performs in Canada and abroad with leading musicians from New York, Seattle, Portland, Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto & Europe. A faculty member of the renowned Jazz Port Townsend Festival under director John Clayton, staff at the Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival, Kelby follows his passion to create and collaborate, teach and learn.
Liany Mateo
Faculty
Bass
Named one of Downbeat Magazine’s 25 for the future, Liany Mateo has traveled across the globe performing, touring, and teaching music. Influenced by a mix of hard-hitting straight-ahead swing, Free Avant Garde, and music with deep pocket groove.
Mateo is the bassist for Arturo O’Farrill’s “Legacies” album recorded on Blue Note records.…
Michael Mayo
Faculty
Voice
When you trust your gut, you give in to your most natural inclinations. By doing so, you have no choice but to be honest.
Michael Mayo leans on his intuition as a vocalist, composer, songwriter, and arranger. Much like molding and shaping a sculpture out of clay, he stretches his voice through layers of heavenly harmonizing, hard-hitting beatboxing, and heartfelt crooning.…
Allison Miller
Faculty
Drums
A lauded drummer who’s mastered a vast array of musical settings–from guesting on late night TV, keeping time for some of today’s most beloved singer-songwriters, and being a renowned bandleader/composer in her own right–Allison Miller is always at the heart of the music. Her latest album, Rivers In Our Veins, is a 12-song cycle embracing the concept of flow and renewal, and dedicated to our nation’s crucial rivers, watersheds and the organizations devoted to reviving and protecting them.…
Rufus Reid
Faculty
Bass
Rufus Reid is one of a handful of true renaissance figures in the Arts. This bassist and composer has been an active presence in the jazz world since the 1970’s. He has recorded over 500 albums, 25 under his own name, with Terrestrial Dance and Always In The Moment released in Vinyl by Newvelle Records. …
Terell Stafford
Faculty
Trumpet
Acclaimed New York–based trumpet player Terell Stafford has been hailed as “one of the great players of our time” by piano legend McCoy Tyner. Stafford combines a deep love of melody with his own brand of spirited and adventurous lyricism. Since the mid-90s Stafford has performed with groups such as Benny Golson’s Sextet, McCoy Tyner’s Sextet, Kenny Barron Quintet, Frank Wess Quintet, and Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Alumni Band.…
Mark Taylor
Faculty
Saxophone
Mark Taylor is one of the most in demand saxophonists in the Pacific Northwest. A Seattle native and resident, Mark’s personal sound and style are a fixture on the local jazz scene and have given him opportunities to perform for audiences all over the United States and Japan. Widely respected as a unique and creative improviser, an impeccable ensemble player, and for his stylistic versatility, Mark was honored as “NW Jazz Instrumentalist of 2008” by Earshot Jazz Magazine.…
Jay Thomas
Faculty
Trumpet & Sax
Jay Thomas is a multi-instrumentalist, appearing on more than 60 recordings that run the gamut from hip-hop to acid-jazz, rock, Latin, and big band. Jay has performed in concert with numerous prominent musicians, including Mel Lewis, John Clayton and Jeff Hamilton, Maria Schneider, Bill Holman, Bob Florence, and Frank Wess. He has also played at the Wolf Trap, Aspen, and duMaurier Jazz Festivals.…
Eric Verlinde
Vocal Accompanist
Piano
Eric Verlinde is a highly trained piano accompanist in the Pacific Northwest. You are always in good hands with Eric at the keys. Specializing in multiple genres including jazz, Latin, blues, gospel and R&B. He also has a classical background and can play written music as well. He is an alumni of Berklee College of music.…
Ben Wendel
Faculty
Sax
Grammy nominated saxophonist Ben Wendel was born in Vancouver, Canada and raised in Los Angeles, CA. Currently living in Brooklyn, NY, he has enjoyed a varied career as a performer, composer and producer. Highlights include tours, performances and/or recordings with artists such as Tigran Hamasyan, Bill Frisell, Terence Blanchard, Antonio Sanchez, Gerald Clayton, Taylor Eigsti, Linda May Han Oh, Moonchild, Louis Cole, Daedelus, Snoop Dogg and the artist formerly known as Prince.…
Matt Wilson
Faculty
Drums
Grammy nominee Matt Wilson leads the Matt Wilson Quartet, Arts and Crafts, Christmas Tree-O, and the Carl Sandburg Project. He is an integral part of bands led by Joe Lovano, John Scofield, Charlie Haden, Lee Konitz, Bob Stewart, Denny Zeitlin, Ron Miles, Marty Ehrlich, Ted Nash, Jane Ira Bloom, and Dena DeRose among others.…
Martin Wind
Faculty
Bassist and composer Martin Wind was born in Flensburg, Germany in 1968 and has been living in the New York City area since 1996.He earned a diploma as Orchestra Musician at the Cologne Conservatory and completed his master’s degree in jazz composition and performance at NYU.
Nate Wood
Faculty
Drums
“No doubt, Wood is a wildly endowed and original musician.” -Steve Krugman (hollywooddrum.com)
Grammy nominated Nate Wood is a drummer/multi-instrumentalist and mastering engineer based in New York City. Nate is a founding member of the Grammy nominated quintet Kneebody. Kneebody released their self titled debut album in 2005 on trumpeter Dave Douglas’s label Greenleaf Music.…
Workshop
Participants with a wide range of abilities and experience attend Jazz Port Townsend each year. We have ensembles and classes to fit seasoned professionals, beginning improvisers, and everyone in between. Please note that even the beginning classes are designed for people who already have a fair degree of skill with their instrument or voice. If you are a high school student (or older) that has been playing jazz from 5th or 6th grade, you will fit in just fine. Full-time dorm counselors are on duty all week for participants under 18, and dorms are assigned according to age and gender.
Throughout the week of the workshop, every participant will be coached with either the instrumental combo they are placed in, or with the vocal faculty and provided rhythm trios. Combo placements will be emailed to participants by Monday July 20.
Also featured, Tuesday through Friday, are master classes for each instrumental group and vocalists. All the faculty members for each category of instruments will meet for specific teaching of their instrument.
Special Topics classes, presented by faculty members, will feature subjects that are of special interest or expertise to them.
Performances, Thursday through Saturday, are scheduled for all instrumentalists with their combo, and for vocalists at their showcase concert. The performance schedule will be in the workshop booklet provided at check-in.
Other activities include several hosted jam sessions, and a Reading Big Band that will perform on Friday. A notice will be sent for those interested in applying for the Reading Band.
The four-day Jazz Port Townsend Festival will top things off grandly with faculty performances in both Club settings on campus Wednesday and Thursday, and Mainstage shows in the McCurdy Pavilion Friday and Saturday.
For more information, contact Program Manager Gwen Franz: gfranz@centrum.org, (360) 385-3102 x109
Schedule
2026 Schedule
Monday 4:00-11:00 PM
Check in, rental instrument checkout, live auditions, mandatory meeting for under 18-year-olds, Welcome and Orientation meeting, jamming.
Tuesday through Thursday 8:00 AM-11:00 PM
Breakfast, combo and vocal coaching, music theory and Special Topic classes.
Lunch, Master Classes (per instrument), combo and vocal coaching, Faculty Presents concerts.
Dinner, Reading Big Band and/or jamming, Wednesday and Thursday Jazz in the Clubs.
Friday 8:00 AM-11:00 PM
Breakfast, combo and vocal coaching, music theory and Special Topics classes.
Lunch, vocal and combo performances, Special Topics.
Dinner, Mainstage concert.
Saturday 8:00 AM-11:00 PM
Breakfast, Special Topics, combo performances.
Lunch, Mainstage concert.
Dinner, combo performances, Mainstage concert.
Sunday 8:00-11:00 AM
Breakfast, final rental instrument return, 9:00 AM SeaTac shuttle departs, checkout.
Audition
This year, the deadline for auditions is May 11, 2026. Acceptance emails will be sent after May 27. If there are still spaces left in any instrument/vocal category, the audition deadline could be extended. Note that piano and drum categories always fill up so be sure to get your audition in before the deadline. Submitting your audition does not guarantee your acceptance into the workshop. Your registration deposit will be fully refunded if you are not accepted.
To submit your audition, first register for the workshop. You will receive within a week an email with instructions on how to submit your audition materials through the Submittable application.
Audition Packets
This link will take you to a google drive folder where you will find all the audition requirements for Instrumental and Vocal auditions. For reference, concert charts can be found here, as well as “Musical Examples” of scales and arpeggios.
Audition recordings need to be in MP3 format. If you don’t have a digital recorder or an app such as Audacity on your phone that can make MP3 recordings, Zamzar.com (or pdfhouse.com) is a website that can easily translate your files into MP3’s for free.
Costs
Centrum has a variety of ways to be able to attend our workshops even if you’re on a budget. Consider applying for a scholarship or a work-trade opportunity as you register. John Clayton’s Transcription Project is another way to reduce your tuition costs.
Tuition: $995
Dorm: $420
Meals: breakfast/lunch/dinner: $420
Meals: lunch/dinner: $320
Deposit: $300
Our new food service provider is locally based Planted. Planted offers nourishing plant-based meals and ingredients that are locally sourced from the Olympic Peninsula. For more info on Planted, visit https://www.plantedporttownsend.com/.
The deadline for scholarship and work trade applications is May 11, 2026. Applications received after that date will be considered on a rolling basis if space and funds remain.
The last day to modify registration, such as cancelling housing, etc., is June 2, 2026.
The paid-in-full deadline is June 2, 2026.
Cancellation/Refund Policy
A $300 deposit ($50 for scholarship applicants) is required to register. This deposit is non-refundable, with two exceptions: 1) You've applied for financial aid and are unable to attend because we cannot award your full request, or 2) your audition is not accepted, in which case you will receive a full refund. No refunds of any kind are available after June 2, 2026.
Transcription Challenge
Ends on Mon, May 4, 2026, 11:59 PM
From Dawn Clement, Artistic Director:
Dear 2026 Centrum Jazz Participants,
I’m thrilled and honored to continue the transcription challenge that John Clayton created. This tradition has been central to Jazz Port Townsend, and I’m delighted to offer an opportunity that will not only prepare you for an unforgettable week but also reward your hard work in a meaningful way.
Centrum is giving up to ten participants a chance to earn scholarships for transcribing some jazz!
Here's how it works:
- Transcribe 5 pieces from the list below, and you'll receive a $200 tuition scholarship.
- Complete 3 more, and you'll earn an additional $125.
- That's a guaranteed $325 in scholarship funds simply by engaging in one of the most invaluable exercises a musician can undertake—internalizing great solos!
And there’s more! If you transcribe 8 songs, you'll automatically be entered into a lottery for a full scholarship, which means you could join us without paying a penny in tuition.
I’m thrilled and honored to continue the transcription challenge that John Clayton created. This tradition has been central to Jazz Port Townsend, and I’m delighted to offer an opportunity that will not only prepare you for an unforgettable week but also reward your hard work in a meaningful way.
Centrum is giving up to ten participants a chance to earn scholarships for transcribing some jazz!
Here's how it works:
- Transcribe 5 pieces from the list below, and you'll receive a $200 tuition scholarship.
- Complete 3 more, and you'll earn an additional $125.
- That's a guaranteed $325 in scholarship funds simply by engaging in one of the most invaluable exercises a musician can undertake—internalizing great solos!
And there’s more! If you transcribe 8 songs, you'll automatically be entered into a lottery for a full scholarship, which means you could join us without paying a penny in tuition.
Please check back in January for more information about the Transcription Challenge 2026!
INSTRUMENTS
Instruments
Pianos: Centrum provides high quality digital or acoustic pianos in every rehearsal room and performance venue. All other instrumentalists will need to bring their own or rent whatever they need to make music, including amps, cymbals, and music stands.
Basses: can be rented at Kennelly Keys Music and will be delivered to Centrum. Contact David Mercado at 425-771-7020 or dm@kennellykeysmusic.com for details.
Drums: Centrum has several drum sets available for rent for $150. You can request one of these when you apply online. Or, Kennelly Keys Music has drum sets for rent that will be delivered to Centrum. See above contact information above for David Mercado.
Crossroads Music in Port Townsend also has rentals. A few drum sets, one set of cymbals, acoustic jazz guitars, guitar and bass amps are available, and they also deliver to Centrum. Contact Crossroads Music at 360-385-1471 or info@crossroads-music.com for details.
FAQ
Scholarships
If the full tuition price is a significant financial challenge for you, please select the scholarship/work-trade option when you register. Scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served, and as-needed basis. Please note that except in rare cases, scholarships are applied to tuition only. Centrum requires a $50 deposit for scholarship applications. Consider earning money off your tuition with the John Clayton Transcription Challenge! See tab in menu for more information.
Room & Board
Check in for the dorms is at 4:00 PM Monday, July 20. Check out is at 11:00 AM Sunday, July 26. Meals are served at Fort Worden Commons. The first meal is dinner on Monday, July 20; the last meal is breakfast on Sunday July 26.
Transportation to and from Port Townsend
You have an option when you register on Cvent to select either a one-way or round-trip shuttle service to/from Port Townsend/SeaTac airport. The fee is $65 one-way and $130 round-trip. The shuttle will leave SeaTac by 2pm on Monday, July 20, and 9am from Port Townsend on Sunday, July 26. The travel time from SeaTac to Port Townsend is a good two hours so please keep that in mind when scheduling flights. The last date to book or change shuttle reservations is June 15.
The Rocket is a local airport shuttle service that you can book independently if that works better for your travel needs. Please note that Centrum is not responsible for transportation booked on the Rocket, and we cannot make those reservations for you. Please visit their website for more information.
Performances
Jazz in the Clubs
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Three Fort Worden venues
8:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Thursday July 23, 2026
Four Fort Worden venues
8:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Mainstage Concert
Friday, July 24, 2026
7:00 p.m.
Mainstage Concert
Saturday, July 25, 2026
1:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Mainstage Concert
Saturday, July 25, 2026
6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
SPECIAL FEATURE VIDEO
Centrum Stories: Connected by Community featuring DeAndre Deener
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBxbJXMPGps
For his first year at Jazz Port Townsend, DeAndre Deener came ready to learn from the best. Surrounded by other hungry musicians, he found more than a workshop — he found community. A place where creativity flows freely, and every note carries a lesson.
FEATURING: DeAndre “Dre” Deener, Ronnie Elliott, Gabriel Gravagno, Shane Endsley, Terell Stafford, Matt Wilson, Steve Kovalcheck, Ivan Malespin, Pat Bianchi
PRODUCED BY: Poetic Future
Past Artist Faculty
Ben Allison
Faculty
Bass
In a career that spans over 30 years, bassist, composer, producer and educator Ben Allison has developed his own instantly identifiable sound. Known for his inspired arrangements, inventive grooves and hummable melodies, Ben draws from the jazz tradition and a range of influences from rock and folk to 20th century and a broad range of music from around the world, seamlessly blending them into a cinematic, cohesive whole.…
Dan Balmer
Faculty
From coffee house gigs at fifteen to chart-topping success with the Tom Grant Band in the 90s, world tours with two-time Grammy Award winner Diane Schuur and contemporary jam-bands, Dan Balmer brings fire and heart every time he plays the guitar. His playing spans nearly one hundred CDs including twelve as a leader from which his original works have appeared internationally in television, film and radio.…
Patrick Bartley, Jr.
Faculty
Saxophone
Grammy-nominated saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Patrick Bartley, Jr. is a musician with experience in a wide range of situations, most notably for appearing on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert and being featured in the Emmy-nominated HBO special Wynton Marsalis: A YoungArts Masterclass, which premiered at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.…
Ignacio Berroa
Faculty
Drums
Ignacio Berroa has been recognized as one of the greatest drummers of our time. A leading innovator in the blending of Afro-Cuban and American jazz styles, his artful drumming has supported a wide spectrum of the very top names in jazz, including Dizzy Gillespie, McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea, Wynton Marsalis, Freddie Hubbard, Charlie Haden, and Gonzalo Rubalcaba.…
Matt Brewer
Faculty
Bass
Matt Brewer is one of the world’s premier bassists. He was born April 20, 1983, in Oklahoma City but spent most of his youth in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Born into a musical family, Matt was surrounded by music from an early age, both his father and grandfather being jazz musicians, and his mother an avid music lover and radio DJ (who, before Matt was born, would play classic jazz albums for him).…
George Cables
Faculty
Piano
When George Cables was going to school in New York City he used to walk the streets at night, taking in the cosmopolitan sights and sounds, mentally recording his encounters with “so many different kinds of people.” In his musical career as well, Cables has prowled side streets and main thoroughfares in relative anonymity, absorbing countless influences into his personal style.…
Obed Calvaire
Faculty
Obed Calvaire, a native of Miami and of Haitian descent is a graduate with both a master and bachelor degree of music from one of America’s premiere private music conservatories in the nation, Manhattan School of Music.
Gerald Clayton
Faculty
Piano
Gerald Clayton searches for honest expression in every note he plays. With harmonic curiosity and critical awareness, he develops musical narratives that unfold as a result of both deliberate searching and chance uncovering. The four-time GRAMMY-nominated pianist/composer formally began his musical journey at the prestigious Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, where he received the 2002 Presidential Scholar of the Arts Award.…
John Clayton
Former Artistic Director, Jazz Port Townsend
Bass
Bassist, Composer, Arranger and Producer, John Clayton, is a busy man. With a Grammy on his shelf and nine additional nominations, artists such as Diana Krall, Paul McCartney, Regina Carter, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Gladys Knight, Queen Latifah, and Charles Aznavour have had spots on his crowded calendar.
In 1985 John, co-founded the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and rekindled The Clayton Brothers Quintet.…
Dawn Clement
Artistic Director, Jazz Port Townsend
Piano
Pianist, vocalist, and composer Dawn Clement is a joyful and formidable force in the landscape of modern creative music. For over two decades, Clement has served as both a torchbearer of the jazz tradition and as a trailblazer in fresh sonic explorations. “In all this world of jazz, there are very few individual voices, no matter what the instrument, but Dawn has come up with a voice that’s unique…” says legendary jazz trombonist Julian Priester.…
George Colligan
Faculty
Piano
George Colligan is not only one of the great jazz pianists of his generation, but he has earned an international reputation as a multi-instrumentalist (drums, trumpet, organ, keyboards), composer, accompanist, teacher, and bandleader, as well as popular blogger(jazztruth.blogspot.com). Winner of the 2015 DownBeat magazine Critics Poll (Keyboard), he has had a long association with living jazz legend Jack DeJohnette; recent touring took Colligan around the U.S.…
Tanya Darby
Faculty
Trumpet
California native Tanya Darby is a current and veteran member of such groups as the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the Roy Hargrove Big Band, the DIVA Jazz Orchestra, the Michel Camilo Big Band, and the Rufus Reid Large Ensemble, among others. She has performed and toured with artists such as Dianne Reeves, Clark Terry, Jon Faddis, Paquito D’Rivera, and Gladys Knight, and ensembles including the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, the Count Basie Orchestra, the Ron Carter Great Big Band, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, and the Mingus Big Band.…
Quincy Davis
Faculty
Drums
Currently Associate Professor of Jazz Drum Set at the University of North Texas, QUINCY DAVIS was born in Grand Rapids, MI, and comes from a very musical family. He began taking piano and drum lessons at age 6. In his elementary and middle school bands, he also played trumpet and tuba.…
Jeremy Dutton
Faculty
Drums
Moving in a matrices of sound, Houston born drummer Jeremy Dutton weaves a netting of intention, comprising explicit and implied articulations, steady and emergent pulses. (Bluenote Records) A resident of New York for the past 9 years, Dutton is the rhythmic force behind some of the most critically acclaimed jazz records including “Kingmaker” (Joel Ross Bluenote), “Who Are You?” (Joel Ross Bluenote), “Flight” (James Francies Bluenote), “Purest Form” (James Francies Bluenote), and “Magdalena” (Maria Grand Biophilia).…
Chuck Easton
Vocal Accompanist & Music Theory
Guitar
Guitarist Chuck Easton is a long time Olympic Peninsula resident who teaches and plays locally. He plays bass in the Pt. Townsend Symphony Orchestra and owns a few other instruments as well. Chuck is a graduate of the Berklee College of music in Boston.
Taylor Eigsti
Faculty
Piano
GRAMMY® Award-winning pianist and composer Taylor Eigsti started playing the piano when he was four years old. Growing up in Menlo Park, CA, Eigsti was quickly labeled a prodigy, and has since released 8 albums as a bandleader, in addition to appearing on over 70 albums as a sideman. Eigsti recently won a 2022 GRAMMY® Award for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for his most recent album “Tree Falls”, released in 2021 on GSI Records.…
Bruce Forman
Faculty
Guitar
Deep immersion in American culture inspires Forman to contribute to the traditions that he draws from. Reunion! (the newest project) revisits the famed Poll Winners sessions with cohorts John Clayton and Jeff Hamilton, playing instruments owned by Barney Kessel, Ray Brown and Shelly Manne; Formanism (his trio project); original works like The Red Guitar; his high-rated podcast, GuitarWank; Cow Bop and the “road challenges” down historic byways like Route 66; JazzMasters Workshop; Junkyard Duo; GrumpsTV (a fifty episode YouTube variety show during the lockdown), the popular ‘first chorus of the day’ series on Instagram…these are only the latest answers to the endless question that underlies Bruce Forman’s creativity. …
Tia Fuller
Faculty
When Grammy-nominated Mack Avenue recording artist, composer, and bandleader Tia Fuller picks up her saxophone, something amazing happens. Blending technical brilliance, melodic creativity, and the performing precision drawn from both her academic and stage experience, Fuller is a force to be reckoned with in the worlds of jazz, pop, R&B, and more.
Roberta Gamberini
Faculty
Vocal
Born and raised in Turin, Italy, to music loving parents (who had actually first met at a jazz concert), Roberta Gambarini grew up constantly listening to her father’s record collection.
Her first vocal inspiration was Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald , but she soon discovered Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, and Carmen McRae, as well as gospel and blues artists such as Mahalia Jackson and Bessie Smith.…
Sara Gazarek
Faculty
Vocal
Born and raised in Seattle, WA, GRAMMY Award® winning jazz vocalist Sara Gazarek reigns as one of the most creative voices of her generation, and one “who may well turn out to be the next important jazz singer” (Los Angeles Times). Collaborating with jazz legends Fred Hersch, Billy Childs, Kurt Elling, and more, and with 6 critically-acclaimed albums under her belt at the age of 40, Gazarek often tours internationally as a soloist/band leader, and as a co-founder of the vocal collective, säje, whose debut album earned a GRAMMY Award® for Best Arrangement Instruments and Vocals.…
Michael Glynn
Faculty
Bass
Born in Seattle, Michael Glynn began playing bass at the age of 11. Beginning his jazz studies with former Count Basie and Louis Armstrong bassist Buddy Catlett, Michael starting working professionally while still a student at Garfield High School, where he played for four years in that school’s renowned jazz band. After two years in engineering school at Columbia University in New York City, Michael returned to Seattle where he graduated summa cum laude in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of Washington, where he studied under Doug Miller and Barry Lieberman.…
Wycliffe Gordon
Faculty
Trombone
Wycliffe Gordon’s busy schedule encompasses performing, composing, arranging and recording. He is the recipient of many awards: He has been named him “Trombonist of the Year” 12 times The Jazz Journalists Association, and “Best Trombone” five of the past six years by the Downbeat Critics Poll.
In addition to his solo career, Wycliffe tours regularly leading his quintet.…
Randy Halberstadt
Vocal Accompanist and Music Theory
Piano
Randy Halberstadt has been a major figure on the Pacific Northwest jazz scene for many years. A pianist, arranger, composer, lyricist, and author, Randy enjoys an international performing career playing with musicians at the top of their game, including Herb Ellis, Terry Gibbs, Buddy de Franco, Matt Wilson, Pete Christlieb, Bobby Shew, Joe LaBarbera, and many others.…
Jon Hamar
Faculty
Bass
Jon Hamar is a versatile bassist who is comfortable in virtually any musical situation. Born in Kennewick, Washington he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Classical Double Bass Performance from Eastern Washington University and a Master’s degree in Jazz and Contemporary Media from the Eastman School of Music.
In 2001 Jon relocated to Seattle and was busy as a freelance bassist.…
Jeff Hamilton
Faculty
Drums
Versatile drummer Jeff Hamilton brings originality to every group he performs with, and it’s one of the things that makes him constantly in demand, whether for recording, performing with his trio, or co-leading the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. In addition to his many recordings with Ray Brown, Jeff has been on nearly 200 recordings with artists such as Natalie Cole, Diana Krall, Milt Jackson, Rosemary Clooney, Barbara Streisand, Mel Torme, John Pizzarelli, and Benny Carter.…
John Hansen
Vocal Accompaniment
Piano
John Hansen is one of the most in-demand jazz pianists in the Northwest. A studied and musical ensemble player with a strong melodic vocabulary, John has always been recognizable for a unique personal voice. His performance history includes top US venues as well as tours in France, Japan, Korea, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Russia, and Central America.…
Gary Hobbs
Vocal Accompaniment
Drums
Drummer Gary Hobbs is a native of the Pacific Northwest and lives in Vancouver, WA. He has played professionally for over 4 decades and appears on over 60 recordings. Gary played with The Stan Kenton Orchestra from 1975 through 1977. Through the years Gary has played with Randy Brecker, Bud Shank, George Cables, Ken Peplowski, Pete Christlieb, Greta Matassa, Anita O’Day, Dan Siegel, Glen Moore, The New York Voices, Eddie Harris and many more.…
Johnaye Kendrick
Faculty
Vocal
Johnaye Kendrick is a 2-time Grammy® Award-winning vocalist, arranger, composer, orchestrator, and multi-instrumentalist whose work bridges innovation and tradition. With a Master of Music from Loyola University and an Artist Diploma from the Herbie Hancock Institute, Johnaye brings her dynamic artistry to both original compositions and reimagined jazz classics. A committed educator, she serves as Professor of Music at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle.…
Jeff Lederer
Faculty
Saxophone
Jeff Lederer is a Saxophonist/clarinetist/composer who has been included in the Downbeat Critics’ and Readers’ poll each year since 2014. He leads ensembles including the “Shakers n’ Bakers”, “Sunwatcher Quartet” and “Brooklyn Blowhards” and is the founder and director of the Visionary Youth Orchestra. Mr. Lederer also plays in the groups of Matt Wilson, Bobby Sanabria, Allison Miller, Jimmy Bosch and many others. …
Kelby MacNayr
Vocal Accompanist
Drums
Drummer / composer / band-leader Kelby MacNayr performs groundbreaking original music, soulful swinging jazz, reaching contemporary music and traditional music from around the world. A dynamic and creative musician MacNayr performs in Canada and abroad with leading musicians from New York, Seattle, Portland, Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto & Europe. A faculty member of the renowned Jazz Port Townsend Festival under director John Clayton, staff at the Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival, Kelby follows his passion to create and collaborate, teach and learn.
Ivan Malespin
Faculty
Trombone
Ivan Malespin is a Grammy winning trombonist and electric bassist residing in Los Angeles, California. He is a member of the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, and has worked with Herb Alpert, Kanye West, Damian Marley, and Philip Bailey, among others. Ivan also co-leads an artist project alongside his wife, Alexis Malespin. Together they compose, record, and perform original music under the moniker, Eumajia.
Rene Marie
In a span of two decades, René Marie has cemented her reputation not only as a singer but also as a composer, arranger, actress and educator. Guided and tempered by powerful life lessons and rooted in jazz traditions laid down by icons of past generations, this two-time Grammy Nominee melds jazz with elements of spirituals, folk, R&B, classical and even country to create a captivating hybrid style.…
Marlon Martinez
Faculty
Hailing from Los Angeles, Marlon Martinez is a young virtuoso bassist and composer emerging at the center of the resurgent Los Angeles jazz scene. He has demonstrated his virtuosity while touring with a wide range of artists, from rock icon Stewart Copeland to classical trailblazers Quatuor Ebène.
Camila Meza
Faculty
Guitar
Equally prized as a vocalist, guitarist and composer, Meza has uplifted audiences worldwide with her assured and beautiful singing, highly advanced guitar (both self-accompaniment and blistering solo work), and vivid, melodic songwriting that reveals complex layers with every listen. She’s been hailed by The New York Times for her “appealing combination of lightness and depth … singing in a bright, clear voice against the agile stir of a first-rate band.…
Allison Miller
Faculty
Drums
A lauded drummer who’s mastered a vast array of musical settings–from guesting on late night TV, keeping time for some of today’s most beloved singer-songwriters, and being a renowned bandleader/composer in her own right–Allison Miller is always at the heart of the music. Her latest album, Rivers In Our Veins, is a 12-song cycle embracing the concept of flow and renewal, and dedicated to our nation’s crucial rivers, watersheds and the organizations devoted to reviving and protecting them.…
Lewis Nash
Faculty
Lewis Nash is one of jazz’s most recorded musicians, appearing on over 500 recordings including 10 Grammy winners and numerous Grammy nominees. In fact, Nash has the distinction of being the only musician in jazz history featured on the winners in both the “Best Jazz Vocal” and “Best Jazz Instrumental” album categories in two separate years: the 2004 Grammys with Nancy Wilson and McCoy Tyner, and again in 2010 with Dee Dee Bridgewater and James Moody.
Miles Okazaki
Faculty
Miles Okazaki is a NYC-based guitarist originally from Port Townsend, a small seaside town in Washington State. His approach to the guitar is described by the New York Times as “utterly contemporary, free from the expectations of what it means to play a guitar in a group setting — not just in jazz, but any kind.”
Randy Porter
Faculty
Jazz pianist Randy Porter has a refined understanding of improvisation and the spontaneous communication between musicians. As a Steinway Artist, Randy Porter draws from a rich palette of sonorities found within his imagination and the depths of the piano.
Anisha Rush
Faculty
Saxophone
Born and raised in Colorado Springs, CO, saxophonist, composer, and educator Anisha Rush began playing the saxophone at the age of 10 and went on to study music and psychology, earning a BM in Jazz Studies from the Thompson Jazz Studies Program and a BA in Psychology from the University of Colorado at Boulder.…
David Sanchez
Faculty
Latin Grammy Award winner David Sánchez is being hailed as “the most profound young tenor saxophonist working today. Born in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, Sánchez began playing percussion and drums at age 8 before migrating to tenor saxophone four years later.
Gary Smulyan
Faculty
Baritone Sax
Baritone saxophonist Gary Smulyan was born April 4, 1956, in Bethpage, New York. The gifted multi-instrumentalist started his music career by first learning alto saxophone during his teenage years on Long Island. Today he is critically acclaimed across-the-board and recognized as the major voice on the baritone saxophone. His playing is marked by an aggressive rhythmic sense, an intelligent and creative harmonic approach — and perhaps most importantly – a strong and incisive wit.…
Terell Stafford
Faculty
Trumpet
Acclaimed New York–based trumpet player Terell Stafford has been hailed as “one of the great players of our time” by piano legend McCoy Tyner. Stafford combines a deep love of melody with his own brand of spirited and adventurous lyricism. Since the mid-90s Stafford has performed with groups such as Benny Golson’s Sextet, McCoy Tyner’s Sextet, Kenny Barron Quintet, Frank Wess Quintet, and Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Alumni Band.…
Kweku Sumbry
Faculty
Drums
Grounded in the traditions of the Djembe Orchestra, Kweku Sumbry is a multi-percussionist from Washington, DC. With the djembe, drumset, and a multitude of West African Percussion instruments, Kweku is bringing forth a new sound to the jazz world. He began his studies as a toddler under the tutelage of Mahiri Fadjimba Keita, Mamady Keita, and Djiali Djimo Kouyate.
Helen Sung
Faculty
Piano
Helen Sung is an acclaimed jazz pianist and composer, and a 2021 Guggenheim Fellow. A native of Houston, Texas, and graduate of its High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA), she eschewed her classical piano upbringing after a jazz epiphany during undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at Austin.…
Chris Symer
Vocal Accompanist
Bass
Born and raised in Southern California, bassist relocated to the Northwest in 2002 where he continues to make his living as a freelance musician. Equally comfortable in the classroom, stage or recording studio, Chris has stayed busy doing everything from teaching to playing on feature films. Notable projects have included recordings with Bill Anschell (“Rumbler” 2017), Johnaye Kendrick (“Here” 2014), James Knapp (“Scrape” 2013), and Nelda Swiggett (“Stringtet” 2014) as well as tours to South America with Anschell (2012, 2014) and Kendrick (2013).…
Katie Thiroux
Faculty
Bass
Los Angeles-based bassist and vocalist Katie Thiroux has clearly established herself as one of the most exciting and in demand musicians today. Thiroux’s unique gift of simultaneously balancing sultry vocals and virtuosic bass playing leaves audiences worldwide in awe. Her most recent album, “Off Beat,” was awarded a “Best Album Of 2018” by Downbeat Magazine as well as “Rising Star” 2018 & 2019.…
Jay Thomas
Faculty
Trumpet & Sax
Jay Thomas is a multi-instrumentalist, appearing on more than 60 recordings that run the gamut from hip-hop to acid-jazz, rock, Latin, and big band. Jay has performed in concert with numerous prominent musicians, including Mel Lewis, John Clayton and Jeff Hamilton, Maria Schneider, Bill Holman, Bob Florence, and Frank Wess. He has also played at the Wolf Trap, Aspen, and duMaurier Jazz Festivals.…
Sachal Vasandani
Faculty
Sachal Vasandani is recognized for his singular voice, with a tone and unique phrasing that mark him as one of the most compelling artists on the scene today.
Eric Verlinde
Vocal Accompanist
Piano
Eric Verlinde is a highly trained piano accompanist in the Pacific Northwest. You are always in good hands with Eric at the keys. Specializing in multiple genres including jazz, Latin, blues, gospel and R&B. He also has a classical background and can play written music as well. He is an alumni of Berklee College of music.…
JD Walter
Faculty
Vocal
Vocalist and songwriter JD Walter is considered by many in the jazz world to be the among the very best jazz singers, known for his immediately recognizable smokey sound, his virtuosic talent for improvisation, his compelling original songs, and his ability to reinvent standards.
Over the decades, Walter has performed as a featured artist at numerous American jazz clubs and festivals in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Central America as well as over 80 tours in Russia.…
Ben Wendel
Faculty
Sax
Grammy nominated saxophonist Ben Wendel was born in Vancouver, Canada and raised in Los Angeles, CA. Currently living in Brooklyn, NY, he has enjoyed a varied career as a performer, composer and producer. Highlights include tours, performances and/or recordings with artists such as Tigran Hamasyan, Bill Frisell, Terence Blanchard, Antonio Sanchez, Gerald Clayton, Taylor Eigsti, Linda May Han Oh, Moonchild, Louis Cole, Daedelus, Snoop Dogg and the artist formerly known as Prince.…
Jiggs Whigham
Faculty
Trombone
Jiggs Whigham is an internationally acclaimed trombonist, band leader and educator. This versatile performer, born Oliver Haydn Whigham III (the nickname Jiggs was given by his grandfather) in Cleveland Ohio on 20 August 1943, first came to the attention of critics and fans at 17, as featured soloist and first trombonist with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, directed by Ray McKinley.…
Jon Wikan
Faculty
Drums
Drummer, percussionist and composer Jon Wikan was born in Petersburg Alaska and raised in
Seattle, Washington.
Jon spent summers in Alaska engrossed in the fishing industry while working out his drum
technique on the back of a fish boat rail, using the money he made fishing to purchase his first
drum set.
Jon’s drumming life began in his teenage years with his heavy metal obsession, followed by
years of Soca band playing in Seattle and finally resolving into the jazz idiom upon discovering
the deep pocket swing of Jeff Hamilton.…
Buster Williams
Faculty
Bass
Buster Williams is a prodigious artist whose playing knows no limits. He has played, recorded and collaborated with jazz giants such as Art Blakey, Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, Chet Baker, Chick Corea, Dexter Gordon, Jimmy Heath, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Gene Ammons, Sonny Stitt, Herbie Hancock, Larry Coryell, Lee Konitz, McCoy Tyner, Illinois Jacquet, Nancy Wilson, Elvin Jones, Miles Davis, the Jazz Crusaders, Ron Carter, Woody Shaw, Sarah Vaughan, Benny Golson, Mary Lou Williams, Hank Jones, Lee Morgan, Jimmy Rowles, Hampton Hawes, Cedar Walton, Bobby Hutcherson, Billy Taylor, Sonny Rollins, Count Basie, Errol Garner, Kenny Barron, Charlie Rouse, Dakota Staton, Kenny Dorham, and Freddie Hubbard, to name a few.…
Matt Wilson
Faculty
Drums
Grammy nominee Matt Wilson leads the Matt Wilson Quartet, Arts and Crafts, Christmas Tree-O, and the Carl Sandburg Project. He is an integral part of bands led by Joe Lovano, John Scofield, Charlie Haden, Lee Konitz, Bob Stewart, Denny Zeitlin, Ron Miles, Marty Ehrlich, Ted Nash, Jane Ira Bloom, and Dena DeRose among others.…
Martin Wind
Faculty
Bassist and composer Martin Wind was born in Flensburg, Germany in 1968 and has been living in the New York City area since 1996.He earned a diploma as Orchestra Musician at the Cologne Conservatory and completed his master’s degree in jazz composition and performance at NYU.
