The Music Center at Columbia College Chicago welcomes four acclaimed musicians to mentor, teach, and engage with students as part of the 2019-20 Artists in Residence program. Representing a range of musical traditions and experiences, these artists will lead workshops, collaborate on recording projects, and perform with students in concerts as part of their residencies.
Fall 2019
Woody Goss
October 21-25, 2019
Residency Concert: October 25 at 7 p.m. at the Music Center Concert Hall
For tickets, visit tickets.colum.edu
Best known as the keyboardist for contemporary funk outfit Vulfpeck, Woody Goss grew up in Skokie, Illinois. As pioneers of independent online music distribution, Vulfpeck’s popularity grew to the heights of sold out Red Rocks shows and headlining Madison Square Garden. When he’s not composing and performing with Vulfpeck, Woody is building a catalog as a record producer, working with artists such as May Erlewine and Woman Believer.
Goss will share his experiences as an internationally touring musician and go into the studio with students to help them produce and record an original song.
Kendrick Scott
November 11-17, 2019
Residency Concerts: November 14-17 at the Jazz Showcase
For tickets, visit tickets.colum.edu
Drummer, composer, and bandleader Kendrick Scott has released five full length albums with his critically acclaimed group Oracle including the recent A Wall Becomes a Bridge. Expertly blending jazz language and diverse contemporary influences, Scott is also in demand as a sideman for artists like Terrence Blanchard and Christopher Lloyd.
Sharing the lessons he’s learned as both a bandleader and sideman working with jazz’s great bandleaders, Scott will work with the Columbia College Jazz Ensemble, Fusion Ensemble, and ChicagoVox Vocal Jazz Ensemble to host masterclasses and perform at the historic Jazz Showcase.
Spring 2020
Isaiah Sharkey
February 24-28, 2020
Residency Concert: February 28 at 7 p.m. at the Music Center Concert Hall
For tickets, visit tickets.colum.edu
Guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Isaiah Sharkey started playing music at a young age, releasing his first album at just 14. A native Chicagoan, he has toured the world working with artists like John Mayer, Patti LaBelle, Christopher Martin, Paul Simon, Corrine Bailey Rae, Mike Posner, Keith Urban, Brian McKnight, Boyz II Men, Lalah Hathaway, Raphael Saadiq, and many others. He received his first Grammy award for his work on D’Angelo’s Black Messiah, and has released two albums as a solo artist.
Sharkey will bring his prodigious skills as a performer to lead workshops and work with students on their original music.
Ambrose Akinmusire
April 20-26, 2020
Residency Concerts: April 23-26 at the Jazz Showcase
For tickets, visit tickets.colum.edu
During his 15-year career, trumpeter and composer Ambrose Akinmusire has paradoxically situated himself in both the center and the periphery of jazz, most recently emerging in classical and hip-hop circles. He’s on a perpetual quest for new paradigms, masterfully weaving inspiration from other genres, arts, and life in general into compositions that are as poetic and graceful as they are bold and unflinching. His unorthodox approach to sound and composition make him a regular on critics’ polls and have earned him earned him numerous grants and awards.
Following his recent, genre-blending album Origami Harvest, Akinmusire will share his forward-looking jazz acumen with the Columbia College Jazz Ensemble, Fusion Ensemble, and ChicagoVox for their performances and masterclasses throughout his residency. His residency is supported by the Collective Impact initiative at Columbia.
