Jazz Small Groups 1 and X

Gabriel Chalick ’24, Trumpet
Evan DeTurk ’23, Alto Saxophone
Jack Johnson II ’23, Tenor Saxophone
Adithya Sriram ’24, Baritone Saxophone
Noah Daniel ’23, Guitar
Alexander Moravcsik ’23, Piano
Chloe Raichle ’23, Bass
Alexander MacArthur ’25 Drums
Miles Okazaki, Ensemble Coach

Special Guest: Jon Irabagon, Saxophone and composer

Small Group 1 Director, Miles Okazaki: 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.” His sideman experience over the last two decades covers a broad spectrum, from standards to experimental music (Kenny Barron, John Zorn, Stanley Turrentine, Dan Weiss, Matt Mitchell, Steve Coleman, Jonathan Finlayson, Jane Monheit, Amir ElSaffar, Darcy James Argue, and many others).

He has released ten albums of original compositions over the last 12 years, and is currently an artist on the Pi Recordings label. Other large projects include a six-album recording of the complete compositions of Thelonious Monk for solo guitar, a duo double album with drummer Dan Weiss, and a published book, Fundamentals of Guitar, with Mel Bay. He has been voted #1 rising star in the Downbeat Critic’s Poll (2018), is a grantee of The Shifting Foundation, The Jazz Gallery Commissioning series, SouthArts, and Mid-Atlantic Arts, and runs the Cygnus Recordings record label. He taught guitar and rhythmic theory at the University of Michigan from 2013-22, joined the faculty a Princeton University in 2021, and holds degrees from Harvard University, Manhattan School of Music, and the Juilliard School.

Konstantin Howard ’24, Tenor Sax

Daniela Vita ’24, Guitar
Alex Egol ’24, Piano
Lukas Arenas ’26, Alto Sax
Thomas Verrill ’25, Trombone
Mihir Rao ’26, Drums
Nikhil De ’23, Mandolin/Violin
Justin Lidard GS, Bass
Matthew Parrish, Faculty Ensemble Director & Bass

Small Group Z Director Matthew Parrish is a sought-after performer, arranger, composer, producer, and instructor whose bass career is grounded in Philadelphia. His late teens and early twenties included performing with Shirley Scott, Mickey Roker, Bobby Durham, Cecil Payne, Johnny Coles, Harry ‘Sweets’ Edison, Sylvia Simms, and fellow young musicians of that era, Orrin Evans and Byron Landham. He then toured with legendary trombonist, Al Grey and performed with Clark Terry, Marion McPartland, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Lou Donaldson, Joe Cohn, Savion Glover, and Bill Charlap. After the sad passing of Al, an important mentor and friend, Matthew continued to tour the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America with the bands of Greg Osby, James Newton, Stefon Harris, Regina Carter, Houston Person, Ruth Floyd, Michelle Lordi, and Vana Gierig with Paquito D’Rivera. Matthew frequents regional jazz venues, especially in New York City. The Jazz Standard, the Blue Note, Dizzy’s ‘Coca Cola’ Club at Lincoln Center, Smalls, Birdland, Smoke, and the Iridium rely on his warm, innovative compositions, arrangements, and steady performing.

Jon Irabagon: First-generation Filipino-American Jon Irabagon (b. 1978, Chicago) has been influenced by the self-empowering and individualistic philosophies and aesthetic of the great AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians) ensembles as well as the historic world-class tenor saxophone lineage from his hometown. Equally adept at composing for rising stars in new music and the most intricate modern jazz ensemble, Irabagon builds on this foundation by adding modern classical and late-period John Coltrane to his compositional base, focusing primarily on mixed chamber ensembles to take advantage of hand-chosen musicians’ voices and attitudes.

After earning a Bachelor of Music from DePaul University, Irabagon continued his education by earning a Master of Arts from the Manhattan School of Music and completing post-graduate studies in the jazz program at Juilliard, where he received an Artist Diploma. However, Irabagon’s accomplishments do not end with his education. Irabagon was also the winner of the 2008 Thelonious Monk Saxophone Competition, winner of the Rising Star award in Downbeat Magazine for both alto and tenor saxophones, and the recipient of a Philippine Presidential Award, the highest civilian honor an overseas Filipino can receive in commemoration for their contributions to the perception of Filipinos worldwide.

As a member of a minority community who fights against the countless times his voice has been marginalized, Irabagon’s compositions rely on open dialogues with his fellow performers to create a gateway for communication and understanding. This interaction of notated material and strong improvisatory character is essential to Irabagon’s musical vision. As music reporter Nate Chinen notes in his Top Performances of 2015 article, Irabagon’s compositions “are drawn to the play of opposing forces, especially those involving abstraction of form.”

Named one of New York City’s 25 Jazz Icons by Time Out New York, Irabagon composes for his ensemble Outright!, which received a 5-star Masterpiece review in Downbeat Magazine for Unhinged (2014), as well as the Jon Irabagon Trio, featuring Barry Altschul and Mark Helias, and his new quartet with Matt Mitchell, Chris Lightcap and Dan Weiss. Irabagon has been an integral part of ensembles such as the Dave Douglas Quintet, the Mary Halvorson Quintet, Septet and Octet, Barry Altschul’s 3Dom Factor, Ralph Alessi’s This Against That, Mostly Other People do the Killing and Uri Caine’s Catbird.

Irabagon has been an ensemble and private lesson instructor for all levels at several institutions in the New York City area, including with Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Middle School Jazz Academy, as well as giving saxophone, improvisation, and composition masterclasses on four continents.

In January 2023, Irabagon joined the University of Illinois Chicago faculty, teaching jazz saxophone, direct combos, and courses in jazz history.

Irabagon’s main focus is building his own compositional voice, as evidenced by receiving grants and commissions like The Stone at National Sawdust Commissioning Series, an Artists at Albatross Reach compositional residency, the Shifting Foundation, two French American Cultural Exchange grants, a Chamber Music America New Jazz Works grant, a South Arts Jazz Road touring grant, and an upcoming USArtists International grant.

Irabagon currently runs his own imprint, Irabbagast Records, to release his own uncategorizable works as well as other cutting-edge, creative artists.

JAZZ AT PRINCETON UNIVERSITY serves to promote this uniquely American music as a contemporary and relevant art form. Its goals are to convey the vast musical and social history of jazz, establish a strong theoretical and stylistic foundation with regard to improvisation and composition, and emphasize the development of individual expression and creativity. Offerings of this program include academic course work, performing ensembles, master classes, private study, and independent projects. Jazz at Princeton University thanks you for joining them on this evening’s journey of beauty, exploration, discovery, and hope.