Jazz Loft Forms Youth Board

Press release from The Jazz Loft:

Jan. 13, 2023

The Jazz Loft is excited to announce the creation of the Jazz Loft Youth Board, a coalition of Stony Brook University (SBU) students that have been involved at the Jazz Loft as musicians, staff, interns and music fans, with a common goal to connect with a local, youthful demographic. The project began this past fall and will continue into 2023.

The Youth Board has been working on projects such as hosting Stony Brook University Club performances at the Jazz Loft for the Spring 2023 semester. Currently the board is planning to collaborate with the Stony Brook Pipettes, an all female a cappella group at SBU, and SBU Gospel Choir by hosting a concert at the Jazz Loft to showcase their performances. There are future plans to expand this concert series and include other student musical groups.

“As the Youth Board, our goal is to connect the art of Jazz music to different school districts, communities, and especially to Stony Brook University,” says Youth Board member Matthew Miller. “I can say with confidence that everyone on the team is excited for our new adventures.”

President and Founder Tom Manuel commented, “I am so honored that so many talented young individuals are a part of the creative process at the Jazz Loft. The energy, spirit, ideas, and inspiration that they bring to our team is outstanding. The Jazz loft is in good hands with such incredible young leadership!”

JAZZ LOFT YOUTH BOARD MEMBERS

Aiden Gauer

Aiden Gauer is a senior at Stony Brook University. He is a double major in chemical engineering and physics. He is a Jazz Loft employee and a regular at the Wednesday night jam session. He is a bassist and guitarist. He plays with jazz combos and other bands which play gigs throughout New York.

Skye Hamilton-Carranza

Skye Hamilton-Carranza is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer from Freeport, NY. Skye graduated from The Crane School of Music in 2019, where he studied with Dr. Anna Hendrickson (oboe, English horn), Dr. Carol Cope-Lowe (bassoon), and Drs. Tim Sullivan, Jerod Sommerfeldt, Gregory Wanamaker, and Phil Salathé (composition). A prolific composer, Skye has released several pieces of contemporary jazz and electro-acoustic music (including six albums from 2019-2022, four of which are self-produced) and has written classical and contemporary works for various musicians and chamber groups, including Dr. Julianne Kirk Doyle, the Blowage Big Band, and the Crane Wind Ensemble. Skye has recorded with artists such as Tyler, MD, Juani Williams, and Landon Peer, and has performed in several pit orchestras and with several different groups, including the Orchestra of Northern New York, Northern Symphonic Winds, the 5pm Porch Concerts Band, the Jazz Loft Latin Orchestra. He also leads and composes for his own group, the Skye Hamilton-Carranza Collective. Outside of music, Skye enjoys traveling, swimming, and venturing outdoors. He currently resides in Freeport, NY.

Dan Julian

Dan is a sophomore at Stony Brook University in the Honors College pursuing a double major in physics and applied mathematics and statistics. Dan grew up on Long Island in Shoreham. He is a saxophone player primarily interested in jazz music and has played with Stony Brook’s Big Band, the Blowage, for the past four years. Whether it is at weekly jam sessions or for Stony Brook concerts, Dan enjoys playing at the Jazz Loft.

Victoria Kochetova

Victoria Kochetova is a Youth Board member and was a Jazz Loft PR & Marketing intern from February-September 2022. She is continuing marketing work with the Jazz Loft and is a recent graduate from Stony Brook University, with her majors in Business Administration Marketing and Psychology. She is very passionate about music and is very proud to help contribute to the Jazz Loft's mission. Victoria is also a local musician, singing acoustically at a variety of Long Island restaurants & venues.

Matthew Miller

Matthew Miller is a trombonist who has played in groups such as Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra, The Something Special Big Band, The Jazz Loft Big Band, The New York Youth Symphony, and his own ensemble “Lost in Staller.” He has studied with people such as Ray Anderson, Michael Powell, and Haim Avitsur. Matt is also an employee of both the Jazz Loft and the Staller Center for the Arts. He also works with the Staller Center’s Instrument Petting Zoo project, and teaches trombone lessons. He was the Orchestra Assistant for the Kennedy Dream Project, and he worked for the Jazz Loft Harbor Jazz Festival and Jazz Loft’s Guitar Festival. He is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Business to continue his work for concert halls.

Eva Paruch

Eva (piano player) is a senior at Stony Brook University, class of 2023, pursuing a double major in biochemistry and music. Proud of her Polish descent, she enjoys playing both Polish repertoire as well as plenty of jazz. A member of the Stony Brook Jazz Combo and Lost in Staller Jazz Combo, she loves playing jazz, funk and pop with her friends.

Marty Scott

Born on Long Island on December 25, 1999, trombonist Marty Clemons Scott grew up in Freeport, New York. Scott is a SUNY Purchase graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Jazz Performance in 2022. As of Fall 2022, Scott is a Masters student at the Manhattan School of Music. He was introduced around his early teenage years to Jazz music in middle school, which has impacted his life immensely. Scott's inspirations and influences are Curtis Fuller, Lee Morgan, JJ.Johnson, and Thad Jones, to name a few. He has played alongside many skilled musicians at venues like The Blue Note, Birdland Jazz Club, Dizzy's Club, The Jazz Loft, and others. Scott has taught music to children at camps across North America, performed in many kinds of bands, recorded different musical genres, and continues to share his love of the Jazz Art form. Attending SUNY Purchase, he had the excellent opportunity to learn from current working Jazz legends of the New York City Scene, including Jon Faddis, Ralph Lalama, Gary Smulyan, John Mosca, Pete Malinverni, Todd Coolman, and Kenny Washington. Scott is also involved with graphic design from his inspiration from classic Jazz Records covers. He creates posters for live performances, album covers, and merchandise. With a passion for jazz arranging and composition, Scott has recorded his music and has had the honor of sharing his music at musical venues and on social media.

Visit www.thejazzloft.org for more information.

This press release was produced by The Jazz Loft. The views expressed here are the author's own.