The U.S. Air Force Band – Jazz Heritage Series

Since 1990, the Airmen of Note has presented The Jazz Heritage Series to music lovers in the nation’s capital.  Starting in 2007 they added the dimension of radio broadcast, allowing listeners across the United States and Canada to enjoy the programs that previously could only be appreciated by live audiences in Washington, D.C.

This year’s series is guest hosted by Dick Golden and features performances by Kurt Elling, Allen Vizzutti and Rufus Reid .

Kurt Elling

Kurt Elling is one of the preeminent young male jazz singers today. To date, he’s received seven Grammy Award nominations, six consecutive years at the top of the Down Beat Critics and Jazz Times Readers’ polls, three Jazz Journalists’ Association Awards for Best Male Vocalist and the Prix Billie Holiday from the Academie du Jazz in Paris.
 
Elling’s four-octave baritone voice displays a technical facility, emotional depth and awesome command of rhythm, texture, phrasing, and dynamics, often sounding more like a virtuoso jazz musician than a mere singer. His repertoire ranges from his own compositions to modern interpretations of the standards. As composer and lyricist, Elling has written scores of his own compositions and set lyrics to the songs and improvised solos of many jazz masters.

His quartet has toured the world, performing to critical acclaim in Europe, the Middle East, South America, Asia and Australia, and at jazz festivals and concert halls across North America. In addition to working with his own quartet, Kurt Elling has collaborated with artists including Terrence Blanchard, Dave Brubeck, Benny Golson, Jon Hendricks, Al Jarreau and the Yellowjackets.
 
Allen Vizzutti

Allen Vizzutti was taught by his father, a self-taught musician and trumpet player, until he left home to attend the Eastman School of Music on full scholarship. There he earned the Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees, a Performer’s Certificate, a chair in the Eastman Brass Quintet faculty ensemble, and the only Artist’s Diploma ever awarded a wind player in Eastman’s 85-year history.

Equally at home in a multitude of musical idioms, Allen Vizzutti has visited 40 countries and every state in the Union to perform with artists and ensembles including Chick Corea, Doc Severinsen Chuck Mangione and Woody Herman. Performing as a classical and a jazz artist, often in the same evening, he has appeared as guest soloist with symphony orchestras in Tokyo, Germany, St. Louis, Seattle, Rochester, Syracuse, Milwaukee, Buffalo, Phoenix, Edmonton, Vancouver and Winnipeg, to name a few.

From his home in Seattle, Wash., Allen’s current career activities embody an impressive schedule of recitals, concerts, recording and composing. His continued commitment to music education and the value of music in everyday life results in an extensive schedule of guest appearances at universities throughout North America, Europe, Japan and Australia.
 
Rufus Reid

Rufus Reid began his musical career as a trumpet player in a United States Air Force band, where he became seriously interested in playing bass. Following his service, he went on to have a tremendous career as a both a professional bassist and Jazz educator.

Rufus Reid’s major professional career began in Chicago and moved in the mid-1970s to New York City. His extensive jazz background and discography reads like the Who’s Who in jazz. He has traveled, performed and recorded with many of the great jazz masters. He was privileged to share many musical moments with some that have passed on: Gene Ammons, Kenny Dorham, Eddie Harris, Sonny Stitt, Don Byas, Philly Joe Jones, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, Dexter Gordon, Bill Evans, Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, and Art Farmer.

Rufus Reied was on the faculty of William Paterson University in Wayne, N.J., as Full Professor and Director of the Jazz Studies and Performance program for twenty years completing his tenure in 1999.