THE NEW SCHOOL FOR JAZZ AND CONTEMPORARY MUSIC ONCE AGAIN SWEEPS DOWNBEAT CRITICS POLL

New School Faculty and Alumni Appear 59 Times in More Than 35 Categories

Alumni of The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music perform at the school's 25th anniversary celebration. (Photo: Scott Wynn)

"Our remarkable showing in this year's DownBeat Critics Poll was a great way to celebrate our 25th anniversary, confirming the success of our mission and recognizing the talent, determination and constancy of each New School Jazz generation as they write the history of the past anew," said Martin Mueller Director of The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music.

Results of the Critics Poll come as The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music celebrates its 25th anniversary, and highlight the accomplishments and unique history of the program. Two notable alumni, Robert Glasper and Marcus Strickland, testify to the program's continued influence, with multiple recognitions across categories. Glasper appears in nine different categories, including wins in Beyond Album, Beyond Group, Rising Star Jazz Artist, Rising Star Piano and Rising Star Jazz Group. Strickland is recognized in the Rising Star Soprano Saxophone category, as well as in three others.

Founded in 1986, The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music boasts one of the most accomplished teaching faculty in jazz education, with artist-instructors including saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom, trumpeter Charles Tolliver, and percussionist Bobby Sanabria, all of whom appear on Downbeat's Critics Poll. The full list of New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music faculty and alumni who appear on Downbeat's 60th Critics Poll is listed below.

DOWNBEAT'S 60TH ANNUAL CRITICS POLL (August 2012)
FACULTY AND ALUMNI OF THE NEW SCHOOL FOR JAZZ AND CONTEMPORARY MUSIC

Rising Star-Jazz Artist- Robert Glasper (piano alum) second place; Brad Mehldau (piano alum) sixth place

Jazz Group- Brad Mehldau Trio (alum) third place

Big Band- Charles Tolliver Big Band (faculty) 11th place; Roy Hargrove Big Band (alum) 16th place
Trumpet- Roy Hargrove (alum) either place; Ingrid Jensen (faculty) 10th place

Soprano Saxophone- Jane Ira Bloom (faculty) second place; Chris Potter (alum) ninth place; Marcus Strickland (alum) 17th place

Tenor Saxophone- Chris Potter (alum) fourth place; Marcus Strickland (alum) 16th place; John Ellis (alum) 21st place

Piano- Brad Mehldau (alum) third place; Robert Glasper (alum) 10th place

Keyboard- Robert Glasper (alum) fourth place; Larry Goldings (alum) sixth place; Sam Yahel (alum) 13th place

Organ- Larry goldings (alum) third place; Sam Yahel (alum) sixth place

Guitar- Mary Halvorson (alum) fourth place; Peter Bernstein (alum) 14th place

Bass- Avishai Cohen (alum) eighth place; Reggie Workman (faculty) 20th place

Violin- Miri Ben-Ari (alum) 16th place

Percussion- Bobby Sanabria (faculty) eighth place; Susie Ibarra (alum) 11th place

Miscellaneous Instrument- Gregoire Maret (harmonica alum) first place

Male Vocalist- Jose James (alum) 13th place

Record Label- SmallsLIVE (owned/run by alum Spike Wilner) 25th place

Beyond Artist or Group- Robert Glasper Experiment (alum) first place

Beyond Album- Robert Glasper Experiment, Black Radio (alum) first place

Rising Star-Jazz Artist- Robert Glasper (piano alum) first place; Mary Halvorson (guitar alum) seventh place; Avishai Cohen (bass alum) 15th place

Rising Star-Jazz Group-Robert Glasper Trio (alum) first place; Mary Halvorson Trio (alum) fourth place

Rising Star-Trumpet- Michael Rodriguez (alum) 17th place

Rising Star-Soprano Saxophone- Marcus Strickland (alum) first place

Rising Star-Alto Saxophone- Sharel Cassity (alum) 11th place

Rising Star-Tenor Saxophone- Marcus Strickland (alum) fourth place; John Ellis (alum) 16th place

Rising Star-Baritone Saxophone- Jason Marshall (alum) 9th place

Rising Star-Piano- Robert Glasper (alum) first place

Rising Star-Keyboard- Sam Yahel (alum) second place; Larry Goldings (alum) third place

Rising Star-Guitar- Peter Bernstein (alum) third place; Gillad Hakselman (alum) (fifth place; Mary Halvorson (alum) 12th place

Rising Star-Bass- Avishai Cohen (alum) second place; Omer Avital (alum) fifth place

Rising Star-Electric Bass- Avishai Cohen (alum) second place

Rising Star-Drums- E.J. Strickland (alum) sixth place; Jamire Williams (alum) ninth place; Adam Cruz (alum) 12th place

Rising Star- Miscellaneous Instrument- Gregoire Maret (harmonica alum) 13th place

Rising Star-Male Vocalist- Jose James (alum) 12th place

Rising Star-Female Vocalist- Becca Stevens (alum) fifth place

Rising Star-Producer- Spike Wilner (alum) seventh place

About The New School
The New School, a leading progressive university in New York City, was founded in 1919 as a center of intellectual and artistic freedom. Today The New School is still in the vanguard of innovation and experimentation in higher education, with more than 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students in design and the social sciences, the humanities, management, and the performing arts and thousands of adult learners in continuing education courses. Committed to public engagement, The New School welcomes thousands of New Yorkers yearly to its celebrated public programs and maintains a global presence through its online learning programs, research institutes, and international partnerships. Learn more at www.newschool.edu.

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