For the 2023 festival, we are honored to feature visiting artists Alicia Olatuja Quintet and Magos Herrera Quartet at our Friday and Saturday evening concerts! We are excited to welcome the wider Appleton community to the festival and have an exciting schedule of events planned.

Jazz Weekend 2023 Visiting Artists

Headshot of Alicia Olatuja.

Alicia Olatuja Quintet

Friday, November 3, 2023, 7:30 p.m. - Lawrence Memorial Chapel

Listening to acclaimed vocalist, composer, and arranger Alicia Olatuja, is truly an unforgettable experience. Olatuja gained global recognition for her stunning vocal performance during President Obama’s second inauguration, and has been praised in the New York Times as “a singer with a strong and luscious tone.” Olatuja combines the earthy with the sublime, bringing a grounded relatability to genres as lofty as classical, as venerated as jazz, and as gritty as R&B. Her debut album, Intuition: Songs from the Minds of Women, celebrates female composers.

Headshot of Magos Herrera.

Magos Herrera Quartet

Saturday, November 4, 2023, 7:30 p.m. - Lawrence Memorial Chapel

A dazzling jazz singer-songwriter, producer, and educator known for her sultry voice and unique presence in the Latin American jazz scene, Magos Herrera’s style effortlessly blends contemporary jazz with Ibero-American melodies and rhythms, transcending language barriers. With nine albums and collaborations with renowned producer Javier Limón, she has received accolades and performed at prestigious venues and festivals worldwide. Recognized by Forbes as one of the most creative Mexicans in the world, Herrera has received a Grammy shortlist nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album (Distancia, 2009) and a Berklee College of Music’s Master of Latin Music Award.

Find out more information about our Performing Arts Series concerts and performers!

Jazz Weekend 2023 Clinicians

Headshot of Jamey Simmons.

Jamey Simmons

Visiting Clinician

Arranger, composer, trumpeter, and educator Jamey Simmons grew up in Wisconsin and knew early on that music was his unique gift. He earned his Bachelor of Music at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and studied under Robert Baca. He earned his Master of Music in Jazz and Contemporary Media at the Eastman School of Music where he studied under jazz composer and arranger Fred Sturm. Jamey is currently Director of Jazz Studies at Middle Tennessee State University where he teaches courses in jazz and directs Jazz Ensemble I. To learn more visit www.jameysimmons.com

Headshot of Matt Pivec.

Matt Pivec

Visiting Clinician

Performer of jazz and popular music Matt Pivec received the Doctor of Musical Arts (Saxophone Performance and Literature) and Master of Music (Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media) degrees from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. While at Eastman, he studied with Ramon Ricker. Matt received the Bachelor of Music Education degree with honors from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Currently, Matt is the director of jazz studies at Butler University where leads the Jazz Ensemble and teaches courses in the jazz studies curriculum. Learn more about Matt Pivec.

Headshot of Brian Shaw.

Brian Shaw

Visiting Clinician

After 15 years in academia as the Julian & Sidney Carruth Professor of Trumpet and Jazz Studies at Louisiana State University, Brian Shaw continues to enjoy an international performing career as a modern and historical trumpet artist. A native of Southeastern Illinois, Brian attended Eastern Illinois University (B.Mus.), the Eastman School (M.Mus.), and the University of Texas at Austin (DMA). His trumpet teachers include Parker Melvin, Ray Sasaki, and James Thompson. At LSU, Brian has taught applied trumpet and jazz lessons, directs the Jazz Ensemble, and leads courses in jazz arranging, jazz history, and Baroque performance practice. To learn more visit brianshawmusic.com

Headshot of Bill Carrothers.

Bill Carrothers

Lecturer of Music and jazz piano faculty

Bill Carrothers has been a professional pianist for more than 40 years. He has played many venues throughout the U.S. and Europe, and has been a leader on over 30 recordings, all of which have received critical acclaim and Top Ten of the Year accolades in major publications around the globe. Bill has taken part in countless masterclasses and teaching residencies around the world, and has also been an adjunct professor of jazz studies at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin since 2011. Learn more about Bill Carrothers.

Jazz Weekend 2023 Commissioned Composers

Headshot of Patty Darling.

Patty Darling ’85

Instructor of Music and Director of Lawrence University Jazz Ensemble

Patty Darling directs the Lawrence University Jazz Ensemble and also teaches classes in jazz composition, arranging, electronic music and functional jazz piano. Patty completed her Bachelor of Music degree in Composition from the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music in 1985. While pursuing an advanced composition degree at the University of Minnesota, she assisted in the Electronic Music Department. She has over 15 years of experience in the creation, recording and production of original soundtracks for broadcast and corporate multimedia events that have been distributed worldwide. Learn more about Patty Darling.

Owen Brady ’24

Student

Jazz Weekend Visiting Artists Through the Years

1981: Steve Houghton, Leon Breeden, and Buddy Baker

1982: Zoot Sims and the Mitchell-Ruff Duo

1983: Slide Hampton and “Fire and Ice”

1984: Bobby McFerrin and Rayburn Wright

1985: Art Blakey, Bob Brookmeyer, Jim Hall, Jerry Coker, and The Hi-Lo’s

1986: Gerry Mulligan, Bobby McFerrin, Gene Bertoncini, and Michael Moore

1987: Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, and Dianne Reeves

1988: Wynton Marsalis, J.J. Johnson, and Cheryl Barnes

1989: Michael Brecker and Diane Schuur

1990: Benny Golson, Marlena Shaw, John Abercrombie, Peter Erskine, Marc Johnson, Tim Hagans, and John Fedchock

1991: Chick Corea Elektric Band and Marlena Shaw

1992: New York Voices and Jack DeJohnette Trio

1993: Bobby Watson and Moore by Four

1994: Joe Henderson Trio and Jon Hendricks & Co.

1995: Cassandra Wilson and John Harmon

1996: Joe Lovano, Gunther Schuller, Janis Siegel, and Fred Hersch

1997: Diana Krall, Jon Faddis, Slide Hampton, and Jimmy Heath

1998: New York Voices and Marcus Roberts

1999: Kevin Mahogany and Arturo Sandoval

2000: Dave Holland Quintet, Nancy King, and Steve Christofferson

2001: Bobby McFerrin and Uri Caine

Two men in concert attire stand on a stage.
Dizzy Gillespie and Clark Terry at the 1987 Jazz Weekend. Image from Lawrence University Archives.
Women in sunglasses sings into microphone
Diane Schuur at the 1989 Jazz Weekend. Image from Lawrence University Archives.

2002: Wayne Shorter, Danilo Perez, John Patitucci, Brian Blade, and Dianne Reeves

2003: Kurt Elling, Lars Jansson, and the Mingus Big Band

2004: Eliane Elias Trio, Marc Johnson, and Tim Hagans

2005: Jane Monheit, Kenny Wheeler, Matt Harris, Steve Houghton and Clay Jenkins

2006: Jon Hendricks and LHR Redux, Wycliffe Gordon, and Chris Vadala

2007: Patricia Barber and the Branford Marsalis Quintet

2008: New York Voices and Ingrid Jensen

2009: Steve March Tormé, Brian Lynch, Joel Frahm, Geoffrey Keezer, Ike Sturm and Zach Harmon

2010: Luciana Souza and Conrad Herwig

2011: Tierney Sutton Band and John & Gerald Clayton

2012: Kurt Elling and Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra

2013: Kate McGarry and The Yellowjackets

2014: Terri Lyne Carrington’s Mosaic Project and Peter Erskine

2015: Cyrille Aimée and Rufus Reid Quartet

2016: Luciana Souza and Children of the Light: Danilo Perez, Brian Blade and John Patitucci

2017: Lizz Wright and Storms/Nocturnes Trio: Geoffrey Keezer, Joe Locke and Tim Garland

2018: Regina Carter Quartet and Vanguard Jazz Orchestra

2019: The Miguel Zenón Quartet

2021: Dave Rivello and Ike Sturm + HEART, featuring guest Donny McCaslin

2022: Samara Joy and Liam Teague