The Rutgers University Afro-Caribbean Jazz Ensemble | WBGO JAM 2023

Recently students from Rutgers University came into the WBGO Studios for a taping of a special performance by one of the school’s jazz groups—The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Ensemble. The students’ director, Robby Ameen, who has played with Ruben Blades, Conrad Herwig, Brian Lynch and Dave Valentin, among jazz luminaries, serves as one of the school’s Adjunct Professors.

The current lineup of the Afro-Caribbean Jazz Ensemble consists of Mike Noordzy (bass), Justin Vedovelli (drums), Peter Rushing (piano), Declan Ward (saxophone), Ford Lambert (trombone), and Charlie Barber (trumpet). As part of WBGO’s in-studio session, they recorded two Charles Mingus classics and two originals by Ameen.

Listen to WBGO three times daily Wednesday through Friday this week (11:55am, 6:55pm and 10:55pm) to hear their music, and more as we present performances from ensembles from the jazz programs of schools such as the Manhattan School of Music, Newark Arts High School, City University of New York, William Paterson University, New York University and others still to come during the coming weeks of Jazz Appreciation Month.

Funding for this series was made possible by a generous grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.