Recently students from the Manhattan School of Music came into the WBGO Studios for a taping of a special performance by an international quintet featuring: leader and saxophonist Simon Nyivana (Sophomore Undergrad); tenor saxophonist Adam Lamoureux (Junior Undergrad); pianist Cameron Campbell (Junior Undergrad); drummer Kabelo Mokhatla (Junior Undergrad); and bassist Conway Campbell (a 1st Year Masters student). The ensemble came together under the direction of maestro Kendrick Scott who serves on the Jazz Arts faculty at MSM.
Three of the members of In Exile were born and raised in the townships of South Africa outside of Johannesburg. “The enthusiasm, professionalism and in-depth original compositions this ensemble performed was a delight to see, and moving”, said Mark Farrell, Session Producer for this performance at WBGO. Carolyn Bednarski, Producer of the JAM series at WBGO added: “Considering the fortitude some of these students have to come this far already; I am excited to see where they will be after graduation, and as we approach our midway point in Jazz Appreciation Month, I feel In Exile is a good representation of the dedication it takes not only to master an instrument and play as an ensemble, but to present oneself to the jazz world as a professional…the style, the attitude, the communication and the marketing of oneself is also what the schools we are presenting this month guide their students through."
Still to appear in this series in the coming weeks during Jazz Appreciation Month are ensembles from the jazz programs of schools such as CUNY, William Paterson University, Newark Arts High School and NYU.
Funding for this series was made possible by a generous grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
Listen to In Exile’s performance on WBGO, 88.3-FM three times daily (at 11:55am, 6:55pm and 10:55pm) and during Saturday Evening Jazz. Listen to their version of "The Journey" above.