Department of Music

• Saturday, April 27, 2013
• 107 Old Cabell
• 1:00pm
• Free

Women Making Jazz

Kait Dunton Jazz Piano and Composer
Lisa Mezzacappa Bass, Composer, Musical Instigator
Kathy Olson Baritone Saxaphone, Composer
John D’earth Moderator

Why go to Foxfields when you can hear the three powerful UVa Jazz program alums talk about their experiences making Jazz Careers in the new millennium? They will discuss their experiences as women in a male dominated musical practice and the ways that each of them have pushed the boundaries of the Jazz tradition. The interactive event will also touch on their particular musical expressions and the role of social media in developing professional identities. All three women will perform with the UVA Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of John D’earth in a concert entitled, “Three Women in Jazz,” on Saturday, April 27th at 8pm in Old Cabell Hall.

Kait Dunton (UVa ’05) is a Los Angeles based jazz pianist and composer. Currently, Kait is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Southern California, with an emphasis on composition, music education, and music industry. Kait has appeared on multiple CD’s and performs frequently in Los Angeles with her trio.

Lisa Mezzacappa (UVa ’97) is a San Francisco Bay Area-based bassist, composer, and musical instigator.After earning her degree at UVA she went to UC Berkeley and earned her masters in ethnomusicology.She has been an active bandleader/composer/curator of her own and other artists’ music ever since, putting out many CDs as a leader and a side-person and developing numerous projects simultaneously.

Kathy Olson (UVa ’02) is a jazz baritone saxophonist, teacher, and composer based in the Boston area. She has co-founded the Olson-Pingrey Quartet with trombonist Randy Pingrey and they have released their first CD: Low Contrast. Kathy was introduced to jazz at the University of Virginia. She gained invaluable professional experience playing on cruise ships before earning her Masters degree in Jazz Performance at the New England Conservatory of Music.