NEC Jazz Honors Ensemble: Works Un-Covered

In tonight's concert, Works Un-Covered, coached by Jason Palmer, performs a selection of works.

Each year, an audition committee of professional musicians and faculty selects a few exceptional student ensembles to represent the NEC Honors Ensemble Program. The ensembles work with a faculty coach and are given an opportunity to perform a spring recital in NEC's Jordan Hall.

Works Un-covered:

NEC Jazz Honors Ensemble, Works Un-covered is a celebration of lesser-known artists and
composers within improvised music. Ensemble members have carefully chosen artists who
are significant to themselves as well as broader contemporary music. Under the guidance of
esteemed trumpeter and composer Jason Palmer, this group explores and reinterprets
compositions by artists such as Steve Swallow, Frank Foster, Victor Lewis and Ronnie Ball.
The group features Eric Wesling on guitar, Max Strong on saxophone, Solomon Caldwell on
bass, and Alby Rolfe on drums.

Eric Wesling is a jazz guitarist born and raised in San Diego. Eric attended Berklee College
of Music and graduated with a bachelors degree in music performance in 2021. Upon
graduating, Eric returned to San Diego, where he remained active performing both as a
sideman and leader while teaching lessons to many aspiring guitarists in the area. Eric also
held the position at Mission Bay High School as the Music Program Assistant from 2023-
2025, where he helped teach music classes offered under the direction of music director JP
Balmat. He is currently in his first year at the New England Conservatory of Music, studying
for a Masters of Music focusing on Jazz Studies.

Solomon Caldwell is a dynamic double bassist specializing in improvisation and chamber
music. His style lives at the crossroads of classical, folk and jazz to inform his work across all
genres and styles. After receiving his undergraduate degree in Classical Bass, he then went on
to receive his Masters degree at New England Conservatory of Music in Contemporary
Improvisation. He is currently a doctoral candidate at New England Conservatory where he
aims to further his work in improvisational and new music. In addition to his performance
work, he is also on faculty at Boston Music Project, teaching a variety of ensembles on
violin, cello and bass.

Alby Rolfe is a drummer and composer from Melbourne, Australia. He completed a Bachelor
of Music in Jazz and Improvisation at Monash University in 2022. Alby then went on to work
extensively as a sideman in the Melbourne music scene, steadily informing his personal
practice. He also spent time teaching lessons to young drummers in Melbourne. While
specialising in jazz and improvised music, he also works within RnB, folk and Latin contexts.
After moving to Boston, Alby has begun his first year at New England Conservatory to
complete a Master of Music in Jazz Performance.

Max Strong is a saxophonist and composer from Phoenix, Arizona. Max attended Arizona
State University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in jazz performance in 2025. At the
same time, he performed with and contributed compositions to many bands in the Phoenix
area. Max is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Jazz Performance at New England
Conservatory.

To watch a live stream of this event, click the “Streaming Access” button at the top of the page.