Recital: Mike Cameron '22 DMA, Jazz Saxophone

NEC: Keller Room | Directions

290 Huntington Ave.
Boston, MA
United States

In the course of completing the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at New England Conservatory, performance majors present not just one, but three full-length recitals, for which they also write program notes. It's an opportunity to observe multiple facets of an emerging artist.

Mike Cameron '22 DMA studies Jazz Saxophone with Miguel Zenón and Brian Levy. He is the recipient of the Max and Sophie Mydans Scholarship.


Watch Live Stream from Keller Room

Artists
  • Mike Cameron '22 DMA, saxophone
  • Gabriela Martina, vocals
  • Pritesh Walia, guitar
  • Santiago Galeano, piano
  • Andrew Schiller, double bass
  • SeaJun Kwon, double bass
  • James Nadien, drums
  • Nadav Friedman, drums

  1. Dizzy Gillespie | Woody n' You (Algo Bueno)

    Although not a composition major by degree, my efforts this past year have been focused to add new dimensions to my pieces, aided by master composer Miguel Zenón.  The tumult of recent human events has served as my primary inspiration and I look forward to sharing my perception of the world with you today.

    I believe honest jazz music has one foot placed in a modern present and the other firmly rooted in tradition, and to this end we will begin the program with Dizzy Gillespie’s classic Woody n’ You, also known as Algo Bueno as an homage to the “Cubop” musicians he played with such as Chano Pozo. 
     

  2. Vernon Duke | Autumn in New York

    Autumn in New York has always been a favorite ballad of mine that I never learned; living in Spring in Boston seemed like the perfect time to play it.

  3. Mike Cameron | Untitled #1

    Untitled #1 represents the end of abominable time in America with the initiation of a new peace and stability.

  4. Mike Cameron | Untitled #2

    Untitled #2 is an optimistic view of the future after the pandemic has ceased to exist.

  5. ----intermission

  6. Mike Cameron | Billy Boi is Alright

    Billy Boi is Alright will feature a changeover of the rhythm section and spotlights our wonderful vocalist jazz acrobat who will serve as the lead voice, departing from my usual trumpet/saxophone voice combination.

  7. Joel Ross | Freda's Disposition

    Freda’s Disposition is a soliloquy I transcribed from the 2019 “Kingmaker” release which features Gretchen Parlato and Joel Ross’ deep compositional process. 

  8. Mike Cameron | George

    George is a meditation honoring the life of George Floyd and countless other African-Americans brutalized by systemic racism rampant in America.  I based the structure of this composition by creating a universe of sound in one melodic line, one bass line and one supporting counterline.

  9. Mike Cameron | Seen On

    Our closing piece is an homage to the compositions of Miguel Zenón by using his 2008 release Jibaro as a framework for the piece. His use of disparate Balkan and Puerto Rican rhythms and complex harmonies and a longer through composed form was at the crux of this composition.   This performance comes off the heels of Maria Schneider workshopping the piece during her artist residency at NEC. 

  10.  

    Thank you to my parents for believing in my efforts
    and my mentors at NEC: Miguel Zenón, Brian Levy, Ken Schaphorst, Ethan Iverson, Jerry Bergonzi,
          Donny McCaslin and Jason Moran,
    as well as my fellow students for their inspiration and time to play this music.

Tags
Student RecitalsWatch OnlineCollegeJazzSaxophone