Haverford’s Concert Artist Series, which brings musicians from throughout the region to perform in the Michael Jaharis Recital Hall, hosted its fourth installment of the year with a performance by the Terell Stafford Jazz Quintet.
Led by renowned trumpeter Terell Stafford, the March 19 concert was the latest in the series’ year-long line up. Other performances have included the VIVA VOCE Chamber Singers-directed by Haverford’s own Director of Choral and Vocal Studies Nathan Zullinger-the Jasper String Quartet, and the Orlando Consort.
The Jazz Quintet features Stafford on trumpet, joined by saxophonist Tim Warfield, pianist Bruce Barth, bassist David Wong, and drummer Maria Marmarou. Stafford, who is also the director of jazz studies at Temple University, is known for his trumpet virtuosity and adaptability. Since the 1990s, he has played with countless jazz luminaries and been a part of some legendary ensembles, including McCoy Tyner’s Sextet, Kenny Barron Quintet, Jimmy Heath Quintet and Big Band, Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, and Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Alumni Band. Stafford has also released seven albums, including his most recent record, Family Feeling.
Introduced to Haverford by Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Leonardo Dugan, the quintet was initially planning to visit campus last spring. Unfortunately, that concert was postponed due to the pandemic, so their visit was an exceptional opportunity for the whole community.
An audience of 130 people, ranging from Tri-Co students to local community members, came to the intimate Jaharis Hall to hear the performance. In true improvisational fashion, the group announced their songs from the stage, working without a printed program and demonstrating an impressive jazz repertoire.
Music Performance Coordinator Nancy Merriam noted that each performance in the Concert Artist Series, as well as the concerts in the accompanying Music & Conversation series, is carefully chosen to work in tandem with classes and programs offered by Haverford’s Music Department.
“These concerts support the music curriculum, whether it be a chamber music group supporting the chamber music program, or a certain piece the chamber music group is performing, such as a Beethoven [performance] to support a Beethoven seminar,” she explained. “Most concerts have an education outreach portion that involves [the artists] working directly with the students.”
Going forward, Jaharis Recital Hall will be hosting the Sankyoku Ensemble, presented by the Kessinger Family Fund for Asian Performing Arts, as part of the Music & Conversation series on Monday, April 3. With each performance in the newly renovated concert hall, the music department is better equipped to host the next one.
“We learn from every concert what works well in the hall and what needs some help,” Merriam said. “We will always be hosting future concerts, and they’re all with the students and the music they’re studying in mind.”
More information about the Terell Stafford’s Jazz Quintet and their visit to Haverford is available here. A brief clip of their performance is available below.