Jeff Coffin

  • Vanderbilt University

    Patrick Kenny, Class of 2025, releases album of original music

    Blair senior jazz performance major / guitarist Patrick Kenny has released his debut album, 'Water Damage,' a six-song project that includes guest performances by Blair professors Jeff Coffin and Marc Widenhofer, as well as other Blair student musicians. Kenny composed all six of the jazz fusion-styled pieces for the project. Read More

    Sep 11, 2024

  • Yusef Lateef (courtesy of Vanderbilt Special Collections)

    Heard Libraries acquire collection of jazz, world music master Yusef Lateef

    The Heard Libraries are now home to a rich collection of research materials from the life and career of Grammy-winning musician Yusef A. Lateef. This latest music-related acquisition is helping Vanderbilt build a world-class archive of African American music in partnership with the National Museum of African American Music. Read More

    Mar 18, 2022

  • Vanderbilt jazz program honored by ‘DownBeat’ magazine 

    Blair School of Music’s budding jazz program earned top ranking in the category of Best Blues/Pop/Rock Group for "Commercial Break," a self-titled debut album written and recorded by an ensemble of Vanderbilt undergraduates. Read More

    Apr 28, 2020

  • The Blair Big Band (Susan Urmy/Vanderbilt)

    Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music Big Band named best student jazz ensemble

    Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music has been recognized by "DownBeat" magazine’s 42nd Annual Student Music Awards. The Blair Big Band was named best undergraduate large jazz ensemble. Read More

    May 8, 2019

  • Senior David Rodgers was photographed at The Toy Box Studio in Nashville. (Susan Urmy/Vanderbilt)

    Class of 2017: David Rodgers is composing a life in music

    Blair School of Music senior David Rodgers is graduating with a newly released album of jazz originals he composed, arranged and performed, as well as a spot in the touring band of Grammy Award-winning blues musicians Keb’ Mo’ and Taj Mahal. Read More

    Mar 14, 2017

  • Vanderbilt University

    Accolades

    • The Blair Big Band, directed by Ryan Middagh, director of jazz studies, was invited to play the recent annual conference of the Jazz Education Network, the professional organization for jazz musicians and jazz educators, in New Orleans. The conference features the finest professional and educational jazz musicians and… Read More

    Mar 7, 2017

  • Vanderbilt University

    Blair Big Band chosen to play at national jazz conference

    The Blair Big Band, directed by Ryan Middagh, has been selected to play at the Jazz Education Network national conference. Read More

    Dec 21, 2016

  • Vanderbilt University

    Building a Jazz Culture

    Jeff Coffin and Ryan Middagh work with the Blair Big Band Local music industry fuels expansion of program Nashville may be best known for country music, but the moniker “Music City” most accurately reflects the proliferation of stellar musicians in town who play all types of music. At Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music, Ryan Middagh, director… Read More

    May 13, 2016