The 9th Annual JazzBuffalo Poll recognizes alumni and faculty

Several SUNY Fredonia alumni and current contingent faculty in the School of Music were recognized in the 9th Annual JazzBuffalo Poll. Winners were selected by the jazz community and jazz enthusiasts.

• Contingent faculty member Elliot Scozzaro was recognized for Jazz Alto Saxophone and Jazz Accompaniment (flute). He was also named the Jazz Rising Star and John Hunt Jazz Artist of the Year. 
• Contingent faculty member Griffith “Kaz” Kazmierczak was recognized as runner-up for Jazz Trumpet.
• Former contingent faculty member Brendan Lanighan was recognized for Jazz Trombone and for Jazz CD/EP Release with the Brendan Lanighan Octet for, “A Little Optimism.” Lanighan left SUNY Fredonia last fall after winning the trombone audition for Airmen of Note with the U.S. Air Force. The runner up in the Jazz Trombone category was John Hasselback Jr., Class of 1993 (music ed.). John was also runner-up in the Middle School/High School Educator category.
• Ed Croft, Class of 2013 (music ed.) was recognized for Jazz Upright Bass and as runner-up for Jazz Electric Bass. He was also runner-up as a member of the trio in Most Memorable Jazz Performance for “A Charlie Brown Christmas” at the Seneca One Auditorium.
• Current contingent faculty member Alec Dube, Class of 2012 (music perf.) was recognized for Jazz Vibes and contingent faculty member Jamie Sunshine, Class of 2013 (music perf.) was runner-up. Sunshine was also runner-up for Jazz Percussion.
• Current contingent faculty member John Bacon Jr., Class of 2006 (music perf.) was recognized for Jazz Drums, as runner-up in the Jazz Classic Standard Group as a member of the John Bacon Quintet, and runner-up for Jazz CD/LP Release for “Revolution Blues” as a member of the quintet. He was also recognized as College/University Educator.
• The Easy Street Big Band, led by alumnus Wayne Blumrick, Class of 1977, (music ed.) was recognized for Jazz Big Band. Eight members of the 18-piece band are SUNY Fredonia graduates, ranging from the Class of 1977 to Class of 2015.
• Phil Aguglia, Class of 1998 (music ed.), was recognized as Middle School/High School Educator.