Carmen Intorre Jr.
Drummer Carmen Intorre Jr. will visit SUNY Fredonia for a master class and performances.
Mr. Intorre will discuss his wide-ranging expertise with students and perform both on and off campus with the members of the Fredonia faculty and the Fredonia Jazz Flextet.
Support for the visit includes the Carnahan Jackson Humanities Fund through the Fredonia College Foundation, with additional support from the Fredonia Jazz Workshop and the Fredonia Jazz Society.
Intorre developed an early interest in music and began playing drums at age 5. He has performed and recorded with musicians including George Benson, Larry Coryell, Wynton Marsalis, Monty Alexander, George Coleman, Eric Alexander, George Cables, Benny Golson, Richie Cole, Joe Locke, Lew Tabackin, Bobby Watson, Ira Sullivan, Bucky Pizzarelli and many others. He currently holds down the drum chair with legendary jazz guitarist Pat Martino, touring extensively throughout the world with the guitarist's organ trio and quintet.
A 2011 GRAMMY® nominee for his co-producer credit on the critically acclaimed album by Joey DeFrancesco, “Never Can Say Goodbye: The Music of Michael Jackson,” Intorre also performed alongside DeFrancesco and Dr. Lonnie Smith on the PBS show “Legends of Jazz,” hosted by Ramsey Lewis.
Receiving both his B.M. and M.M. degrees from the Juilliard School of Music, Intorre is always eager to uncover the latest information about music and drumming and to share that information with others. He noted, “This is my job. I have to give back what I was given a chance to do.” He continued, "Music is an opportunity for me to give up my soul, while in the process connecting with the audience’s souls as well. I want the musicians on the bandstand and the members of the audience to feel uplifted after a performance, to feel great about themselves through the experience that they encountered.”
While in Fredonia, Intorre will be involved in the several events. All on-campus events are free and open to the campus and community.
- Thursday, March 5; 5:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. – performances at Domus Fare as part of the Fredonia Jazz Society series with Elliot Scozzaro, Dr. Nick Weiser and Kieran Hanlon.
- Friday, March 6; 11:00 a.m. – Master Class (Jazz/Percussion) in Mason Hall Room 1080, Mason Hall, SUNY Fredonia; 7 p.m. – Show at Pausa Art House in Buffalo, NY, with Mr. Scozzaro, Mark Filsinger, Dr. Weiser and Mr. Hanlon.
- Saturday, March 7; 12:30 p.m. – Fredonia Jazz Workshop Jam Session, Mason Hall Room 1075, SUNY Fredonia; 8 p.m. – Performance with the Fredonia Jazz Flextet in the Juliet J. Rosch Recital Hall on the SUNY Fredonia campus.
