Greetings from New York City, where tonight a Berklee student ensemble, the Berklee Greg Osby Sextet, will be playing Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola. Part of the Jazz at Lincoln Center presenting organization, and located in the Time Warner Building in Columbus Circle, Dizzy’s hosts a Monday night series in which they present up-and-comers, and that’s called Upstarts!
It was just about a year ago that I began talking with J@LC Artistic Director Todd Barkan, and Laura Johnson, who oversees programming for the organization, about presenting Berklee music here. They were excited to have some of our best students on the series, we agreed a date, and the night has finally come!
Prof. Osby has assembled a remarkable group from Berklee’s best jazz players, each rather a star in their own right, who work with him as an ensemble, a weekly course, throughout the semester. Melissa Aldana, from Chile, is the tenor saxophonist. Joe Dyson, from New Orleans, is the drummer. Roy Guzman, from Puerto Rico, is the guitarist. On alto saxophone, we have Grace Kelly, who is from Brookline, Massachusetts. Max Moran, from New Orleans, is our bassist. And Michael Palma, from Irving, Texas, is the pianist.
Perhaps we’ll get to read some of their experiences working under a master like Greg this semester, and their impressions of playing at Dizzy’s Club.

Leader/Prof. Greg Osby, Melissa Aldana, Michael Palma, Grace Kelly, Joe Dyson, Max Moran, and Roy Guzman.
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