Blair Big Band performs at Lincoln Center

Blair Big Band

 Photo: Gabriela Bhaskar for Jazz at Lincoln Center

Anyone worried about the future of jazz and improvisational music — especially if you’re under the impression that big-band music is the sole domain of ghost bands fronted by relatives of deceased giants — need look no further than the Blair Big Band at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music. A critically acclaimed unit consisting entirely of undergraduate musicians, the Blair Big Band can match solo and collective prowess with any similar entity either nationwide or around the globe. Band director Ryan Middagh is highly respected and well-known in both the academic and performance communities within the jazz world, and he places equal emphasis on mastering classic compositions while maintaining a fresh, modern sound. The Blair Big Band’s list of honors and achievements range from winning multiple DownBeat Student Music Awards to being tapped for appearances at jazz education conferences and state department tours — their next one is scheduled for Colombia in 2026.

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