Trill 101: A Groundbreaking Jazz Collaboration at Skidmore College

The Arthur Zankel Music Center at Skidmore College will present the world premiere of “Trill 101” on Saturday, March 1 at 8 p.m., a groundbreaking multidisciplinary performance by Brooklyn-based composer, vocalist, and instrumentalist Melanie Charles and her Make Jazz Trill Again (MJTA) collective.

This free, public concert is the culmination of a year-long artistic collaboration between Charles, her band, and Skidmore students across music, dance, and the humanities.

Commissioned by the Arthur Zankel Music Center, “Trill 101” is the first original artistic project curated and produced by the venue itself, made possible through generous support from trustee Jimmy Zankel ’92, Pia Scala-Zankel ’92, and the Zanekl Music Fund. The performance highlights Zankel Music Center’s expanding role as a creative incubator, engaging artists and students in the collaborative process of developing new work.

“It’s about making space for new ideas, about challenging structures through dialogue and experimentation. When we commissioned Melanie to bring MJTA to Skidmore, we created so much more than just a powerful performance together – we built a community.”

– Zhenelle LeBel, Director of the Arthur Zankel Music Center

The March 1 premiere will feature Charles and her powerhouse collaborators – Zacchae’us Paul on keys, Rogerst Charles on saxophone, Barry Stephenson on bass, Bendji Allonce on percussion, and Diego Ramirez on drums – alongside Skidmore student singers, musicians, and dancers. Their collective performance will blend original compositions with a richly layered medley of Afro-diasporic rhythms and Black spirituals, including “Deep River.”

Adding to the experience, video interludes produced by the Troy-based creative agency Collectiveeffort will provide a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process, showcasing the student-driven workshops, jam sessions, and mentorship moments that shaped the project.

“Trill 101” is presented in partnership with the Skidmore Department of Music and the Skidmore Office of Special Programs, with co-sponsorship from Black Studies, Gender Studies, Intergroup Relations, IdeaLab, Arts Administration, Management and Business, and collaborators in the dance and theater departments. For more information, click here.