Eugene Uman
Eugene Uman (piano, keyboards) has performed with such stars as Attila Zoller, Valery Ponomarev, Sonny Fortune, Sheila Jordan, Jay Clayton, Bobby Sanabria, and Bo Diddley. For several years his compositions fueled the experimental trio Ambassadors of Light, with bassist Jamie MacDonald and drummer Claire Arenius. Eugene has also written for musical ensembles ranging from big band to rock to symphony orchestra—his commissioned work for the Windham Symphony premiered in January 2008. Three of Eugene’s Latin jazz originals were recorded by Sammy Figueroa for his 2005 Grammy Nominated CD, In Walked Sammy.
Eugene is the Artistic/Educational director of the Vermont Jazz Center, based in Brattleboro. Under his guidance, the VJC has grown into an esteemed concert venue where performances by high-level jazz artists are complemented by community outreach and educational programs. The VJC’s renowned summer jazz workshop attracts students from around the world. In addition, Eugene is Adjunct Instructor of Music at Amherst College, teaching jazz theory, composition, and piano; he also teaches music at the Governor’s Institute of the Arts.
Along with extensive travels in South America, Eugene spent the year 2007 in Medellín, Colombia, where he co-founded Medellín’s Festival de Jazz and initiated the jazz studies program at the Universidad EAFIT.
Eugene received his M.A. in Jazz Performance and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Queens College in New York, where he received a Eubie Blake Scholarship. He has studied piano with Sir Roland Hanna, Kenny Barron, Barry Harris, and Ran Blake, composition with Jimmy Heath, and jazz theory with Dave Liebman, among others.
Eugene is the Artistic/Educational director of the Vermont Jazz Center, based in Brattleboro. Under his guidance, the VJC has grown into an esteemed concert venue where performances by high-level jazz artists are complemented by community outreach and educational programs. The VJC’s renowned summer jazz workshop attracts students from around the world. In addition, Eugene is Adjunct Instructor of Music at Amherst College, teaching jazz theory, composition, and piano; he also teaches music at the Governor’s Institute of the Arts.
Along with extensive travels in South America, Eugene spent the year 2007 in Medellín, Colombia, where he co-founded Medellín’s Festival de Jazz and initiated the jazz studies program at the Universidad EAFIT.
Eugene received his M.A. in Jazz Performance and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Queens College in New York, where he received a Eubie Blake Scholarship. He has studied piano with Sir Roland Hanna, Kenny Barron, Barry Harris, and Ran Blake, composition with Jimmy Heath, and jazz theory with Dave Liebman, among others.