HAMPDEN - Acclaimed jazz trumpeter Ingrid Jensen is scheduled to appear in residency next week with Hampden Academy jazz students as part of the Jazz Residency Initiative, a non-profit organization which coordinates artists-in-residency with schools.

Legendary jazz musician to play the Collins Center on Jan. 15

WATERVILLE - Annie Ross was a founding member of Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, considered the greatest jazz vocal ensemble of all time. Now 82 years young, Ross will be accompanied by her pianist, Tardo Hammer. Ross is one of the early practitioners of a singing style known as 'vocalese,' which involves the setting of original lyrics to an instrumental jazz solo. Ross's visit to MIFF is part of a special 'Celebrating Altman' program honoring the work of one of America's greatest directors, Robert Altman, with whom Ross worked as an actress in and creator of the soundtrack for his ensemble film masterpiece, 'Short Cuts.'

'By and large, jazz has always been like the kind of a man you wouldn't want your daughter to associate with.'

-Duke Ellington

For much of my life, I believed that there are two significant genres of music; anything by the Allman Brothers Band and anything that had the word 'booty' in it. Well friends, I stand corrected. Little did I know my musical horizons would be broadened on a Tuesday night in Bangor, ME.

Thanks to Wells Gordon, his jazz quartet the G Majors, and their perfect venue Nocturnem Draft Haus, I've become a believer. A big ol' finger-snapping believer.