2014 Aug 1, Friday 4:00 – 6:00 pm Main Stage South

Corey Kendrick

Corey Kendrick

Corey Kendrick is currently pursuing a Master’s in Jazz Studies at Michigan State University, where he teaches improvisation, jazz piano lab, and applied jazz piano as a graduate assistant. He previously taught jazz piano and directed the jazz combo program at Black Hawk College in Illinois. Kendrick has performed at the Iowa City Jazz Festival, the Detroit Jazz Festival, the East Lansing Summer Solstice Jazz Festival and the Black Hawk College Jazz Festival. He is an in-demand performer and clinician and has worked with artists such as Tom Kennedy, Sachal Vasandani, Rodney Whitaker, and Etienne Charles.

A second trio member is Joe Vasquez on bass. Joe is dedicated to keeping the jazz tradition of music alive, as he advances through MSU’s Jazz Studies, now beginning his master’s program. During his four years as a double bass player, he has taken the stage at local events like the Lansing and Summer Solstice Jazz Festivals, but also traveled throughout North America and to Trinidad and Tobago, playing with such artists as Dwight Adams, Etienne Charles, Adam Rongo, Anthony Stanco, and Diego Rivera.

Rounding out the trio is drummer Judson Branam, IV, another product of MSU music studies. Judson Branam IV has been a performing drummer ever since he began playing at the age of seven. Recently graduating with his bachelor’s degree in jazz studies from Michigan State University, Branam has performed alongside the likes of Etienne Charles, Rodney Whitaker, Michael Dease, and Diego Rivera, amongst many others. Drawing influence from all styles and sources, Branam cites Philly Joe Jones, Elvin Jones, Max Roach, Chris Dave, and Calvin Rodgers as his primary drumming influences.