Several NEC Alumni Recognized in the 72nd DownBeat Annual Critics Poll

This past July, DownBeat released the results of their 72nd Annual Critics Poll, recognizing many jazz musicians who are also NEC alumni! The leading highlight includes Darcy James Argue '02 MM as #1 Arranger.

Other recognized contenders and categories include:

• Brandon Seabrook '99
        - Rising Star Guitar 

• Brian Landrus '07 MM
        - Baritone Saxophone

• Carmen Staaf '05
        - Rising Star Jazz Artist, Rising Star Piano

• Chris Speed '99
        - Clarinet, Rising Star Tenor Sax

• Dan Blake '04
        - Rising Star Soprano Sax

• Darcy James Argue '02 MM
        - Composer
        - Jazz Album of the Year: Dynamic Maximum Tension (Nonesuch)
        - Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society; Big Band

• David Sanford '89 MM
        - David Sanford Big Band; Rising Star Big Band

• Dominique Eade '82, '89 AD
        - Female Vocalist

• Don Byron '84
        - Clarinet

• DoYeon Kim '16 MM
        - Rising Star Miscellaneous Instrument

• Eric Hofbauer '98 MM
        - Rising Star Guitar

• Frank Carlberg '92 Large Ensemble
        - Big Band

• Fred Hersch '77
        - Artist of the Year, Piano, Composer
        - Fred Hersch Trio; Jazz Group

• Jaimie Branch '05
        - Rising Star Composer
        - Jazz Album of the Year: Fly Or Die Fly Or Die Fly Or Die ((world war)) (International Anthem)

• Jamie Baum '81
        - Flute

• Jason Palmer '07
        - Trumpet

• JC Sanford '97 MM, '01 DMA
        - Rising Star Trombone

• Jeremy Udden '03 MM
        - Rising Star Alto Sax

• John Medeski '88
        - Keyboards, Organ

• Jorge Roeder '05
        - Rising Star Electric Bass

• Josh Sinton '03 MM
        - Baritone Saxophone

• Kevin Sun '15 MM Harvard/NEC
        - Rising Star Tenor Sax

• Lolly Allen '96
        - Rising Star Vibraphone

• Luciana Souza '94 MM
        - Female Vocalist
        - Luciana Souza and Trio Corrente, Cometa (Sunnyside); Jazz Album of the Year

• Marty Ehrlich '77
        - Clarinet, Flute

• Mat Maneri '15
        - Violin 

• Matana Roberts '03 MM
        - Alto Saxophone, Clarinet

• Michael Mayo '14
        - Rising Star Male Vocalist

• Max Light '15
         - Rising Star Guitar

• Noah Preminger '08, '16 MM
        - Tenor Saxophone, Rising Star Flute, Rising Star Arranger

• Ryan Truesdell '06 MM
        - Arranger, Rising Star Producer

• Sara Serpa '08 MM
        - Female Vocalist

• Satoko Fujii '96 GD
        - Piano, Composer
        - Satoko Fujii Orchestra; Big Band

• Tupac Mantilla '07 MM
        - Rising Star Percussion

• Wendy Eisenberg '16 MM
        - Rising Star Guitar

Congratulations to all of these incredible alumni!