Jazz and Man at Yale
Ethan Kyzivat was “instrumental” in keeping the art alive on College Street
Members of the Yale Undergraduate Jazz Collective jam a little in the lounge. That’s Ethan Kyzivat on piano. (YUJC file photo)
You don’t have to be a professional musician, club owner, or festival organizer to be a jazz hero. You just have to love the music.
Ethan Kyzivat embodies that. His “day job” as a post-doctoral researcher at Harvard University entails scientific analysis of satellite data from methane emissions in remote locales to help mitigate carbon buildup in the atmosphere. But his passion for strengthening the jazz community at Yale University while he was an undergraduate there is already a manifestation of his efforts to make life a little better for others.
He now lives in Providence, where he got his PhD from Brown University, and he almost did his undergrad there, too – ironically, because of jazz.
“The main reason I would have chosen Brown for undergrad was because it had an established jazz program – you could take lessons with a combo, there were several student combos and a big band, and at Yale there was only a big band,” Ethan, a pianist, told 8495Jazz. “So that was a tough decision.”
Indeed, jazz at Yale was in a relatively dormant state when Ethan arrived on campus, and within the “official” channels of the university, things got so thin the Yale Jazz Ensemble was on hiatus for the 2015-16 academic year. But to Ethan and like-minded musicians on campus, both students and faculty, jazz was not dead.
Through his efforts as a co-founder of the Yale Undergraduate Jazz Collective – and he is quick to point out, the efforts of others in the organization and committed faculty members who kept pushing for more jazz education resources – that nadir has long passed. In 2016, shortly after Ethan graduated, the university brought in Grammy-winning saxophonist Wayne Escoffery, who grew up in New Haven, to direct the jazz ensembles and teach. In a 2020 interview with Downbeat, Wayne said “I really think a big part of the reason that the jazz initiative got started at Yale was [because of] the students’ desire and activism. That’s something they really need to be acknowledged for.”
And the jazz infrastructure at Yale is growing ever more robust – beginning in September, the university’s recognized ensembles, including the jazz ensemble, became considered “co-curricular,” meaning that, as classes (albeit no credit pass/fail courses) they no longer need to take a back seat in scheduling conflicts with other classes or activities.
The collective, which is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit independent of the university, has also been consistent in its activities; they offer fully subsidized lessons to any Yale undergrad, taught by pro jazz musicians such as longtime Litchfield Jazz Camp teacher Peter McEachern on trombone, Jeff Fuller on bass, and Jeremy Pelt on trumpet. They hold on-campus concerts with established and rising professional jazz musicians as well as student musicians. They just announced the 12th annual Yale jazz festival coming January 23-25, 2025.
Ethan, who is still an alumni board member of the collective, also served on the board of Jazz Haven, the New Haven area’s non-profit jazz organization. He said a couple slight hiccups emerged in establishing a stronger tie between the Yale jazz community and the thriving scene in the city. One was the obstacle students under 21 found in getting access to shows at bars.
“And a comment we got from a public hosting event with the collective was that a lot of things were behind key card access and wrought iron gates that made it hard for the public to attend our events,” he said. “But both parties have made an effort and it is definitely an area that can still be worked on.”
He is not aware of any correlate organization to Jazz Haven in Providence, but his passion for music hasn’t waned at all. He plays in the monthly First Sunday jazz jam at The Parlour – he says it’s conveniently within walking distance of his house. He also put together “a little scrappy band” with friends and family and played the Providence Porchfest in June.
As he pursues an academic tenure track career, he said his music has shifted from what he called “an obligatory activity” to a vital component of helping him keep perspective on life. As a scientist, he is regularly reminded of the connections between music and the physical world around us, citing The Jazz of Physics, coincidentally written by Brown professor Stephon Alexander, as an example of how the disciplines complement each other.
“He wrote about being at a bar listening to jazz, then he would immediately come up with the idea for his next paper. I wouldn’t say I’ve been in quite that situation. But absolutely, that sort of abstract thinking that is so different from the data-informed and logical scientific thinking really opens up a space, almost like stretching muscles that haven’t been used all day. It’s almost like an emotional counterbalance to the work I do during the day. It’s become both more optional in the sense that I am not accountable to do any music, but also more essential because without it I lose a big support structure for myself.
“I used to be so scared of the thought that I had hit my peak ability and it was behind me – and what would happen if I became one of those adults who gave up music because life got in the way. That was always my fear. I mentioned that once to a mentor and he said ‘So what? What’s so bad if you stop playing?’ And I said it might be forever, and he said he doubted it would be forever. Life would hit me but I would always have music.”
Indeed, he does. In fact, he has expanded his playing interests beyond classical and jazz piano to other instruments, including the chromatic harmonica and the accordion.
“In the last few years I have become more curious about other instruments and other forms of music,” he said. “I have friends who are interested in folk and rock and jamming. So for that reason I started learning more portable instruments, because you can’t really bring a piano to a campfire.”
Ethan and other YUJC members perform “Made in the Toy Age",” one of his original songs.
8495Jazz Spur of the Moment Jaunt TODAY
The Parlour, Providence, RI
Holly Channell Trio Jazzy Christmas (drums, combo), 6 pm. $10. All ages show.
Other Shows This Week
Elicit Brewing Co., Manchester, CT
Hartford Jazz Orchestra w? Dina DiMarco (vocals) , Mon., Dec. 23, 7:30 pm. Free.
Side Door, Old Lyme, CT
Olli Soikkeli Trio (guitar, combo), Friday, Dec. 27, 8 pm. $45 ($20 students).
Loston Harris Trio (piano, combo), Saturday, Dec. 28, 8 pm. $50 ($20 students).
New Year’s Merriment
Plenty of mirth and jazzy jocularity abounding on New Year’s Eve...Side Door in Old Lyme is featuring two sets with Giacomo Gates (the 8:30 show is sold out, but still tix remaining for the 10:45 set, includes free champagne toast). Uncle Cheef in Brewster, NY brings in guitar wizard Rodney Jones with Joy Brown singing (doors 7:30, sets at 9 and 11, one ticket reserves seat for the evening). If you’re heading to Boston for Dec. 31, Scullers brings in saxophonist Andre Ward, sets at 8:30 and 11.
I may go out on my front porch and play Auld Lang Syne. I may not. So these other gigs are probably a better bet.
Jams
Cafe Nine, New Haven CT
New Haven Jazz Underground jam, usually 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month: free admission
Saturday jazz jam most Saturdays, 4 pm. Free.
Blackeyed Sally’s, Hartford, CT
Jazz Wednesdays, featured set 7 pm, jam session afterward.
Jazz Societies and Organizations (great info on events, festivals, and more)
Jazz Society of Fairfield County
Jazz Fridays at Three Sheets New Haven 1st/3rd Fridays from 6-9pm
Jazz Thursdays at The Cannon New Haven every other thurs from 7-9pm.
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Please note: 8495Jazz will not be published next week, so we can recharge for the holidays and get a little planning in for the new year. To our readers, and to the jazz community, thank you for so warmly accepting us. Happy holidays!