Summertime, And The Campin’ Is Jazzy
Griffin Kelleher exemplifies the talented students making jazz camp a regular event
Griffin Kelleher is one of the top student guitarists in New England, and summer jazz camp is a regular endeavor for him (photo courtesy John Kelleher)
Sixteen-year-old Griffin Kelleher is in many ways a typical teenager. He goes to school, he has a summer job, and he’s starting to think about what he would like to study in college.
Griffin, who lives with his family in Hingham, MA, is also an extremely talented guitarist, with no fewer than 10 awards from Downbeat for both solo and ensemble performances across various genres since 2021. As one might expect, he spends a lot of time studying music. During the school year, he studies jazz three times a week at Milton Academy, where he is a rising junior, plays in a South Shore Conservatory scholarship-endowed rock band called Jodka, and spends a good part of his Saturdays – six hours or so – at New England Conservatory, studying guitar and drums, ear training, and participating in ensembles and youth jazz orchestra.
And in the summer? Well, that’s time for jazz camp in the Kelleher household. Griffin has already participated in two camps in New England, the New England Conservatory’s Jazz Lab and Litchfield Jazz Camp, and told 8495Jazz the camp experience offers another vital and enjoyable component to his musical journey.
Considering how many awards he has won already, Griffin is no glory hound. Yes, many if not most camps require audition material, and he has applied to camps with prestige attached, but to Grif, it’s about playing with others, getting new experiences, and a continuous learning process.
Were he to offer advice to other musicians looking for a camp, he said “I would look for a camp that values ensemble time. We can practice so much and get our scales down and listen to all the records, but you won’t be able to play with people unless you have actual time with them. The camps I’ve enjoyed the most have had the most ensemble time rather than theory. That’s great to learn, but it’s something you can do outside that kind of setting.”
He has applied to two camps this summer and did his homework as to why; he applied to, and has been accepted at, the Stanford Jazz Institute’s camp because of a very strong guitar faculty, particularly Dan Wilson, who played with the late organ maestro Joey DeFrancesco. He applied to, and is waiting to hear from, the Lincoln Center Summer Jazz Academy after an inspirational trip to New York, which included hitting up some of the city’s jazz clubs.
For Grif, the prestige behind the names is nice, but is secondary to the opportunity to stretch a little, musically and experientially.
“I feel like a lot of musicians have a goal is to get into whatever, when it should just be to always be getting better on their instrument. It is helpful to be outmatched just a bit. Not so much to the point where you’re struggling to keep up, but it’s good to go to a place where you haven’t had experience, so you can learn their style and how they go about things.”
For example, he said, his jazz teacher at Milton Academy, Jared Sims, talks about how Boston area drummers solo using the song’s melody as the guide – “in New York, it’s different. I feel like that kind of aspect is important to get, going to other places and playing with people above your level.”
As he gets set for his junior year, Grif said college plans are just beginning, and he wants to stretch himself intellectually as well as musically.
“I know I’m definitely not going to just major in music alone, but I hope I’m able to do a double major or minor – I like science and math. Then again, I know music will always be a part of my life. So even if I don’t major or minor in it, I’m still going to be playing.”
A jazz camp checklist
Summer jazz camp might help a young musician decide to pursue music as a career. Then again, even if it doesn’t, the experience can be life-changing on a much higher plane. No less a jazz luminary than Emmet Cohen recently told 8495Jazz what his time at Litchfield Jazz Camp meant to him: “People were so generous with their time and information,” Emmet said. “It was as much learning about being a human being as it was about music.”
There are still spots open in New England jazz camps this summer. If you know a young (or even older) jazz student who might like or love a camp experience, check these out:
Litchfield Jazz Camp: Founded in 1997, Litchfield Jazz Camp now serves 70-150 residential and day students each week for 1- to 4-week sessions on the campus of The Frederick Gunn School in Washington, CT, with the first session starting June 29. The non-competitive camp accepts musicians of all levels ages 13 through adult, and features top-notch faculty members – in fact, camp instructors (who are also camp alums) are not strangers to taking home Grammy Awards. Each session culminates in student concerts. As an added bonus for both camp attendees and local residents, the camp faculty also presents concerts Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights of each session.
And, though most campers at Litchfield are 13-17 years old, there is no upper age limit. Adult campers are welcome!
All the information you need on Litchfield Jazz Camp is here. (Note, slots for drums and piano are full for all sessions, as is bass for sessions 1-2.)
Newport Jazz Summer Camp at Salve Regina University: The Newport Jazz Summer Camp at Salve Regina, which runs from July 25-August 2, is for high school students ages 14-18.
“This year's camp will include performance master classes focusing on jazz theory and improvisation, small ensembles and big band, culminating in a final recording project,” camp organizers say in their promotional material. “Students will learn directly from experienced music educators and festival artists, and the camp will conclude with each student performing on stage at the legendary Newport Jazz Festival.”
A placement audition recording and full tuition must accompany all applications. Camp organizers hope to receive all applications by July 10. Payment plans and financial assistance are available.
For more information on the Newport camp, click here.
New England Conservatory Jazz Lab: Jazz Lab is a week-long creative music program running from June 29 – July 5. Musicians ages 13–18 work with world-class faculty and guest artists in small ensembles, instrumental workshops, and masterclasses, as well as listening to top-notch professional performances. Applications are now being accepted on a rolling basis as space allows.
Click here for more information on NEC Jazz Lab.
Maine Jazz Camp: The 2025 session will be held July 6-12 at Colby College in Waterville. The camp’s target audiences are high school and middle school students; “however, college students and adults are most welcome,” camp organizers say. Upon arrival, students are auditioned by faculty and are placed in an ensemble. Ensembles meet twice daily, working on jazz repertoire, improvisational concepts and ensemble playing. Faculty concerts are featured during the week, and student concerts open to the public take place Friday evening and Saturday morning.
For more information on Maine Jazz Camp, click here.
Griffin Kelleher on guitar leads a quartet through a version of Roy Hargrove’s grooving “Strasbourg/St. Denis” at a retirement community in greater Boston. (video courtesy John Kelleher)
Out and About with 8495Jazz
To alleviate confusion, ticket prices quoted now mention service fees as included or as additional; if fees are not mentioned, there are none to our knowledge. Because fees differ according to ticket type, service fee amounts are not included here but are available on venue web sites.
These listings are a curated sampling of shows in the region. As an independent resource for jazz news, 8495Jazz does not receive any consideration, free tickets, or affiliate fees for these listings. Please confirm events are still happening directly with the venue.
8495Jazz Wild Card Gig of the Week
Elicit Brewing Co., Manchester, CT
Hartford Jazz Orchestra w/s/g Gary Smulyan (bari sax), Monday, June 2, 7:30 pm. Free.
8495Jazz Spur of the Moment Gig TODAY
Pump House Music Works, S. Kingstown, RI
The Ellingston Collective Tribute to Duke Ellington, 7 pm, all ages, $30.
Other Shows This Week
Real Art Ways, Hartford, CT
Burnt Sugar The Arkestra Chamber (eclectic combo), Friday, June 6, 7 pm. Free.
Reason & Ruckus, Poughkeepsie, NY
Ben Basile (bass, combo), Benergy Album Release Show, Friday, June 6, 6:30 pm.
VFW Post 399, Westport, CT
Melissa Newman (vocals, combo), Thursday, June 5, 7:30 and 8:45 pm. $10.76 - $20.76. $12.
The Side Door, Old Lyme, CT
George Cables Trio (piano, combo), Friday, June 6 and Saturday, June 7, 8 pm. All ages, GA $65.04, students $33.27 including service fee.
Jazz Forum Arts, Tarrytown, NY
Hendrik Meurkens Samba Jazz Quintet (harmonica, combo) feat. Portinho, today, 4 and 6 pm. GA $27.25 including service fee.
Firehouse 12, New Haven, CT
Joe Fonda Quartet (bass, combo), Friday, June 6, 8:30 pm ($20) and 10 pm ($15).
Scullers, Boston, MA
Dave Stryker Quartet (guitar, combo), Saturday, June 7, 7 pm. All ages, GA $42.45 - $59.25 including service fees.
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.
Carmine’s, East Hartford, CT
Paisley’s All Star Memorial Jam, 3rd Tuesday of the month, 7:30 pm. House band set followed by jam. Free.
Mahoney’s, Poughkeepsie, NY
Poughkeepsie Jazz Project, every Tuesday, 7 pm. Free.
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.
8495Jazz takes its name from the two Interstate highways that cross our region, I-84 and I-95. Within short driving distances from either, you can find incredible entertainment, from local jams to world-famous festivals in New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. 8495Jazz: From Newburgh to Newport!
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