BRATTLEBORO- Famed jazz guitarist,Peter Bernstein will appear with his trio in a concert honoring the Vermont Jazz Center’s founder, Attila Zoller on April 17 at 8 pm. Bernstein is a peripatetic traveler, close to impossible to pin down. The program planned for this concert will give Bernstein the opportunity to revisit the compositions of his teacher, Attila Zoller, a prolific writer whose works have been recorded by Lee Konitz, Pat Metheny, Jim Hall, Herbie Mann, and many others. Compelling melodies can be found in virtually all of Zoller’s compositions no matter what their style, be they modal (“Memories of Pannonia”), tunes based on jazz standards (“A Thousand Dreams”), or bebop lines (“Homage to O.P.”). Even Zoller’s “free” compositions, such as “Explorations,” begin with clear melodies that then unfold into spontaneous discourse; his playing was always intentional and demonstrated true melodic content. Even when he played “out,” Attila was “in.”

The trio Bernstein has assembled includes bassist Neal Miner, who has been claimed by the All Music Guide to be “one of the new breed who has broadened the lyrical and harmonic concepts and technical skills of a Red Mitchell, Ray Brown or George Mraz to the point that his playing is basically seamless.” Miner has accompanied jazz legends such as Annie Ross, James Moody, Bob Dorough, Bill Henderson, Frank Wess; new jazz stars like Jane Monheit, Stacey Kent, Ann Hampton Callaway, Dena DeRose, Loston Harris; and fashion celebrity and TV personality Isaac Mizrahi. Neal has also held the bass chair in large groups such as the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra, Carnegie Hall Big Band, and the Village Vanguard Jazz Band.

The drummer in Bernstein’s trio is Tobias Gebb who has performed with Bobby Watson, Cab Calloway, Ryan Kisor, Buster Williams, Duane Burno, Antonio Hart, Ben Monder, Curtis Lundy, Joel Frahm, Ron Blake, Joe Magnarelli, Ugonna Okegwo, and many others. Gebb collaborated with legendary producer Phil Ramone and Lenny Kravitz creating history by being the first musicians to be downloaded over the Internet through Ramone’s pioneering “liquid audio” campaign. Gebb has also performed with Matchbox 20, Chumbawamba, and Joan Jett. He is the owner of Yummyhouse Records and his original project, “Tobias Gebb and Trio West - An Upper Westside Story” was given “Honorable Mention” by The Village Voice, ranked in the top 10 of 2008 by the Association of Jazz Journalists and featured in Jazz Improv Magazine.

Tickets are $20 general admission, $15 for students with valid ID. To purchase using a credit card visit the VJC Web site at www.vtjazz.org and order using their secure server. Tickets can also be purchased at In the Moment in downtown Brattleboro, or can be reserved by calling the VJC ticket line at (802) 254 9088, ext.1. A surcharge of $1 per ticket will be added to all tickets purchased with a credit card, online, or by phone. This concert is handicap accessible: please call to discuss arrangements.