March 1 at The Zankel:  Premiere of “Trill 101,” a Free, Multidisciplinary Jazz Performance 

SARATOGA SPRINGS— At 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, the Arthur Zankel Music Center at Skidmore College will present the world premiere of “Trill 101,” a groundbreaking multidisciplinary performance by Brooklyn-based composer, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist Melanie Charles and her Make Jazz Trill Again (MJTA) collective. 

The free public concert is the culmination of a year-long artistic collaboration between Charles, her band, and Skidmore students across music, dance, and the humanities. 

The March 1 premiere will feature Charles and her collaborators — Zacchaeus Paul (keys), Rogerst Charles (saxophone), Barry Stephenson (bass), Bendji Allonce (percussion), and Diego Ramirez (drums) — alongside Skidmore student singers, musicians, and dancers. Their collective performance will blend original compositions with a richly layered medley of Afro-diasporic rhythms and Black spirituals, including “Deep River.” 

Adding to the experience, video interludes produced by the Troy-based creative agency Collectiveffort will provide a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process, showcasing the student-driven workshops, jam sessions, and mentorship moments that shaped the project. 

Charles is a Brooklyn-based composer, singer, flutist, and multi-instrumentalist known for her innovative fusion of jazz, soul, and Haitian roots music. Her work reimagines jazz for contemporary audiences while uplifting marginalized voices. Charles first introduced MJTA to Skidmore in February 2024.  Admission to Trill 101 is free and open to the public.