Presentation about jazz in Ripon and east central Wisconsin.
Kurt Dietrich will present on jazz in Ripon and east central Wisconsin.
Kurt Dietrich retired as Professor of Music and Barbara Baldwin De Frees Professor of Performing Arts at Ripon College at the end of the 2018-19 school year, where he taught since 1980. Dietrich graduated from Lawrence University, where he studied with Marge Irvin, Derald DeYoung and John Harmon and played in the band of the legendary Fred “Prof” Schroeder. He received his master’s degree from Northwestern University, where he studied trombone with another legend, Chicago Symphony trombonist Frank Crisafulli. He earned his doctorate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
His first book, Duke’s ‘Bones: Ellington’s Great Trombonists, was published in 1995. His second book, Jazz ‘Bones: The World of Jazz Trombone, appeared in 2005. His recent book, Wisconsin Riffs: Jazz Profiles from the Heartland, was released in April 2018 by the Wisconsin Historical Society Press. His latest book, Never Givin’ Up: The Life and Music of Al Jarreau, also from WHSP, came out in late summer 2023.
