Hidden in the dark ground floor of Jogues Hall is a small cluster of classrooms and offices that make up Fairfield’s music department. It is here, after touring worldwide and jamming with some of music’s greats, that Brian Torff’s passion for jazz has found a home.
As Fairfield’s music program director, and also a classroom professor and Jazz Ensemble conductor, Torff shares his passion with students and works to ensure that his talent has a positive impact.
“It’s all about the music, that’s what my work is, not the money or the accolades,” said Torff in an article in Westport Magazine that chronicled his many achievements.
With a little luck and a lot of talent, Torff started his professional career with a bang at the age of 20, joining a tour with Cleo Laine that debuted at Carnegie Hall. According to the article, it was the beginning of a career that would include playing and releasing CDs with some of jazz’s most talented musicians, opening for Frank Sinatra, performing before presidents, and winning a Grammy.
Now, Torff is making his mark at Fairfield as the music program director. The music program has grown significantly under his guidance, and he said in a Mirror article last year that he believes there is more jazz at Fairfield than at any other surrounding university.
“I would say the best thing about him is that he is always pushing you to do better and demanding more,” said Mike Meehan ’08, a student in Torff’s History of Jazz class and member of the jazz ensemble.
Torff’s efforts to share his passion and use it for a greater good extend outside the classroom. A member of the International Association of Jazz Educators, Torff traveled to Romania this past summer where he lectured and played with enthused students in hopes of establishing and spreading an appreciation for jazz in a place where such a thing is often scarce. He is interested in possibly repeating this experience next summer.
Back at Fairfield, there are three upcoming events this semester that Torff is involved in and very excited about.
On March 31, an event called “Women in Music” will be held to benefit the Jamie Hulley Foundation. Three female jazz musicians will come to perform and discuss music.
The following day, Leonard Bernstein, the Fairfield orchestra and jazz ensemble, and David Amram will hold a special performance.
On April 8, Torff is planning, and will be performing in, a benefit performance at the Acoustic Cafe to celebrate the lives and remember the tragic deaths of Tim and Kim Donnelly. This event is very close to Torff’s heart because of his close relationship with the family. All proceeds will go toward music scholarships established in their name.
There will be three stellar performances at this event: The Prophets of Funk, Eric Donnelly Trio, and Brian Torff’s Bass Roots Quartet (consisting of Torf, his son and two Fairfield University students).
“He is so dedicated to making sure their [the Donnelly’s] memory lives on in the music at Fairfield; it is amazing to me,” said Meehan.
“I feel really strongly about what music can be,” said Torff.
He said that besides making you think, “music can be a center for advocacy and proactive thrust.”
Leave a Reply