Justin Kauflin to Give Jazz Workshop

Acclaimed jazz pianist Justin Kauflin will give a jazz workshop on the U of A campus at 11:50 a.m. Friday, April 14, in the Lewis E. Epley Band Building. Kauflin will work with U of A jazz musicians and give advice on jazz creativity and improvisition. The workshop on campus is open to the public and anyone at the U of A. Mr. Kauflin is in Fayetteville to perform with his trio at the Walton Arts Center on Saturday, April 15. The WAC will also screen "Keep On Keepin' On," a documentary film about Kauflin and his jazz mentor, Clark Terry, on Friday, April 14 at the Starr Theatre.

Justin Kauflin

New York-based jazz pianist, composer and producer, most notably known by his appearance in the award-winning documentary "Keep On Keepin' On" based on the mentorship/friendship of Justin and legendary trumpeter, Clark Terry. Born in Silver Spring, MD with a rare degenerative eye disease and totally blind by age 11, Justin adjusted by learning braille, cane mobility and focusing on music; performing jazz professionally by age 15. He attended the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Residency, Vail Jazz Workshop, won the VSA International Young Soloist Award, Veer Jazz Artist of the Year, a semi-finalist in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition and graduated Summa Cum Laude from William Paterson University. Through his friendship with Cee Tee, Justin met, and subsequently signed by, Quincy Jones, joining him on a couple world tours, as well as co-produce his second album, "Dedication" which was a DownBeat magazine's Editor's Pick and No. 1 on JazzWeek Chart. 

Kauflin currently resides in New York, touring Europe, and working on music for his third album.

Keep On Keepin' On

Keep On Keepin' On depicts the friendship of music legend and teacher Clark Terry, 89 and Justin Kauflin, a 23-­year­-old, blind piano prodigy. Kauflin, who suffers from debilitating stage fright, is invited to compete in an elite Jazz competition, just as Terry's health takes a turn for the worse. As the clock ticks, we see two friends confront the toughest challenges of their lives.

Terry was also Quincy Jones' first teacher, and mentor to Miles Davis. He is among the few performers ever to have played in both Count Basie's and Duke Ellington's bands. In the 1960s Terry broke the color barrier as the first African-American staff musician at NBC — on The Tonight Show.

Shot over the course of five years, Keep On Keepin' On is crafted with great affection by first time filmmaker Al Hicks, who is a drummer and former student of Terry's.

Paula DuPre' Pesmen (behind the Academy Award-winning The Cove and the Oscar-nominated Chasing Ice) produced the film with seven-time Academy Award-nominee Quincy Jones, who also counts Terry as his mentor.