I Remember Clifford: 4 years of Influential Recordings

This project is my proposed Presidential Research Project through the Presidential Scholars Program at SUNY Potsdam, which empowers motivated and talented students to design independent projects that support their academic and professional growth. With guidance from faculty mentors and program funding, students develop projects that extend learning beyond the traditional classroom.

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For my project, I will explore the life, music, and lasting influence of the legendary jazz trumpeter Clifford Brown. My connection to Brown’s music began when I was fourteen, assigned to transcribe his solo on Sandu. Although the solo lasts only forty-six seconds, it took my instructor, Dr. Chisholm, three months to analyze the twenty-seven-measure passage—a testament to Brown’s melodic brilliance and technical mastery. That experience prompted questions that continue to inspire me: What makes Clifford Brown’s improvisational language so enduring? How did he develop such a distinctive voice in only four years of recordings? And why do jazz musicians today still regard him as a foundational model?

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My project will investigate these questions through integrated research and performance. Specifically, I will:

• Conduct an in-depth study of Brown’s life, recordings, and historical context using Lougheed’s jazz research databases and scholarly literature.

• Identify and analyze a curated selection of Brown’s most influential works that represent key moments in his musical development.

• Prepare a lecture-recital in which I discuss Brown’s stylistic evolution, improvisational vocabulary, and cultural significance, supported by analytical examples from my research.

• Perform selected pieces in the lecture-recital to demonstrate the concepts discussed.

• Record the lecture-recital live for documentation and future reference.

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This methodology allows me to merge scholarly research with practical musicianship. Through this project, I will deepen my understanding of jazz history, refine my analytical and improvisational skills, and gain experience presenting research in a performance-based format—opportunities that extend beyond what is available within my dual-degree coursework. Dr. SeungYoung Hong serves as the advisor to this project.

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For more information, visit https://www.potsdam.edu/academics/appliedlearning/studentresearch/presidential/molly-collins