Jazz writer stops by The Academy to hang out with music students.

Chicago native Neil Tesser hosted a lecture for Academy music students this month. His experience as a jazz writer and saxophonist provided students with advice and encouragement about music journalism and a career in jazz.

Tesser’s career spans over 35 years, writing and broadcasting music across the country. Locally, he is a regular contributor to the Chicago Reader among many other publications. In 2014, Tesser was nominated and won a Grammy for Best Album Notes for Afro Blue Impressions (Remastered and Expanded), performed by John Coltrane. The award acknowledges excellence in liner notes.

Students enjoyed his talk, finding it both informative and interesting.

his event was sponsored by The Academy’s Prodigy Institute—providing Academy students with transformative educational experiences.