Jay Bregman

Jay Bregman has taught the History of Jazz since 1985. His position at UMaine was Professor of History, from 1975 to 2015, specializing in Late Antiquity, Hellenic Neoplatonism, Religious Syncretism and their later influences on nIneteenth and twentieth century America.

Bregman remains professionally active, writing books, publishing articles, and presenting papers at international conferences. In June 2018, he was invited to the University of Oxford, UK, to present a seminar paper on Pagan and Christian religious conflict in the early 5th Century. CE at Alexandria in Egypt.

Bregman’s music background includes two semesters at the Manhattan School of Music; private study of Jazz with Lennie Tristano, John La Porta, and Don Stratton; and in the 1989 Jazz in July program at UMass-Amherst, in the Master Class of Yusef Lateef, where he received the Most Improved Player award in the program. He has played locally with the group of Don Stratton, as well as directing and playing with UMaine student combos. Recently he has played with and continues to play with his own group, “Swingmatism.” The group includes local musicians, such as UM Jazz Program Director, Dan Barrett on Trombone.

Jay Bregman’s publications on Jazz include “Charlie Parker and the American Soundscape” (1997); “Lennie Tristano” (1990). He is currently working on a HIstorical/Musicological article with co-author Dan Barrett, “Charlie Parker’s Tenor and the Birth of Bop.”