James Ketterer
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jpketterer.bsky.social
James Ketterer
@jpketterer.bsky.social
Senior Fellow, Center for Civic Engagement, Bard College | Diplomacy & Foreign Policy | International Development | Continuing Education | International Education | Middle East & North Africa | Jazz | Drummer | Baseball | Koshary
Spent some time today in the jazz corner on WCDB Radio, with the great Bill McCann. We were there to discuss our new project, "Exploring the Sheltering Sky: The Music and Words of Paul Bowles"
November 15, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Great to be in Egypt, hosted by Ctr for American Stds & Research at American Univ in Cairo, spoke at AUC School of Continuing Ed & Cairo Rotary, English Language Resource Ctr at Al-Azhar Univ., an interview for Cairo Review's podcast, went to Cairo Jazz Fest and met w participants in Wasla Connect.
November 7, 2025 at 9:05 AM
The Arch Stanton Quartet will be at Voorheesville Public Library on Wednesday, November 12, 6PM for the next installment of "Exploring the Sheltering Sky," inspired by the music and writings of Paul Bowles.
November 7, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Cairo friends, I am back in town and am giving some talks at the American University in Cairo this week and next. Jazz and exchanges at the heart of effective public diplomacy. See attached.
October 27, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Arch Stanton Quartet coming to the Colonie Library this Saturday for a special performance inspired by the writing and music of Paul Bowles
October 6, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Had a blast playing with the Arch Stanton Quartet this weekend at the Jazz at the Lake festival in Lake George, NY.
September 15, 2025 at 12:58 AM
September 3, 2025 at 2:23 AM
In September and October I will be giving a 6-week course on US foreign policy for the Albany Lifelong Learning Institute. And there are several other interesting courses available this fall. See the attachment for more details and register at the link.

share.google/6KCsGBgIF11q...
July 8, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Jazz Caravan will be at the Lark Tavern in Albany, Tuesday, July 8, 7pm-9pm. Tony Berman, bass; Roger Noyes, guitar; James Ketterer, drums.
July 7, 2025 at 1:12 AM
Today my band, the Arch Stanton Quartet, was awarded a grant from the Albany County Arts and Culture program to create a new suite based on the writings and music of Paul Bowles, plus new compositions. The grant also supports several performances of the new suite.
June 7, 2025 at 2:41 AM
It was great to be part of this panel organized by NYCLU Capital Region and hosted by Albany Law. I was impressed by my fellow panelists, Charlie Hogle of the ACLU, Havidan Rodriguez of UAlbany and Rep. PaulTonko, plus Aaron Shellow-Lavine of WAMC Radio.
May 22, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Save the date: Tuesday, May 20, 5:30PM at Albany Law School.
May 3, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Played some literary jazz today with #archstantonquartet
April 12, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Last week played with the Arch Stanton Quartet at the UAlbany Jazz Fest celebrating the 40th anniversary of Bill McCann's radio show on WCDB. Two stages, 16 bands, great crowds. We were thrilled to be part of it.
April 10, 2025 at 11:45 AM
It was a treat to have my old friend and colleague Rokey Suleman of the Carter Center visit my Bard College graduate seminar on diplomacy. He talked about his work on elections around the world with the Carter Center, National Democratic Institute,OSCE and more.

@bardcollege.bsky.social
March 28, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Two jazz diplomacy talks in two nights. Many thanks to the Tampa Bay Committee on Foreign Relations and the St. Petersburg World Affairs Council for hosting me. Great audiences in both places with excellent questions, comments and conversations.
March 21, 2025 at 1:15 PM
This coming week I will be in Florida giving two talks about jazz diplomacy: Wednesday, March 19 at the Tampa Bay Committee on Foreign Relations; Thursday, March 20 at the St Petersburg World Affairs Council and Studio@620, in conversation with Christopher Warren (open to the public).
March 15, 2025 at 2:35 PM
I am bringing my jazz diplomacy talk to the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College, Tuesday, March 11, 1 PM. See link for registration details.

berkshireolli.org/event-6013547
February 21, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Many thanks to the Greater Des Moines Committee on Foreign Relations for inviting me to speak about jazz diplomacy at the The Harkin Institute at Drake University. While I was in Des Moines I was also fortunate to get a special tour of the World Food Prize Foundation headquarters.
February 13, 2025 at 2:31 AM
It was a pleasure to give a presentation today for the America 201 program run by the AUC School of Continuing Education & supported by US Embassy Cairo.This program combines English language learning w/ talks on American society. Wonderful questions & insights from the participants.
January 22, 2025 at 3:03 AM
I've worked in & around politics a long time; it's easy to get cynical about it all. But yesterday I attended an event brimming with optimism: the swearing in of NY Senator Patricia Fahy. 1st generation daughter of Irish immigrants, now is 1st woman to represent this senate district in New York.
January 5, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Next month I will be working with former colleagues from the School of Continuing Education at the American University in Cairo-plus US Embassy Cairo-on the latest installment of a program that combines English language learning with presentations on various aspects of American history and society.
December 21, 2024 at 7:32 PM

I attended an event w former US Poet Laureate Billy Collins, in conversation w Joe Donahue of WAMC and hosted by the @nyswi.bsky.social . It was great to meet him and to hear some of his poems. I especially liked "1960," about live jazz recordings (and more). www.writersalmanac.org/index.html%3...
November 26, 2024 at 6:33 PM
I am saddened to hear the news of the passing of Maestro John Baboukis, former chair of the music department at the American University in Cairo and driving force for several ensembles and an inspiring presence in Cairo's music scene. A great musician and composer and a wonderful colleague. RIP
November 24, 2024 at 2:21 PM
Arrival in Dallas, November 22, 1963
November 22, 2024 at 12:44 PM