Vinnie Colaiuta Tribute - Ya Gotta Try | Live at Berklee Commencement Concert 2026

In the presence of esteemed honorary doctorate recipient Vinnie Colaiuta, graduating drummer Yukai Yang performs Sammy Nestico’s “Ya Gotta Try” at the Berklee Commencement Concert in Agganis Arena. This performance pays homage to Colaiuta’s iconic 1989 rendition of the piece with The Buddy Rich Big Band at The Buddy Rich Memorial Scholarship Concert, honoring legendary jazz drummer Buddy Rich and the band’s celebrated 1977 recording of the piece. Colaiuta’s landmark drum performance has inspired generations of drummers and remains a touchstone for Vinnie fans and students of the instrument. Presented by members of the Class of 2026, this tribute is part of an interdisciplinary production that brought together 224 students representing 42 countries. Watch the full performance with complete credits on YouTube at the link in bio. “Ya Gotta Try” (S. Nestico) Arranger: Tsunenori (Lee) Abe / @crazyharmonymusic MUSICIAN CREDITS: Piano: Jisoo Park / @park__piano Electric Guitar: Zhiyu Cai / @zhiyu__cai Upright Bass: Daniel Chan / @danielchandc Drums: Yukai Yang / @yukaiyang0702 Trumpet / Soloist: Shota Yamaguchi / @tp.shota Trumpet: Charlie Dominguez / @krum.dominguez_c Trumpet: Lady Satch / @ladysatchofficial Trumpet: Philipp Schwarz / @philipp_24sz Alto Sax: Matthew Leon / @Matt.leonmusic Alto Sax: Kevin Huang / @kevinhuangmusic Tenor Sax / Soloist: Tee Chindasook / @teechindasook Tenor Sax: Camilo Barrios Pacheco / @barney.mov_ Tenor Sax: Diego Herrera / @diegosaxo02 Baritone Sax: Ella Lindström / @ellawilhelminaaa Trombone: Samuel Padua Gomez / @sampadua_04 Trombone: Vincent LaRosa / @vince.larosa_ Trombone: Albert Climent Ortiz / @albert_climentt Trombone: Armando Soler / @armando_soler_ Bass Trombone: James Benson / @venatus.james CREATIVE TEAM: Producer, Artistic and Musical Director: Maureen McMullan Director: Tom Baskett / @tombaskett Arranging Supervisor and Musical Director: Tsunenori (Lee) Abe / @crazyharmonymusic Arranging Consultant: Alex Clements / @clements2676 Track Production Supervisor: Rishabh Rajan / @rishabhrajan Background Vocal Coordinator: Lydia Harrell / @lovelysinger Background Vocal Coordinator: Nichelle J. Mungo / @njmungo Background Vocal Coordinator: Adrian Sicam / @adriansicam VJ Design: Peter Zebbler Berdovsky / @zebbler Production Assistant, Rachael (Rae) Morrison / @raemorrisonnn Assistant to the Arranging Supervisor: Kimi Valdez / @kimivaldez Digital Media/Production Assistant: Daria Krasnozhon / @dariakrasnozhon Live Sound and Recording Engineer: Kai Rush / @kairushsongs Live Sound and Recording Engineer: Saint Christophe Matara / @matarawsky Background Vocal Captain: Ávin / @avinrzvn Ableton Live Playback Engineers: Joseph Olmedo / @cosanostrapr Ableton Live Playback Engineers: Kai Rush / @kairushsongs Dance Captain: Journee Brownridge / @_journeeb VIDEO PRODUCTION: Video Director: Simon Yu / @simonyuproductions Gimbal Operator: Andreas Hofweber / @andreashofweber Steadicam Operator: Kevin Greene, BM ‘14 / @kgreeneproductions Jib Operator: Felix Baez, MA ‘22 Berklee NYC / Camera Operators: Sage Shriver-Blough, BM ‘23 / @sageblough Jennifer Cuciti Artem Vrabec Angelica Ramos POST-PRODUCTION: Producer: Maureen McMullan Associate Producer: Tsunenori (Lee) Abe / @crazyharmonymusic Video: Simon Yu / @simonyuproductions Audio Mix: Alex Rodriguez / @alexrodr2025 Mastering: Jonathan Wyner / @jonathan_wyner FULL CREDITS: https://publications.berklee.edu/comm...