News

New CD with lots of UNT Jazz Studies alumni participation

The Commission Project, the new CD by the JazzMN Orchestra, involves two generations of UNT alumni as players and composers. Seven of the ten titles are newly-commissioned works. The well-produced CD, released by Momentous Records, includes contact information for the composers of all 10 titles for those who want to purchase the charts.

The alumni composers Gerald Stockton and John Wasson. The alumni players are Rich MacDonald, drums and producer; Brad Dutz, percussion; Pete Whitman, tenor saxophone; Doug Snapp (conductor, artistic director, and founder of JazzMN); Brian Handeland, baritone saxophone; Aaron Hedenstrom, alto saxophone; and Brad Shermock, lead trumpet.

The orchestra's site is: http://jazzmn.org/

CD information is here: http://momentousrecords.com/jazzmn.shtml

Welcome New Trumpet Faculty

We are pleased to welcome two new members of our faculty, who will begin in Fall 2019.

Philip Dizack has been appointed Assistant Professor of Jazz Trumpet, Improvisation Emphasis.

Rob Parton has been appointed Associate Professor of Jazz Trumpet, Lead Trumpet Emphasis.

Jazz Studies faculty receive DJAM Jazz Legend Awards

Each year since 2013, the organizers of Dallas Jazz Appreciation Month, who represent organizations and institutions that support and present jazz year-round in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, recognize important figures in the jazz community with the Jazz Legend Awards.
Among this years winners are UNT Jazz Studies Faculty members Jennifer Barnes (Jazz Educator) and Rodney Booth (Jazz Artist), and Instrumental Studies adjunct instructor and Jazz Studies alumnus Stockton Helbing (Jazz Innovator). They were recognized on April 13, 2019 at the DJAM Open House at the Moody Performance Hall in Dallas. Jennifer Barnes was on tour with the Jazz Singers that day. Photos by Bart Marantz.


Arlington Jones, Rodney Booth, Joanna St. Angelo


Arlington Jones, Stockton Helbing, Joanna St. Angelo

DownBeat Student Music Award Recipients for 2019

Congratulations to this year's DownBeat Student Music Award recipients from the Division of Jazz Studies:

Large Vocal Jazz Ensemble

Undergraduate College Outstanding Performance

Avenue C - Marion Powers, director

Faculty mentor: Rosana Eckert

Large Vocal Jazz Ensemble

Graduate College Winner

UNT Jazz Singers

Faculty mentor: Jennifer Barnes

*Outstanding Soloist: Stephanie Hanson on “Spring Is Here”

*Outstanding Scat Soloist Kara Walton on “Spring Is Here”

Original Composition – Large Ensemble

Undergraduate College Outstanding Performance

Kyle Myers, “Red Herring”

Faculty mentor: Richard DeRosa

U-Tubes at American Trombone Workshop

Last weekend the U-Tubes, our jazz trombone ensemble, made a successful tour to Washington, D.C. to represent our program at the American Trombone Workshop. The group is directed by graduate student Nathan Davis and mentored by Prof. Nick Finzer. "The students represented UNT on a very high level," said Prof. Finzer. "They had the opportunity to network with many musicians from the military bands there and at our gig Sunday. In addition, the students at the schools we visited were very receptive and open to the ideas our students had to share. The camaraderie and momentum this trip has built for our studio is extremely exciting!" Elvis Moreno is the trombonist in the photo.

Jazz Lecture Series Spring 2019

This is the spring 2019 Jazz Lecture Series lineup. Lecture series sessions take place in the recital hall, room 301 of the music building, at 9:30-10:50 and 2-3:20. Admission is free and open to the public. If you plan to bring a group, please contact Prof. Alan Baylock, the instructor of the course, at alan.baylock@unt.edu, in advance of your visit.

January 29 – Kirk Whalum (saxophone, part of the Denton Black Film Festival)
February 5 – James Burton (trombone)
February 12 – Jennifer Leitham (bass)
February 19 – Mike Rodriguez (trumpet)
February 26 – Kenny Werner Trio (piano, bass, drums – Gomez Artists, afternoon session only)
March 5 – Mark Taylor (composer)
March 19 – Craig Handy (saxophone)
March 26 – Ben Monder (guitar)
April 2 – Carl Allen (drums)
April 16 – Jay Clayton (voice)
April 23 – Dr. Capital (guitar, etc.)
April 30 – Scott Tixier & Dave Meder (violin, piano)

Student Achievements for December 2018

We're immensely proud that two of the five outstanding members of the JEN Sisters In Jazz ensemble are UNT graduate students and leaders within our program.
Colleen Clark is a DMA candidate and director of the Four O'Clock Lab Band. Marion Powers (BM '15) is a master's student and director of the Avenue C vocal jazz group as well as the current vocalist for The One O'Clock Lab Band.
You can catch these fantastic women perform at the JEN 2019 Conference in Reno, NV next month. We'll see you there!

Andrew Duncan, current One O'Clock Lab Band baritone saxophone chair, worked as a judge, clinician, and performer at the Legends Jazz Festival in Parker, Colorado alongside UNT Alumni Dan Fornero. Dan played lead trumpet in the One O'Clock Lab Band on Lab '80 and '81 under the direction of Leon Breeden. He is currently a member of Gordon Goodwin's Big Fat Band and has performed on numerous film soundtracks including The Incredibles 2.

http://legendsjazzfestival.com/index.php

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