Division of Jazz Studies | College of Music

Congratulations to UNT alumnus Charlie Young, who has been named the new artistic director and conductor of the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, replacing David Baker. More information is available in the Smithsonian press release.

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Members of The One O'Clock and friends had a special meet-and-greet with legendary band Chicago this weekend (April 20, 2013). Invited by Chicago trombonist and composer James Pankow, the North Texas Jazz students attended the show and had the wonderful opportunity to "talk shop" with one of the most successful bands of all time.

At the Denton City Council Meeting on April 16, 2013, Denton mayor Mark Burroughs read a proclamation that names April as Jazz Appreciation Month and April 30, 2013 as Jazz Day in Denton.

Alumnus Brian Donohoe and his band Progress, which includes alumnus Matt Muehling, released the CD Beatmaker on Feb. 14. The CD consists of six original compositions: two by Matt and four by Brian. Find our more at progress2.bandcamp.com.

Alumnus Mike Myers (1985, Master of Music Education) recently released the CD The Big Picture. His website is www.mikemyersmusic.com. Here's a sample track, Prologue (.wma format). Mike is a loyal supporter of the UNT jazz program.

SAMMONS JAZZ And THE UNT ONE O’CLOCK LAB BAND PRESENT "JAZZIN' DALLAS"
THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

The Sammons Center for the Arts - Sammons Jazz Ensemble and the famed UNT One O'Clock Lab Band will present an evening of live jazz entertainment in the stunning new Dallas City Performance Hall.

The Concert is scheduled for Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. at the Dallas City Performance Hall located in the Dallas Arts District at 2520 Flora Street, Dallas, Texas 75201 between Ross and Flora St.

This is a joint concert with the Sammons Jazz Ensemble and the UNT One O’Clock Lab Band:
First Set - Sammons Jazz Plays Motown featuring Arlington Jones on Piano
Second Set - The One O'Clock plays Grammy Jazz

Sammons Jazz from the Sammons Center for the Arts and The One O'Clock Lab Band from the University of North Texas join forces for a night of swinging jazz at the spectacular new City Performance Hall in the Dallas Arts District. This special concert is part of the D'JAM Jazz Initiative. D'JAM stands for "Dallas Jazz Appreciation Month" and is part of the national effort founded by the Smithsonian to promote jazz as a singular and unique American art form in April of every year.

Sammons Jazz presents "Sammons Jazz plays Motown". The Sammons Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Arlington Jones creatively transforms some popular Motown classics into modern day jazz standards. The ensemble features Arlington Jones on piano, vocalists Simone Rodgers and Garry Williams, saxophonists Tom Braxton and Keith Anderson, Stockton Helbing on drums and Braylon Lacy on bass. Arlington Jones is a Steinway Artist.

The One O'Clock Lab Band presents Grammy Jazz. Under the direction of Steve Wiest, the band has been nominated for 6 Grammys over the years and will play the pieces that were nominated and selections from the albums that were nominated.

Tickets are available online through Brown Paper Tickets at: www.brownpapertickets.com
Reserve seating with tickets priced from $10 - $40.
All major credit cards accepted. For information call 214-520-7789.

Sammons Jazz is a program of the Sammons Center for the Arts which began in 1989 and is the longest running jazz performance series in the Metroplex. It focuses on local jazz artists, presenting 8 concerts per year at the Sammons Center for the Arts featuring every type of jazz from swing and be-bop to Latin and World Beat. This critically acclaimed jazz series is under the direction of Artistic Director, Arlington Jones, a recognized Steinway Artist.

Support for the Sammons Jazz Series is provided by the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, the Texas Commission on the Arts and TACA, Inc.

The world-famous One O'Clock Lab Band is the flagship ensemble from the top-rated Jazz Studies program within the College of Music at the University of North Texas. They have been nominated for Grammy Awards multiple times and many of their student participants have gone on to become major artists known world-wide. This extraordinary ensemble is under the direction of Steve Wiest, a prominent jazz artist and educator.

To celebrate the annual Smithsonian National Museum of American History’s Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM), the whole month of April has been declared "Dallas Jazz Appreciation Month" (D'JAM), as proclaimed by Dallas Mayor Michael Rawlings by official designation. Participating entertainment, cultural and educational institutions venues throughout North Texas are hosting a series of more than two dozen exciting live jazz music events from April 1 to April 30. Music lovers of all ages will be able to hear live jazz performances in some of the most popular night spots and art institutions, like Sammons Center for the Arts, Sandaga Jazz Club, Dallas Museum of Art and Bishop Arts Theatre Center. The growing April lineup of D'JAM events is posted at www.artandseek.net.

The New Collection is the Dallas/Fort Worth/Denton community's 28-voice a cappella vocal jazz choir under the direction of Paris Rutherford, who organized and directed vocal jazz at UNT for thirty years before retiring in 2009. Membership in The New Collection is wide-ranging, including professionals in the fields of business, medicine and education, as well as several current students. The New Collection's debut album showcases their wide diversity in styles, with performances of fabulous material from Rodgers & Hart, the Bergmans, Thelonious Monk, Maria Schneider and the Beatles. In addition to the wonderful group sounds, solo and vocal bass-line sounds are top tier.

The New Collection will perform at the Campus Theatre in Denton on Sunday, April 21st at 4:00 p.m. Their album will be available following the performance. Copies are also available through The New Collection's Facebook Page, Pender's Music in Denton, and for download via CD Baby and iTunes.
www.thenewcollection.com
www.parisrutherford.com

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Jazz Singers, directed by Jennifer Barnes, present their spring concert with guest Peter Eldridge on two evenings, April 12 and 13. Ticket information: $10 Adults; $8 Senior Citizens 55+, Non-UNT Students, Children, UNT Faculty/Staff/Retirees, and Groups of 10+. Free to UNT Students (limit 1, UNT Student ID required, must be picked up in person at the Box Office). Purchase online or call 940-369-7802.

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"The New Cool" by John Wasson's CoolBrass Jazztet

The much-anticipated first release by John Wasson's CoolBrass Jazztet! Featuring arrangements of music from the Cool period along with other classic jazz compositions, this ensemble of five brass with a drummer creates a unique ensemble sound as they explore the music of Miles Davis, Gerry Mulligan, Oliver Nelson, Herbie Hancock and many other jazz greats. With stunning solo work and passionate ensemble playing, this group makes a bold statement with their first release. Featuring Chad Willis and Pete Clagett on trumpet, Luke Brimhall and John Allen on trombone, Jaelun Washington on drums, and John Wasson on tuba.

Available for download on iTunes and Amazon, or physical copy from johnwasson.com/the_new_cool.php, amazon.com or cdbaby.com.

Here's the lineup for the UNT Showcase stage at the Denton Arts & Jazz Festival:

www.dentonjazzfest.com/stages/untShowcaseStage.shtml