Division of Jazz Studies

Jeff Novack Checks In
Website: www.jeffnovack.com
Instrument: Bass
Years at UNT: 1997-2001
Highlights at UNT: 3 O'Clock Lab Band, Jazz Repertory Ensemble (Ellington Suites), L-5 Ensemble
Recent Activities: After graduating from UNT I performed on two national tours with the production "Harlem" produced by The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. Since relocating to Los Angeles in 2003 I have appeared with such artists as Lou Diamond Phillips, Tia Carrere, Marty and Elayne (from the movie Swingers) and appeared on Broadway singer Rachel York's album "Let's Fall in Love" for Barnes and Noble productions. I recently joined singer Engelbert Humperdinck's touring band and have toured the U.S. and Europe with Australia and South Africa scheduled for 2006.

Scott Neumann has a nice website
See for yourself: www.scottneumannmusic.com

Brad Leali's website is in English and Japanese
Check out Brad's site: www.bradleali.com

Alumni Hang at IAJE 06

The Alumni Hang at IAJE 2006 was well attended but poorly documented, photographically (at least by the webmaster, who accepts the blame; preferred to schmooze rather than take photos).

Thanks to Bob Belden for taking this photo of Jim Snidero and Lou Marini and sending it to Jim Riggs (that's a lot of saxophone playing for one sentence).

Keith Javors Update
Email:

Web site: www.keithjavorsmusic.com
Instrument: Piano
Years you were at UNT: 1989-1996
Highlights of your activities at UNT: One O' Clock Lab Band (Lab Band records 95, 96), Outstanding Graduate Student in Jazz Studies, directed 3:00 Lab Band.
Recent activities: Recently signed to the artistShare roster (www.artistshare.com) for latest recording (Free Project).

Greg Waits Helps Organize Hurricane Benefit
Greg Waits, trombonist and UNT jazz studies alumnus, is helping to organize a benefit concert that will raise money for hurricane victims on the Gulf Coast. All funds raised will be directed to Habitat for Humanity earmarked towards home restoration/replacement in that region. It will be held at the Lakewood Theater in Dallas on November 20, 2005, from 1-10 p.m. The Dallas Jazz Orchestra, of which Waits is a member, is sponsoring the event. Greg can be contacted at

.

Walter Simonsen Checks In
Email:

Web site: www.waltersimonsen.com
Instrument(s): Trumpet
Years you were at UNT: Fall 2000-Summer 2004
Highlights of your activities at UNT: 2 O'Clock Lab Band (for a long time), Zebras at 2002 IAJE, Rep Ensemble, learned the proper way to say, "Hey Now!"
Recent activities: Finishing up Master's Degree at the University of Southern California in Jazz Studies. Will start a DMA in the Fall of 2006. Working around the Los Angeles area playing all types of styles, especially salsa. Can be heard of the Grammy Nominated track "Biggest Greatest Thing" by the Gospel soul group "Mary Mary." A teaching Assistant with the Trojan Marching Band at USC. Arranging for various jazz and pop vocalists in Los Angeles.
Pete DeSienna, another UNT alumni and former 1 o'clock lead trumpet player (grad spring 2001) is also on the Grammy nominated track "biggest Greatest thing" by Mary Mary.

Tony Marvelli Checks In
Email:

Web site: www.tonymarvelli.com
Instrument(s): Trumpet
Years you were at UNT: 97-04
Highlights of your activities at UNT: 2 O'Clock Band, Jazz Repertory Ensemble (Woody Herman and Miles Ahead)
Recent activities: Toured with Engelbert Humperdinck to Asia over the summer. Working on California Teaching Credential and Substitute Teaching in the Dixon School District.

Jamie Hovorka update
tel: 214-695-4134
email:

website: http://jamie.hovorka.googlepages.com
Instrument: trumpet
Years you were at UNT: 2003-2005
Highlights of your activities at UNT: One O'Clock Lab Band, tours to Thailand, Poland, Vancouver
Recent activities: Los Angeles freelancer, touring with Maynard Ferguson band

Ed Wise update
Ed Wise was kind enough to send in an alumni news form:
Ed Wise
3715 Lancaster Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone(s): 215-279-0617 (cell)
Email:

Web site: www.pennjazz.com (there's a bio in there)
Instrument(s): bass, piano, arranging
Years you were at UNT: 1973-74, 80-83, 86-88
Highlights of your activities at UNT: Playing in 1 O'Clock Lab Band fall '87 & spring '88, recording Lab '88, conducting reading bands, 6 O'Clock and 4 O'Clock bands. Playing on several Jazz Lecture Series events.
Recent activities: Presently conducting the University of Pennsylvania jazz band, a.k.a. "PennJazz". Performed at Umbria Jazz Festivals (winter and summer) in Italy this year with Connie Jones' Crescent City Jazz Band including Bob Havens on trombone and Jake Hanna on drums. Received New Orleans Magazine "Jazz All-Star" award in April of this year. Got engaged to a Philly resident (Liz Einsig) in July, moved to Philly in September after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans. (My place was high and dry; no loss of possessions). 2003 - October 2005 I was bandleader onboard the steamboat Delta Queen.

Lou Marini stops by
Lou Marini was in town and stopped by to rehearse for his Nov. 22, 2005 concert with the One O'Clock Band, directed by Neil Slater. Photos on the October 2005 page.

Stefan Karlsson's CD "Music is Forever" Reviewed
Stefan Karlsson's CD of music by Russ Freeman is reviewed at allmusic.com and allaboutjazz.com. Ed Soph played drums on the recording.

Andrew Fockel update
Here's the latest from Andrew Fockel (Oct. 25, 2005):
Address: 287 E. Bellevue Dr., Pasadena, CA 91101
Phone: (626) 310-4095 (940) 594-0451 (Good old Denton cell #)
E-mail:

Instrument: Drums
Years at UNT: 99-04
Highlights of activities at UNT: One O'Clock Lab Band 2004
Recent Activities:
I've been in Los Angeles for just over one year now. I'm currently playing with pianist Alan Pasqua in the "Alan Pasqua Jazz Collective." I'm also playing with bass player Kyle Eastwood (Clint's son). I'll be playing with him in France and Italy next month. I also work regularly with a young rising jazz piano player named Eldar.
Also, UNT jazz singer alum Natalie Mackey and I were married on June 11th, 2005 in Northern California.

Woody Witt & Randy Brecker Concert Rescheduled
The Woody Witt Quintet featuring Randy Brecker will play a concert on Monday, Oct. 17, 2005 at 9 p.m. in the Syndicate at the UNT University Union. Lineup: Woody Witt, tenor saxophone (UNT alumnus); Randy Brecker, trumpet; David Craig, bass; Ed Soph, drums. Cover charge is $5.

Helbing and Mulholland with Maynard Ferguson: Review
Drummer Stockton Helbing and bassist Brian Mulholland, recent graduates of our program, were singled out for special attention in Laura A. Ball's review in the Vail Daily of a Sept. 30, 2005 performance by Maynard Ferguson's Big Bop Nouveau in Beaver Creek, CO. Link to full review.

Pete McCann, Guitarist and Alumnus, Gives Concert & Clinic
New York-based guitarist Pete McCann, a graduate of our program, will play a concert on September 29, 2005 at 8 p.m. in Kenton Hall along with Lynn Seaton (bass) and Joel Fountain (drums). Tickets are $10 at the door. On Friday, September 30 he'll present a clinic at 1:30 p.m. in Kenton Hall. Tickets are $8 at the door. Admission to the clinic is free for members of the UNT Guitar & Bass Association.
Pete McCann has released two recordings with his own quartet and appeared on more than forty others. He has performed or recorded with Kenny Wheeler, Dave Liebman, Kenny Garrett, Peter Erskine, John Patitucci, Gary Thomas, Greg Osby, Bobby Previte, Randy Brecker, Brian Blade, and The Maria Schneider Orchestra. See his website, www.petemccann.com.

Keith Carlock gives drum clinic
Drummer and UNT alumnus Keith Carlock returned to campus to give a clinic on Sept. 9, 2005. Since leaving UNT he has played with Steely Dan, Sting, Harry Belafonte, and the original Blues Brothers band. "I credit my success from going to school here," Carlock, a student of Ed Soph, told the NT Daily.

Frank and Cindy Mayes, from New Orleans, in Denton
Frank Mayes, a reed player and alumnus of the UNT jazz program in the 1960s, and his wife Cindy, also a musician and copyist, have temporarily relocated to Denton from their home in New Orleans, where they have lived for twenty years. They can be reached at

.
On Sept. 15, they and a UNT jazz faculty member visited the New Orleans composer and arranger Wardell Quezergue, who is living temporarily in a Red Cross shelter in Fort Worth while awaiting placement in housing in Fort Worth, which should happen this week.

Hovorka and Mulholland Will Tour with Maynard Ferguson
UNT alumni Jamie Hovorka (trumpet) and Brian Mulholland (electric bass) will be joining the Maynard Ferguson band for a two month US tour, starting Sept. 23, 2005. Jamie will be playing the jazz trumpet chair. Unfortunately there are no Texas dates on the itinerary, but the tour begins in Oklahoma City.

Kevin Brunkhorst and Paul Tynan release CD
"Digital/Spiritual" is the new CD by UNT alumni Kevin Brunkhorst (electric guitar, acoustic 6-string and 12-string guitars, bass, digital effects, loops, cassette player) and Paul Tynan (trumpet, pocket trumpet, flugelhorn, cymbals). For more information and ordering information, see www.nohjohmusic.com. Both are professors in the Music Department at St. Francis Xavier University in Canada.

Stefan Karlsson and Woody Witt Featured in Houston Chronicle
The Houston Chronicle recently published features on Stefan Karlsson and UNT alumnus Woody Witt. [Thanks to Bob Morgan for the tip.]

Fall Concert Featuring Lou Marini is Sold Out
Saxophonist and UNT alumnus Lou Marini is the guest artist for the annual Fall Concert by the One O'Clock Lab Band, directed by Neil Slater on Tuesday, November 22, 2005 at 8 p.m. in Winspear Hall. This concert is sold out.
Tickets for the Feb. 23, 2006 concert featuring Bill Holman and Pete Christlieb with the One O'Clock Lab Band will soon be available for purchase online; follow this link and look for February listings.
On Nov. 21, Denton TV will film Marini's rehearsal with the One O'Clock Lab Band in Kenton Hall, and will return for the concert on Nov. 22.
Also on Nov. 21, Lou Marini will sit in with Naked Lunch, the Dallas-based band led by Michael Crane that performs the music of Steely Dan, at Dan's Silverleaf in Denton starting at 8 p.m.

Brad Leali joins faculty of Texas Tech University
Saxophonist Brad Leali, a 1989 graduate of our program, will become the new Director of Jazz Studies at Texas Tech University in August, 2005. Here's a press release from Texas Tech. His first big band CD, "Maria Juanez," is going to be released soon by M&N Records. Brad's site is www.bradleali.com.

Isaac Lausell teaching in Puerto Rico
Isaac Lausell, guitarist and recent graduate of the jazz master's program, has completed a successful semester of teaching music theory, solfege, and guitar lessons at the Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico. He has recently been hired to teach jazz guitar, jazz history, and possibly improvisation at the Conservatorio de Musica de Puerto Rico. He's also written an instructional book for guitar and is working on his first solo album. [there's an accent on 'u' in 'Musica' but the RSS feed can't handle it]

Jon Deitemyer and Matt Wigton tour with Zach Brock
Drummer Jon Deitemyer and bassist Matt Wigton, recent graduates of our program, are on tour this summer with Zach Brock and the Coffee Achievers. Brock is a Chicago-based violinist. Also in the band is Sam Barsh (piano/keyboards), currently a member of Avishai Cohen's trio. See Brock's web site for the itinerary.

Jeff Eckels joins faculty of Universidad de San Francisco in Ecuador
Jeff Eckels, doctoral candidate in bass, a student of Lynn Seaton and Jeff Bradetich, and former member of the One O'Clock Lab Band, will direct the ear training department and teach applied bass at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Cumbaya, Ecuador, which is near Quito, a large city with a cosmopolitan music scene. Jeff may reached

. Jeff and his family leave Denton on Friday, July 15. They will be living in Ecuador for two years.

Lee Tomboulian joins faculty of Lawrence University Conservatory of Music
Lee Tomboulian, pianist and alumnus of the UNT jazz master's program, has accepted a three-year position at Lawrence University Conservatory of Music in Appleton, WI. He'll be teaching jazz piano and improvisation. Lee and his wife Betty, an alumna of the UNT Jazz Singers, perform together in the band Circo.

Brian Mulholland releases CD
Bassist Brian Mulholland, a recent graduate of the UNT jazz master's program, has released an independent CD entitled "Deco." Heard with Brian are Stockton Helbing, drums; Noel Johnston, guitar; Tom Luer, tenor sax; and Ken Edwards, trumpet and fluegelhorn. All of the tracks are Brian's original compositions. For more information, see www.brianmulholland.com.

Lily Maase's CD "Aftermath" reviewed
Aftermath, the independent CD by recent UNT jazz alumna Lily Maase is reviewed by Budd Kopman at allaboutjazz.com. He writes, "The LM5 would absolutely mesmerize a live audience with this unique music." Personnel include Maase, guitar, electronics; Mike Maher, trumpet; Brian Mulholland, electric bass; Curt Garey, drums; Nick Groesch, and Jangeun Bae, keyboards; all are current or former UNT jazz students.

UNT students and alumni featured in Fort Worth, Texas magazine
An article in the June 2005 issue of Fort Worth, Texas about the weekly jam sessions at the Black Dog Tavern in Fort Worth pictures guitarist and UNT jazz graduate student Paul Metzger and bassist and UNT jazz alumnus Drew Phelps.

Idit Shner joins faculty of University of Oregon
UNT Doctoral candidate Idit Shner accepted a full-time saxophone position at the University of Oregon, in Eugene, starting in fall 2005. She will be teaching classical and jazz saxophone as well as saxophone quartets, jazz combos, and a studio master class. Idit has played in numerous jazz ensembles at UNT, including the Two O'Clock Lab Band, and is a highly effective lab band director.

Alumnus Dave Love writes about South Africa
In the May 2004 issue of Jazziz, UNT alumnus Dave Love, president of Heads Up, writes about his travels to South Africa with Joe McBride and Andy Narell and the Heads Up Africa series. Ladysmith Black Mambazo's Raise Your Spirit Higher, released on Heads Up, won a 2005 Grammy for Best Traditional World Music Album.

Alumnus Adolfo Acosta Plays Denton with Tower of Power
Trumpeter Adolfo Acosta, former member of the One and Two O'Clock Lab Bands, played in Denton with Tower of Power on Saturday, April 30 at the Denton Arts & Jazz Festival.

Christopher Maurer
Trumpeter Christopher Maurer (Bop251@sbcglobal.net) was at UNT from 1994-1996. His UNT activities include the One O'clock lab band for those years, including tours of Portugal, Japan, and the West Coast tour, and "pissing people off in Bruce Hall by having four of the most screaming players in the school practicing until eleven every night."
His recent activities include work as a band Director at Reseda High School in Reseda, California. He has been touring with Bobby Caldwell for nine years and can be heard on his new album Perfect Island Nights. "Proud Husband to Jennifer and father to eight month old baby Emma!!!"

John Bryant
John Bryant attended UNT from 1970-74 and played drums in the One O'Clock Lab Band in 1972 and 1973. He has been active as a player, a producer, and composer for documentary films. He lives in Dallas and can be reached through his sites, www.bryanthamesmusic.com and www.ddrum.net, and by email at

. He was recently featured along with Earl Harvin in the North Texan magazine.

Robert Stanton
Robert Stanton was the guest artist with the Jazz Repertory Ensemble on April 24, 2005, just before his 75th birthday, in a performance of selections from the book he created for the Las Vegas Saxes. Bob played in the NTSC Lab Dance Band in 1956 and 1957 and has had a distinguished career as a saxophonist, woodwind doubler, and educator. Look for a feature on him in the fall in the North Texan magazine.

Brad Leali
Saxophonist Brad Leali, a 1989 graduate of UNT who lives in New York City, has released the CD Brooklyn Soul Organization on the M&N Records label. Also featured are Jerome Jennings, Grant Langford, and Radam Schwartz.

Steve Anderson moves to UNC-CH
Pianist and composer Steve Anderson, an alumnus of the jazz and composition programs at UNT and a former member of the One O'Clock Lab Band, will join the faculty of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the fall of 2005. His duties will be evenly divided between jazz studies (improvisation, theory) and composition. He has taught for the past two years at Western Illinois University.

Kevin Patton
UNT alumnus Kevin Patton, who played guitar in the One O'Clock Lab Band in 2001-2002, has been accepted into the Ph.D. program in Computer Music and Multimedia Composition at Brown University. On April 3, Kevin will premiere a work that was composed for him: Thunderbird, Concerto for Electric Guitar, by Peter Lieuwen. He'll be accompanied by the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Marcello Bussiki. The concert is at 4 p.m. in Rudder Auditorium at Texas A&M University. For more on Kevin's current activities, see his web site: www.lajunkielovegun.com

Lily Maase
Recent graduate Lily Maase, guitarist and composer, will attend The Banff International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music in Banff, Canada this coming May and June. The workshop is directed by Dave Douglas.

Steve Butts
Former UNT student trumpeter Steve Butts and Mark "Speedy" Gonzalez, members of the Austin-based band Mingo Fishtrap, make their way amidst the audience during a performance at The Falls club in San Antonio on New Year's Eve, 2004. Other UNT alumni are also in the band. Photo courtesy Steve Butts.

Bob Morgan
Address: 3719 Gramercy St., Houston, TX 77025
Ph. 713/664-9244
E mail:

;

Instruments: trpt./trb. at NT; piano now. Also comp./arr.
Years at UNT: 1959-65
A press release about Bob's recent IAJE honor:
BOB MORGAN ELECTED TO I. A. J. E. HALL OF FAME
In January ceremonies in Long Beach, California, Bob Morgan was inducted into the International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE) Hall of Fame. The occasion was the 32nd annual IAJE international conference, recognized as the largest gathering of the global jazz community with over 7,000 educators, professional musicians, industry figures and jazz enthusiasts in attendance. Morgan's induction occurred during the conference's evening concert on January 6.
Bob Morgan retired in 1999 as Director of Jazz Studies at Houston's High School for Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA), a position held since 1976. He was previously director of the jazz program at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas.
Morgan's degrees are from the University of North Texas (bachelor's, '63 and master's, '65) and the University of Illinois/Urbana (Doctor of Musical Arts, '74). He played trumpet and trombone in UNT's One O'Clock Lab Band, and piano in the Illinois Jazz Band. His original compositions were performed and recorded by both groups, including Anadge, recorded on UNT's Lab 67.
Under Morgan's direction, the HSPVA jazz program has become internationally known as a stimulating model for the successful training of young jazz aspirants. In a typical year, at least 60 students, all selected by a vigorous audition process, are involved in the school's jazz program.
HSPVA holds the state record (by far) for most students selected for Texas All-State Jazz Ensemble, and national records for Clifford Brown/Stan Getz Fellows, IAJE Young Talent Award recipients, and Arts Recognition and Talent Search jazz finalists. A list of successful HSPVA jazz alumni is appended.
The IAJE Hall of Fame was established in 1978 "to honor those individuals whose musical contributions and dedication to jazz education over the past 25 years have created new directions and curricular innovations for jazz education worldwide." Nominations are received from the IAJE general membership, with final selection determined by IAJE Past Presidents' Council.
SELECTED ALUMNI OF HSPVA JAZZ PROGRAM
High School for Performing and Visual Arts; Houston, TX
Bass:
David Craig, Houston
Mark Kelley, Boston (John Scofield)
Tim Ruiz, Houston (La Mafia)
Keith Vivens, Houston
Chris Walker, Houston (Al Jarreau's music director; also vocalist, with two very successful CDs on Pendulum label)
Composers/Arrangers:
Mark Holden, Los Angeles
Ed Smart, Los Angeles
David White, Washington, DC
Drums:
Michael Aguilar, Houston (La Mafia)
Chris Dave, Houston (Kenny Garrett, Me'Shell NdegéOcello)
Joel Fulgham, Houston
Warren Grant, Boston
Eric Harland, New York (McCoy Tyner)
Matt Johnson, New York (Jeff Buckley, Rickie Lee Jones)
Herman Matthews, Los Angeles (Tom Jones)
Kendrick Scott, New York (Terence Blanchard)
Mark Simmons, Houston (Al Jarreau)
Sebastian Whittaker, Houston (Justice recording artist)
Jamire Williams, New York (Jacky Terrasson)
Guitar:
Scott Gertner, Houston (also vocalist, band leader, club owner)
Scott Hardy, New York
Mike Moreno, New York (Lizz Wright)
Khabu Doug Young, New York (Art Lande)
Piano:
Robert Glasper, New York (also composer; Fresh Sound recording artist)
Eddy Hobizal, Austin (also composer; 3rd place, 1989 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition [while junior in high school])
Andrew Lienhard, Houston
Jason Moran, New York (also composer; Blue Note recording artist)
Mike Rojas, Nashville
Helen Sung, New York (also composer; Fresh Sound recording artist; semifinalist,1999 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition)
José-Miguel Yamal, Houston
Saxophone:
Geof Bradfield, Chicago
Shelley Carrol, Dallas (Duke Ellington Orchestra)
David Detweiler, New York
Everette Harp, Los Angeles (also composer; Blue Note and A440 recording artist)
Walter Smith III, New York (Roy Haynes)
Warren Sneed, Houston (Director of Jazz Studies, HSPVA)
Trombone:
André Hayward, Boston (Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra; 1st place, 2003 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition)
Trumpet:
Brandon Lee, New York (Juilliard School; Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra [sub])
Leron Thomas, New York
Misc.
Greg Curtis, Los Angeles (producer)
Kendrick Oliver, Boston (founder/director of New Life Jazz Orchestra)

Paul Baker
Lives in: Austin, TX
Email:

Web site: www.bakermusicdesign.com
Instruments: Saxes, Clarinets, Flutes
Years at UNT: 1978-82
Highlights of activities at UNT: One O'Clock Lab Band 1982, Lab! '82, Live in Montreux, European Tour in the summer of 1982
Recent activities: Owner of Baker Music Design, Austin, Texas; Freelance sax player in Austin; Currently composing high school level big band charts for publication in summer of 2005