UNT Division of Jazz Studies

Students who are preparing to apply and audition for the Jazz Studies M.M. program need to know that the GRE requirement has changed. Until now, students have been asked to take the Verbal and Quantitative GRE. Now those sections are no longer required. This is the new GRE requirement:

Submit score from the GRE (Analytical Writing Section only) or pass the in-house writing exam administered by Jazz Studies during the required orientation for admitted students prior to the start of the Fall semester. If the applicant chooses the GRE Analytical Writing Section option, the score must be submitted prior to the start of the first semester of enrollment. If the applicant chooses the in-house exam option, admission will be considered provisional until the exam is passed.

David Weiss, trumpeter, composer, and arranger, is an alumnus of UNT. He sent this notice:

ENDANGERED SPECIES: THE MUSIC OF WAYNE SHORTER
(with the Wayne Shorter Tribute Big Band Under the Direction of David Weiss)
Featuring
Taylor Haskins and Avishai Cohen- Trumpet
Tim Green- Alto Sax
Marcus Strickland- Tenor and Soprano Sax
J.D. Allen- Tenor Sax
Norbert Stachel- Baritone Sax and Bass Clarinet
Michael Dease and Andy Hunter- Trombone
Xavier Davis- Piano
Joe Sanders- Bass
Gene Jackson- Drums

Wednesday November 11
at
Iridium Jazz Club
1650 Broadway (at 51st Street)
(212)582-2121
http://www.iridiumjazzclub.com/
Sets at 8:30 and 10:30 pm

Guitarist and alumnus Isaac Lausell and his band are profiled in this story in El Nuevo Día, a newspaper in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Here is Isaac's translation:

Music with out frontiers
By Rafael Vega Curry
The members of Proyecto EVIF don’t see themselves as jazz musicians and yet their compositions and performances embody the very essence of what jazz is.
Samuel Morales, Isaac Lausell, Jorge Vizcarrondo and Freddie Burgos are the members of Proyecto EVIF’s. Their ego-less endeavor is substituted for a genuine desire to work as a team. The acronym EVIF represents the initials of the group’s members.
Burgos, Vizcarrondo and Lausell know each other since they were students at Escuela Libre de Música (a public school for the performing arts) in their hometown, Humacao. Even though their academic careers took them to different places such as Texas, Boston and Madrid they would always come back to Puerto Rico to meet and play. The latest addition to the ensemble was Samuel Morales who is veteran bass player and college professor.
“We were dancing around the inevitable, what was natural,” says Lausell regarding the musicians coming to their senses and formally starting this musical venture.
The conversation with EVIF flowed in a very natural way, as if it was a collective improvisation.
“Incorporating everyone’s idea is essential to our sound,” says Lausell. Morales added, “Each of us brings in a musical piece and rest of us make suggestions. We listen to everyone’s suggestions in the band, we don’t have a leader”.
What could possibly be more jazz like than this? Lets take into consideration that those who perform in this genre pride themselves in taking group interaction to the highest possible level.
Even though jazz lies at the very core of EVIF’s philosophy they do not wished to be labeled under a specific genre. “What we do is creative instrumental music with improvisational elements,” says Morales with a smile being aware of the broadness of his definition. “The jazz element comes from the way we approach the music”.
“Jazz allows you to bring your sonic identity and insert it in its context” adds Lausell. The guitarist goes on to describe their musical fusion, “ we all grew up with Latin music, Puerto Rican folk music and rock. We’ve incorporated into our music what naturally suits us”.
Morales elaborates, “The audience is part of this music. They react by dancing, clapping, showing solemnity and with gestures and this affects the musician. We want people to have a good time”. This is why EVIF’s self titled record (available on cdbaby.com, Cronopios, La Tertulia and on Music Store) showcases several high energy and joyful pieces that blend jazz with elements of pop, rock and fusion.
Burgos discusses the importance of improvising well “ A solo should unravel in a manner that takes you from on place to another. It is like building something”.
Morales goes on to describe the other side of the coin “composing was one of the most important things for the greatest musicians and bands from the past. People now days play a lot of “standards’, but you have to make your own music”.
What is in store for these four musicians full with passion and commitment for their art?
Morales responds, “ We are rehearsing for our next CD. It does not have a release date. We are continuing the vision as our previous record but this time we are adding the sounds of the classical guitar and the flute”.
“We are expanding,” he added as always with a smile.

Drummer and alumnus Ryan Hurn sends this photo taken at his Nov. 5, 2009 concert with Andy Williams at Royal Albert Hall in London.

Kelly Durbin, UNT alumnus and director of the UT-Dallas Jazz Ensemble, sends this news:

Richardson, Texas (Oct. 20, 2009) — The School of Arts and Humanities at The University of Texas at Dallas presents renowned jazz trombonist, composer and arranger John Fedchock performing with the UT Dallas Jazz Ensemble at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, at the University Theatre. Admission is $20; tickets are available online at www.utdallas.edu/tickets. Ticket price for UNT students: $5.

Fedchock will perform the first half of the concert with the UT Dallas Jazz Ensemble, a big band made up of UT Dallas students. Big band numbers will include Fedchock’s compositions of A Drop in the Bucket, Easy Goin', Blues over Easy, Bossa Rio, Midnight Passage and Skylight. The second half will feature Fedchock with guest artists Bobby Breaux, Carl Hillman, Rodney Booth, Karl Lampman, and Kelly Durbin.

The UT Dallas Jazz Ensemble is directed by UT Dallas faculty member Kelly Durbin. Its repertoire draws from music throughout the history of jazz ranging from artists such as The Original Dixieland Jazz Band, Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie and Weather Report.

Trombonist, bandleader and arranger, Fedchock is considered one of New York City’s premier jazz artists. The John Fedchock New York Big Band showcases Fedchock’s trombone playing and arranging, as well as the band’s all-star soloists. The band has recorded four critically acclaimed CDs for Reservoir Music, “New York Big Band,” “On The Edge,” “No Nonsense” and “Up & Running.” Two of these, “New York Big Band” and “On The Edge,” earned four-and-a-half star reviews in DOWNBEAT magazine, and were listed in DOWNBEAT’s “Best CDs of the 90’s.” For his arranging on “No Nonsense,” Fedchock was nominated for a 2003 Grammy Award for “Best Instrumental Arrangement.” The John Fedchock New York Big Band’s 2007 release, “Up & Running,” spent eight weeks in jazz radio’s Top Ten.

Fedchock began his career as a jazz trombonist with the legendary Woody Herman Orchestra in 1980. He toured with Herman’s “Thundering Herd” for seven years as musical director and featured soloist. He served as musical coordinator and chief arranger in the production of Herman’s last two Grammy-nominated albums, “50th Anniversary Tour” and “Woody’s Gold Star.”

Fedchock has toured with T.S. Monk, Gerry Mulligan’s Concert Jazz Band, Louie Bellson’s Big Band, the Bob Belden Ensemble, the Manhattan Jazz Orchestra and the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band. As a solo artist, he appears throughout the United States and has toured abroad as a guest trombonist/composer/conductor.

The University Theatre is located near Drive C in the center of the UT Dallas campus, 800 W. Campbell, Richardson. For more information, visit www.utdallas.edu/ah/events/

Media Contact: Kathryn Evans, UT Dallas, 972-883-2765,

(email preferred) or the Art and Performance Office, UT Dallas, 972-883-2982

Pardon our progress: Due to construction, visitors are asked to enter campus via University Parkway and to veer onto Armstrong to access parking lots A through D. For more information about campus construction, visit utdallas.edu/pardonourprogress.

"Holidays with The One O'Clock"
Thursday, December 3, 2009, 7:00 pm at McDavid Studio
The University of North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band will perform
an exciting show of Holiday favorites including works from the "Kenton Christmas"
Stan Kenton book, selections from Duke Ellington's "Nutcracker Suite", Maynard
Ferguson's "A Christmas for Moderns" and new holiday arrangements for the modern
big band.