UNT Division of Jazz Studies

We get frequent inquiries about when the DVD/CD of the Nov. 22, 2008 Jazz Legends event will be finished. We are as eager as our alumni are to see this released during the 2009-2010 academic year. In spring 2009 our focus was the two faculty searches; in summer 2009, preparing Lab 2009 for release. Here are a few screencaptures to show that the as-yet unedited video exists. --John Murphy

PDF of poster
Lynn Seaton sends this information to the UNT jazz community:

From: J.B. Dyas
Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2009 2:08 PM
To: J.B. Dyas
Subject: Monk Institute Bass Competition Deadline August 3
Hi everyone,
Just a reminder/request to please let your best bass students/colleagues (age 30 and younger) know that the application deadline for the Thelonious Monk Institute’s International Bass Competition is August 3rd.
First prize is $20,000 plus a recording contract with Concord Records; second prize is $10,000; third prize is $5,000. The finals will be held at the Kennedy Center in DC on October 10-11; all the semi-finalists (probably about 10) will be provided the trip to DC all-expenses paid.
The judges this year are Christian McBride, Ron Carter, Dave Holland, John Patitucci, Charlie Hayden, Bob Hurst, and David Baker. Also appearing at the gala will be the likes of Herbie, Wayne, McCoy Tyner, Jason Moran, George Duke, Joe Lovano, Jimmy Heath, Terence Blanchard, Geoff Keezer, Nicholas Payton, Terri Lyne Carrington, Dianne Reeves, Bobby McFerrin, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and more. Should be quite a party...
More info and an application form can be found on our website at www.monkinstitute.org.
Thanks everybody.
Warm regards,
JB
J.B. Dyas, PhD
Vice President
Education and Curriculum Development
Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz
www.monkinstitute.org

The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad is a partnership between Jazz at Lincoln Center and the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The program is designed to foster cultural exchange with audiences worldwide through performance and educational outreach.

Applying ensembles must be comprised of four musicians and must perform in one of the following American musical styles: jazz, urban/hip hop, or American roots music (including blues, bluegrass, Cajun, gospel, zydeco, and country). Each applicant musician must be at least 21 years of age, a U.S. citizen, and hold a valid U.S. passport.

Selected ensembles tour to such regions as Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East for approximately one month. International activities include public concerts, master classes, lectures, demonstrations, workshops, jam sessions, media outreach, and collaborations with local musicians.

The U.S. Department of State funds international travel, hotels, and meals, and awards a modest tour honorarium to each musician.

Complete program information is available at the JALC Web site.

Thanks to www.kera.org for providing this video.

Steve Wiest was interviewed by KERA's Jerome Weeks on the "Think" program recently.
Here's a link to the video.

UNT alumnus Victor Barranco has been named to the 3rd trombone spot in the U.S. Army Blues jazz band. Source: a news item by jason Hausback.

Saxophonist and recent Jazz M.M. graduate Courtney Guyon is touring with Willie Nelson and sent this report: "I played alto right next to Willie. He would turn and look at me to play eight-measure solos."

Forwarded from John Scott of the College of Music:
A great opportunity for graduate funding for 2010-2011
The Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans.
Thirty fellowships up to $20,000 annually plus half tuition (up to $16,000). A total of 30 awarded.
Senior in a bachelor’s program or no more than two years into a graduate program.
Status as a “New American”
Holder of a Green Card
Naturalized Citizen
Child of Two Naturalized Citizen Parents
Application deadline: November 1, 2009
http://www.pdsoros.org/

Jeffry Eckels will serve as Lynn Seaton's sabbatical replacement during the Fall 2009 semester. His bio has just been added to our faculty page.

Darla Mayes, our indispensable administrative assistant, celebrates 25 years of service to UNT this month. She's not retiring, just marking the milestone and continuing to run the jazz studies office. We invite alumni and friends of the program to send her your good wishes at darla.mayes@unt.edu. Photo: Darla and Neil in the good old days.

Saxophonist and alumnus Ron Jones is featured in the June 2009 issue of International Musician, the monthly magazine of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada.