UNT Division of Jazz Studies

I will spend a month in China from late May to mid June to work on two projects. One is collaborating with UNT alumnus and guitarist Landon Mattox to do workshops and concerts at Xinghai Conservatory in Guangzhou, where Landon teaches, and at Shanghai Conservatory. The other is to represent the College of Music in the "UNT in the World: Global Scholar Development Program," organized by UNT-International, in which a group of UNT professors and administrators will visit universities, conservatories, and cultural sites to learn about China and spread awareness of UNT in China. The group will travel to Beijing, Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Xi'an, Nanjing, and Shanghai. Prof. Gene Cho, of the UNT music theory faculty, with whom I took my first course in ethnomusicology, chose the Chinese version of my name, Muh Yuehan, shown above. A possible outcome of this trip is travel to China by UNT Jazz Studies students, faculty, and ensembles in future years. --John Murphy

The Brad Leali-Shelley Carrol Big Band welcomes guests Lou Marini (saxophone) and Sandra Kaye (vocals).
Friday, May 8, 2009, 8-11 p.m.
Sandaga Market
1325 E. Levee, Dallas, 75207

Trumpeter and current student Li Xiaochuan and his quartet will tour China this summer, including the performance above in Shanghai. Li is joined by Brian Girley on alto sax, Roberto Verastegui on piano and organ, and Zach Forsyth on drums (all are current or former UNT jazz students). See www.myspace.com/lixiaochuanmusic for the complete tour schedule.

It's true, and we have Neil Slater to thank for it: The Jazz Lecture Series. Each guest, in addition to playing and taking questions about musical topics, speaks and takes questions about the business side of music. Some go into more detail than others, but every guest has something to offer the student musician who is planning a career in this music. We're working on adding more courses on music business and technology topics. Stay tuned.

At Jazz at Lincoln Center's Essentially Ellington Competition on May 10, there will be a college fair where high school students can learn about college jazz programs. John Murphy will represent UNT Jazz Studies there by meeting with high school players and sharing information about our program with printed material, audio, and videos.

The following groups were recognized at the 2009 North Texas Jazz Festival in Addison.

Selected Vocal Groups
High School:
Floyd "Fessor" Graham Award
Jazz Choir I, Folsom High School, Folsom, CA, Curtis Gaesser, director

College:
Paris Rutherford Award
Badinage, Hutchinson Community College, Hutchinson, KS, Neal Allsup, director

Selected Combos
High School:
Jack Petersen Award
Adelphi University High School Jazz Combo, Adelphi University, Garden City, NJ, Doug Renoud and Dave Lobenstein, directors

College:
Rich Matteson Award
Friends University Soulstice, Friends University, Wichita, KS, Lisa Hittle, director

Selected Big Bands
High School:
Leon Breeden Award
Folsom High School One O'clock Jazz Band, Folsom High School, Folsom, CA, Curtis Gaesser, director

College:
Dr. M.E. "Gene" Hall Award
Two groups awarded this year:
UT Arlington Jazz Orchestra, UT Arlington, Arlington, TX, Tim Ishii, director
Jackson State University Jazz Ensemble I, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS, Dr. Russell Thomas, Jr., director

Most Outstanding Soloists
Neil Slater Award for Most Outstanding College Soloist
Two students awarded this year:
Jordan Donald, tenor saxophone, Texas Southern University
Marcel Salas, bass, Miami Dade College

Most Outstanding Saxophone Soloist
(Receives scholarship to UNT Jazz Combo Workshop)
Two students awarded this year:
Max Paymer, tenor saxophone, Adelphi University H.S. Combo
Daniel Ko, alto saxophone, Ottawa Junior Jazz Band

Most Outstanding H.S. Rhythm Player
(Receives scholarship to UNT Jazz Combo Workshop)
Two students awarded this year:
Evan Allen, piano, Adelphi University H.S. Combo
Bill Vanderhaar, bass, HSPVA

Most Outstanding Trumpet Soloist
(Receives scholarship to UNT Trumpet/Trombone/ Saxophone Workshop)
Nathan Williams, Friends University

Most Outstanding Trombone Soloist
(Receives scholarship to UNT Trumpet/Trombone/ Saxophone Workshop)
Jose Loredo, Texas Southern University

On behalf of UNT Jazz Studies, I'd like to congratulate Paris and Lynne Rutherford, Joy Wright, Pamela King, Rosana and Gary Eckert, Darla Mayes, Craig Marshall, the staff of the Murchison Performing Arts Center, everyone else at UNT who helped with it, and all of the current and alumni Jazz Singers and rhythm section players who participated. It was great to hear the stories by alumni on Friday night. Saturday's performance was first-rate from beginning to end and the audience turnout was very strong despite flu worries and tornado warnings. --J. Murphy

Congratulations to the following UNT Jazz Studies students who were recognized in the Down Beat Student Music Awards, published in the June 2009 issue:

Jazz Vocal Soloist - College Outstanding Performance: Tatiana Mayfield

Jazz Arrangement - College Winners: Sara Jacovino and Kevin Swaim

Jason Levi, former lead trumpet player in the One O'Clock Lab Band, has published the book "Fathers of First Trumpet," a study of the styles of Eugene “Snooky” Young, Al Porcino and Conrad Gozzo. For more information, see the site fathersoffirsttrumpet.com.

The UNT jazz community joins the Dallas-Fort Worth musicians community in mourning the passing of singer Genie Grant Zoller, wife of pianist and composer Dave Zoller. Notice from the Dallas Morning News.