UNT Division of Jazz Studies

Alison Wedding (alum) just released her first album in 5 years on GroundUP Music/Ropeadope Records (Snarky Puppy's sub-label) today. It's called "This Dance."

http://alisonwedding1.bandcamp.com

Michael League produced/arranged it, and it features Chris Potter, Lionel Loueke, Henry Hey (alum), Pete McCann (alum), Ross Pederson (alum), Theo Bleckmann, Zach Brock, and many more. One of the engineers, Jeff Cook, is a composition alum.

Here's a video for the first track:

Students in MUJS 5440, Introduction to Jazz Studies, in Spring 2012 wrote journalistic profiles for one assignment.

Here is one by Kaitlyn Sakry on Dustin Mollick: download PDF of profile

Something remarkable occurred on May 2, 2012 that deserves to be documented here. On that date, I posted the first installment of the North Texas Jazz Discography Project on this site: the One O'Clock Lab Band Discography prepared by Markus Little, pianist and jazz studies master's student. The first track on Lab '67, the first of the yearly One O'Clock Lab Band albums, is "Concertino," composed by Dan Haerle.

Here's a photo from Dan's website from three years before that:

Dan's caption: "Dan on piano with the 1:00 Lab Band in 1964 at the State Department Auditorium in Washington D.C."

On that same day, May 2, 2012, Dan was part of a large and enthusiastic audience for the show by the band Snarky Puppy, made up primarily of UNT alumni, at Hailey's in Denton. Here's a photo from Dan's Facebook page of Dan and Snarky Puppy keyboardist Shaun Martin:

I hope that I remain as enthusiastic about new music as Dan is.

Dan: you're an inspiration.

John Murphy

In Spring 2012, pianist and Jazz Studies master's student Markus Little compiled a comprehensive discography of North Texas Jazz Records releases for all of our ensembles. Working from incomplete spreadsheets begun by students in MUJS 5440 (Introduction to Research in Jazz Studies), Markus used liner notes, the UNT library catalog, and his own listening to compile this set of discographies. While our goal is to create a searchable database, the preliminary version of each ensemble's discography is presented here in PDF so that musicians who participated in these recordings and other experts can notify us about any needed revisions.

View the discography: jazz.unt.edu/discography

The UNT Division of Jazz Studies has a large number of awards this year,
which will be announced in the June issue of DownBeat. Congratulations to our students and their mentors!

Large Jazz Ensemble: Graduate College Winner
Two O'Clock Lab Band
Saxes: Justin Pierce, Alex Fraile, Nick Salvucci, J.R. Rocha, Spencer Liszt
Trumpets: Tyler Mire, Jake Boldman, Kevin Swaim, Ally Hany, Li Xiaochuan
Trombones: Carl Lundgren, Austin Short, Julie Gray, John Gauer, Craig Flentge
Piano: Sean Giddings
Guitar: Jacob Wise
Bass: Daniel Parr
Drums: Greg Sadler
Percussion: Ben Christenson
Vocals: Kaela Bratcher
Mentor: Jay Saunders

Jazz Group: Graduate College Winner
Zebras: Michelle Alonso-vocals; Jacqueline Sotelo-vocals; Adam Hutcheson-Alto saxophone and flute; Alejandro Fraile- Alto saxophone,
Soprano saxophone and flute; Mark De Hertogh- Tenor Saxophone, Soprano saxophone and flute; Luke Brimhall- Trombone; Li Xiaochuan- Trumpet and
Flugelhorn; Roberto Verastegui- Piano; Ian Tucker- Acoustic and electric bass; Jason Valdez- Electric guitar; Colin Hinton- Drums; Sergio Pamies- Director, percussion
Mentors: Stefan Karlsson/Richard DeRosa

Latin Group: Graduate College Winner
Sergio Pamies Latin Project: Michelle Alonso-vocals; Jacqueline Sotelo-vocals; Pete Clagett- Trumpet and Flugelhorn (soloist); Tyler Mire-
Trumpet (lead trumpet); Juan Chaves- Trumpet; Luke Brimhall- Trombone; Kevin Hicks- Trombone; Adam Hutcheson- Alto Saxophone; Alejandro Fraile- Alto Saxophone; Mark De Hertogh- Tenor Saxophone; Abdeel "Tito" Charneco- Tenor Saxophone; Todd Winton- Baritone Saxophone; Dustin Kiselbach- Acoustic and electric bass; Duran Ritz- Drums; Ben Christensen- Percussion; Anthony Corsaro- Percussion
Mentor: Stefan Karlsson

Jazz Soloist: Undergraduate College Winner
Brian Clancy, tenor saxophone
Mentor: Bradford Leali

Vocal Jazz Soloist: Undergraduate College Winner
Trenton Hull
Mentor: Rosana Eckert

Vocal Jazz Soloist: Graduate College Winner
Sarah Kervin
Mentor: Rosana Eckert

Original Composition – Orchestrated Work: Graduate College Winners
Michelle Alonso/Sergio Pamies, "Desabafo"
Mentor: Stefan Karlsson

Jazz Arrangement: Graduate College Winner
Tyler Mire, "Confirmation"
Mentor: Richard DeRosa

Large Vocal Jazz Ensemble: Graduate College Outstanding Performance
UNT Jazz Singers I: Kaela Bratcher, Mikaela Kahn, Katrina Cain, Sarah Kervin, Mihwa Kim, Lisa Markley, Ashleigh Smith, Trenton Hull, Aaron
Schumacher, Seth Weaver, Daewon Lee, Terrence Brown, Paul Shinn, Robert Hokamp, Kevin Bach, Dan Pennell
Mentor: Jennifer Barnes

Vocal Jazz Group: Graduate College Outstanding Performance
CircleSong: Kaela Bratcher, Kathryn Christie, Caity Brady, Tabitha Myles, Sarah Kervin, Ashleigh Smith
Mentor: Stefan Karlsson

Vocal Jazz Group: Graduate College Outstanding Performance
Zebras: Michelle Alonso-vocals; Jacqueline Sotelo-vocals; Adam Hutcheson-Alto saxophone and flute; Alejandro Fraile- Alto saxophone,
Soprano saxophone and flute; Mark De Hertogh- Tenor Saxophone, Soprano saxophone and flute; Luke Brimhall- Trombone; Li Xiaochuan- Trumpet and
Flugelhorn; Roberto Verastegui- Piano; Ian Tucker- Acoustic and electric bass; Jason Valdez- Electric guitar; Colin Hinton- Drums; Sergio Pamies- Director, percussion
Mentor: Stefan Karlsson

Vocal Jazz Soloist: Undergraduate College Outstanding Performance
Kaela Bratcher
Mentor: Rosana Eckert

Vocal Jazz Soloist: Undergraduate College Outstanding Performance
Ashleigh Smith
Mentor: Jennifer Barnes

Vocal Jazz Soloist: Graduate College Outstanding Performance
Kathryn Christie
Mentor: Rosana Eckert

Original Composition Lead Sheet: Undergraduate College Outstanding Performance
Drew Zaremba, "A Happy Song"

Alumni news from Kris Berg:

Kris Berg & The Metroplexity Big Band have released their first CD, “This Time/Last Year”, on the MAMA jazz record label in Phoenix, Arizona. The CD features all originals or arrangements by best selling big band composer, Kris Berg (BM ’86 / MM ’91), and features special guest artists Wayne Bergeron, Delfeayo Marsalis, Clay Jenkins (UNT) and Chris Vadala.

The Metroplexity Big Band includes Stockton Helbing (UNT), Tim Ishii (UNT), Collin Hauser (UNT), Bruce Bohnstengel (UNT), Jeff Robbins (UNT), Brian Clancy (UNT), Sarah Roberts (UNT), Kevin McNerney (UNT), Michael Burgess (UNT), Chris Seiter (UNT), Simon Willats, Milas Yoes, AG Robeson (UNT), Keith Jourdan (UNT), Micah Bell (UNT), Ken Edwards (UNT), Tyler Mire (UNT), Jack Evans (UNT), Kent Ellingson (UNT), Tom Burchill (UNT), Noel Johnston (UNT) and Roberto Verastegui (UNT).

The project was recorded, mixed and mastered at Crystal Clear Studios in Dallas and includes arrangements of “Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise”, “Night Dreamer” and “Gentle Rain”. Originals include the popular “R U Chicken?” as well as “This Time / Last Year”, “Games”, “Pah-Dáh-Pah-Dah”, “Forgotten Thoughts” and “I’m Okay, We’re OK!”

The international release date is scheduled for May 8, with electronic outlets shortly there after, but the CD is available now at: www.krisbergjazz.com.

Recent graduate Julia Adamy and her father Paul, who is also a bassist, are featured in this month's Allegro magazine, published by the New York City local of the American Federation of Musicians:

http://www.local802afm.org/

Look for the link to Allegro and scroll down to the story entitled "All in the Family".

Thanks to Rich DeRosa for sharing this link.

Neil Slater with saxophonist Sylvester Onyejiaka

Fourteen videos from the Nov. 22, 2008 North Texas Jazz Legends event are now available as downloads in the College of Music Online Store. The twelve music videos combine the video as it was broadcast that evening with the audio mixed by longtime One O'Clock Lab Band engineer Phil Bulla. Two of the videos are biographical portraits of Neil Slater and James Riggs produced by Phil Bulla. Proceeds from the sale of the videos benefit scholarship funds established in the names of Neil Slater and James Riggs.

L to R: James Riggs, Bob Belden, Mike Steinel, Jack Evans, Tom Malone, Lou Marini

The One O'Clock will be at the spectacular new Performing Arts Center in Allen Texas this Saturday. The first set will consist of new material for Lab 2012 as well as One O'Clock classics. The second set will be an exciting tribute to Maynard Ferguson featuring the One O'Clock with Denis DiBlasio and Wayne Bergeron. For ticket information: www.allenisd.org/pac.