Division of Jazz Studies | College of Music

June 12, 2013 marks the centennial of Gene Hall's birth. The UNT Music library has commemorated it with this page:

www.library.unt.edu/news/music/music-library-marks-gene-hall-centennial

Congratulations to recent Jazz Studies master's graduate and drumset artist Junho Cha, who has just been hired as a full-time assistant professor at Howon University, in Gunsan, South Korea, the country's top university for applied music study. Junho studied drumset with Professor Ed Soph.

UNT alumni Paul Tynan, trumpet, and Aaron Lington, baritone saxophone, have released the CD Bicoastal Collective: Chapter Three, which also features Dan Murphy, piano; Corey Christiansen, guitar; Ashley Summers, bass; and UNT alumnus Jon Deitemyer, drums. You can hear sound clips at the OA2 Label site.

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Josh Hanlon, One O'Clock lab band alum (M.M. '06), and former adjunct instructor of jazz piano at UNT, has released his debut album on Armored Records (alum Stockton Helbing's label). (un)knowing features Josh's compositions and arrangements, and the playing of Jon Deitemeyer (dr), Brian Mulholland (bs), and Evan Weiss (tpt), all graduates of the program. It is available for download now on iTunes and cdBaby.

New York, NY (May 5, 2012) - University of North Texas Alumni Brett McDonald (B.Mus 2010) and Dave Richards (M.Mus 2009), currently finishing the North American leg of the National Tour of Dreamgirls, prepare to travel to Japan for five weeks with the Tony and Grammy award winning Broadway production.

The pair have performed in over 130 shows since the tour began in December of 2012 in Yakima, WA.

The multi-talented Dave Richards, performs on trumpet and flugelhorn in the production, but was heard on trombone the Grammy nominated Lab 2009, where two of his compositions were also recorded by the One O'Clock Lab Band.

"I am very fortunate to have a job that takes me around the country" says Richards. "From Alaska to Canada, all the way down to Florida and five weeks in Japan - I wouldn't trade the experience for anything."

The critically acclaimed production spends four weeks at the recently constructed Tokyu Theatre in Tokyo, as well as one week in Osaka at the Shiki Theatre.

Saxophonist and flutist Brett McDonald commented, "The experiences and training I had at UNT have proved themselves indispensable in the post-graduation world of the music business. My teachers explained to me what was valued by contractors in the business, and prepared me for my time in New York City - ultimately leading to my role on this tour as well as Dave's."

McDonald was recognized several times for his compositions and saxophone playing while at UNT, by Downbeat Magazine and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.

Dreamgirls is still touring the United States, finishing June 9th in Dayton, OH. The remaining tour dates can be found at http://www.dreamgirlsontheroad.com/ and the production opens in Tokyo on July 29th.

Contact:
Brett McDonald
brett.mcdonald@gmail.com
1.347.989.2738

Brett McDonald

• Currently based in NYC
• A member of the 2011 Downbeat award winning award Two O'clock Lab Band
• Won a 2011 Downbeat Outstanding Performance for Jazz Soloist
• Won best Blues/Pop/Rock group in the 2011 Downbeat awards as a member of the Sweatervescence
• Two Compositions featured on the Two O'Clock Lab Band Album "Under The Radar"
• The Beat In Progress has won two major awards - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ0Q_LpKdAE
• 2011 ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Awards
• 2012 Jazz Education Network Jazz Composition Prize
• A semifinalist in the 2012 North American Saxophone Alliance Jazz Saxophone Competition
• Other UNT saxophonists competed - Aaron Hendenstrom was another semifinalist and Adam Hutcheson was a finalist, with Brian Clancy winning the competition.

Dave Richards

• Currently based in Los Angeles
• A member of the Grammy nominated Lab 2009 - with 2 compositions and 1 arrangement on the album
• Dark Matters - performance at Birdland http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSkNw8YR3fA

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AMP Trio is Perrin Grace, Addison Frei and Matt Young. They are featured in the June DownBeat Indie Spotlight section and also just posted a promo video on YouTube. Their record was released in March on the Armored Records label led by UNT alum Stockton Helbing.

www.amptrio.com | www.facebook.com/amptriomusic

Their music is available on CD Baby, iTunes and Spotify.

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The Alan Baylock Jazz Orchestra (ABJO) performed with music icon Doc Severinsen on March 22, and with legendary saxophonist Ernie Watts on April 24. Doc and the band were showcased as part of the Performing Arts Live series at Shenandoah University. Ernie and the band were featured in Washington, D.C. at the historic Blues Alley supper club. In July, the ABJO will be performing the opening concert at this year’s National Jazz Workshop, and will travel to Miami in August.

Band members include UNT alumni, Dave Perkel (’91), Alan Baylock (’95), Tyler Kuebler (’95, ’97), Luis Hernandez (’96), Jeff Martin (’96), Doug Morgan (’96), Ben Patterson (’96), Antonio Orta (’97), Rich Sigler (’10), and Luke Brimhall (’11).

Laura Otero and Payawarú

UNT students and groups accounted for nine winners and seven outstanding performances in the 2013 DownBeat Student Music Awards. Read about them and listen to their music at jazz.unt.edu/downbeat.

Congratulations to UNT alumnus Charlie Young, who has been named the new artistic director and conductor of the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, replacing David Baker. More information is available in the Smithsonian press release.

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Members of The One O'Clock and friends had a special meet-and-greet with legendary band Chicago this weekend (April 20, 2013). Invited by Chicago trombonist and composer James Pankow, the North Texas Jazz students attended the show and had the wonderful opportunity to "talk shop" with one of the most successful bands of all time.