UNT Professor Rich DeRosa created the string arrangements and conducted the orchestra for the second half of this performance with Joey Alexander from Jazz at Lincoln Center. The second half begins at around 50:30.

Dave Meder, our new professor of jazz piano, has just released the single "Elegy," featuring Chris Potter, from his upcoming debut CD, Passage. Read about it at Nextbop. Here's the Kickstarter page for the CD.

UNT Jazz Studies alumni Jordan Burchill and Mikaela Kahn "started a group called Beth // James a couple years back when a big exodus of UNT grads moved to Austin," Jordan reports. "We recently found out that one of our original songs, 'Lion Eyes,' is going to be in Spike Lee’s newest movie called BlacKkKlansman (in theaters everywhere August 10th). Terence Blanchard did the score and the movie also includes music by Prince, James Brown, and Emerson Lake & Palmer. We’re very excited about this news and we wanted to share it with our UNT family!" Congratulations Jordan and Mikaela!

UNT vocal jazz Principal Lecturer Rosana Eckert has published a book titled "Singing with Expression." It is a collection of exercises and etudes aimed at helping singers develop an original point of view with their songs, react in-the-moment, experiment with interpretation, unlock their vocal potential, and establish deeper connections with their audiences. It is divided into five sections: Timing (phrasing), Tone, Melodic Alterations, Style, and Other Factors. The book comes with over 145 downloadable tracks of Rosana's demonstrations as well as backing tracks in various keys. Styles discussed include Rubato Ballad, Swing, Cha Cha, Salsa, Funk, Odd Meter, R&B, Double time-feel samba, and more! Published by Hal Leonard. Available at amazon.