2009 Sunset Jazz Artist Series
The Sunset Jazz Artist Series was developed in the Fall of 2002 as a creative outlet for the UNC Jazz Artist Faculty as well as a vehicle to showcase renowned guest artists for UNC students and the community. The Sunset Jazz Artist Series is partially supported by the UNC student chapter of the Jazz Education Network (JEN).
Sunset Jazz Artist Series Archives
Vern Sielert
Trumpet/Composer
Appearing with the Colorado Jazz Orchestra
Thursday September 17th at 7pm
Panorama Lounge
UNC Student Center
20th St and 10th Ave, Greeley, CO
Vern Sielert is an active performer, composer, arranger, and teacher. He is currently the Assistant Professor of Trumpet and Jazz Studies at the University of Idaho, but has also served on the faculties of Baylor University, Illinois State University, and Milikin University. Sielert earned his BM and MM degrees in jazz studies and music education from the University of North Texas, and earned his DMA in trumpet performance from the University of Illinois. His performance resume includes artists like Rosemary Clooney, Freddie Hubbard, The Spinners, The O’Jays, Bobby Shew, Don Lanphere, Gerald Wilson, and many others.
Sielert’s compositions and arrangements have been featured across the country. The University of North Texas One O’Clock Lab Band has recorded several of his compositions and arrangements, and his work is constantly in demand for performances. He is also a regular clinician and adjudicator at festivals and conferences throughout the United States, including Washington Music Educators, MENC Northwest Division, University of Northern Colorado Greeley Jazz Festival, and the International Associate for Jazz Education.
Donald Brown
Pianist/Composer
Appearing with UNC Jazz Faculty
Thursday October 15th at 7pm
Stetson’s Lounge at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center
8th St and 8th Ave, Greeley, CO
Renowned jazz pianist Donald brown is known for his incredible talent and continuous contributions to jazz. Brown began his jazz career in Memphis, first as a drummer, and then studied trumpet at Memphis State University. Brown mastered piano during college, and he continues to strengthen his resume with many acclaimed performances and recordings. His work as a soloist and as an accompanist allowed him to play with the likes of jazz-greats Donald Byrd, Art Farmer, Freddie Hubbard, Milt Jackson, Toots Thielemans, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Johnny Griffin, and Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. He is now known as one of the Memphis Three; which includes legendary jazz pianists James Williams and Mulgrew Miller
Brown’s other contributions to jazz include composing, arranging, and teaching. He is currently a Jazz Studies professor at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, and continues to perform, present clinics, and record. His original compositions have been Grammy-nominated, and are constantly recorded by jazz artists worldwide. Donald Brown upholds the roots of the jazz piano art form through time. His playing can be traced not only through the Memphis area, but it is reminiscent of the entire history of jazz piano—from Bud Powell to Ahmad Jamal.
Mundell Lowe, guitar and Jim Ferguson, bass/voice
Appearing with UNC Jazz Faculty
Thursday, February 2, 2010, 7pm
Panorama Lounge at the UNC Student Center
20th St and 10th Ave, Greeley, CO
Mundell Lowe is one of the most distinctive jazz guitarists of all time. His career began on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, but after serving in World War II, he met John Hammond, who introduced him to Ray McKinley. His list of credits only continued to grow from there. It includes recordings and performances with artists like Peggy Lee, Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, Sarah Vaughn, John Hammond, Hank Jones, Ray McKinley, Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Helen Humes, and Charles Mingus.
Lowe’s success can be accredited to his guitar playing, but also to his work as a composer. Lowe’s compositions are played by groups all over the country, and are considerably some of the great jazz standards. His current schedule includes tours with Ron Carter, Al Foster, Bill Mays, and Ray Drummond, while he also maintains tours with the Andre Previn Trio and the Great Guitars (Charlie Byrd, herb Ellis, and Tal Farlow).
Singer and bassist Jim Ferguson exposes jazz as the most beautiful and raw art form, with his lyrical ability and attention to melody. He studied voice at the University of South Carolina, where he simultaneously began bass lessons and performances by influence of a colleague. He holds a Master of Music degree with an emphasis in Jazz Performance from the same university, and has performed with a variety of jazz artists. His recordings and performances include jazz musicians like Teddy Wilson, Kenny Burrell, Phineas Newborn Jr., Jimmy Raney, Martin Taylor, Al Jarreau, Bob Dorough, and many others.
Jim currently teaches jazz voice and double bass at Middle Tennessee State University. He has a total of twenty years teaching experience at Middle Tennessee State University and Belmont University, and he has participated in numerous clinics and workshops nationally and internationally as both host and clinician.
UNC Jazz Faculty in Concert
Thursday, April 1st, 2010, 7pm
Panorama Lounge at the UNC Student Center
20th St and 10th Ave, Greeley, CO
The UNC Jazz Studies program has been recognized as one of the most outstanding jazz programs in the United States. Our award–winning faculty remains active touring and recording with internationally acclaimed artists, while still maintaining reputations as industry leading researchers and educators. To learn more about the UNC Jazz Faculty, please check out their bios at www.uncjazz.com.
Ticket Prices
- General Admission $10
- Seniors/Students or Faculty (Non-UNC) $7
- UNC Students and Faculty/Staff FREE
