Jazz Band
Undergraduate Program
The Jazz Studies Program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas has been active for more than twenty years. Its founder Frank Gagliardi very successfully built and nurtured the program until 1996. Today, the program offers students the oportunity to earn a Bachelor Degree in Jazz Studies with an emphasis in instrumental or vocal performance or composition/arranging. This degree is based on a well-rounded curriculum aimed at developing performance, writing, historical knowledge, and pedagogical skills useful in both the professional performance world and the fast-growing industry of jazz education.
Graduate Program
Currently UNLV offers an MM with an emphasis in jazz studies performance or composition. Classes include studies in Jazz Pedagogy, Jazz Arranging, Jazz History, Jazz Improvisation and applied private study. Graduate assistantships and part-time adjunct teaching positions are available to qualified students. For further information, call 702-895-3739 or email David Loeb at dave.loeb@ccmail.nevada.edu.
Jazz Ensemble I
The high-powered UNLV Jazz Ensemble I, now under the direction of David Loeb and Bruce Paulson, has toured Europe, Japan, Poland, South America, Spain, Portugal and Morocco. The Ensemble performed at the San Sebastian Jazz Festival and shared the top billing with the Freddie Hubbard Sextet. On a recent tour, which included concerts at the Reno International Jazz Festival and competative performances at the Pacific Coast Jazz Festival in Berkeley, California, the ensemble won first place. Other tours have taken the band to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., the Village Vanguard in New York City, Hawaii International Jazz Festival and the Telluride International Jazz Festival. In addition, the band has performed with such artists as Joe Williams, Bobby Shew, Ernie Watts, Carl Fontana, Louie Bellson and Don Menza, to mention a few. The jazz program also attracts frequent visits by internationally acclaimed artists including Eddie Gomez, Jimmy Cobb, Ed Soph, Eliot Zigmund, Marvin Stamm, Bill Mays, Mulgrew Miller, Bob Sheppard and Walt Weiskopf. Recently, the jazz ensemble recorded with Ron Carter, Phil Woods, James Moody, Monty Alexander, Marlena Shaw, Kenny Burrell, Harvey Mason and Shirley Horn. While our ensemble does maintain a repertoire of standard big band material, the UNLV Jazz Ensemble prides itself on developing and performing original material from members within the organization that gives the group a fresh, unique sound and style. Auditions for all UNLV Jazz Ensembles take place each semester with primary consideration given to sight-reading and jazz improvisation skills.
Jazz Faculty
UNLV boasts a well-rounded faculty, which prides itself on abilities both in the classroom and in the professional playing arena.
Full-Time Faculty:
David Loeb
Assistant Professor of Music
Director of Jazz Studies
Piano, Composition, Ensembles
Dave.Loeb@ccmail.nevada.edu
Bruce Paulson
Assistant Professor of Music
Trombone, Bands, History, Improvisation
bruce.paulson@ccmail.nevada.edu
Tom Warrington, bass
Assistant Professor of Music
Bass, Theory, combos, Arranging
twarrington@ccmail.nevada.edu
Additional faculty at UNLV includes:
Joe Lano, Guitar, Arranging, Composition
Joe Malone, Drums
Joe LaBarbera, Drums, Artist-in-Residence
Rusty Blevins, Saxophone
Marc Solis, Saxophone
Jobelle Yonley, Vocals
Walt Blanton, Trumpet
Johnny Pate, Film Scoring
Sample of jazz courses offered:
- Jazz History
- Jazz Theory
- Beginning and Advanced Improvisation
- Arranging and Composition
- Form and Analysis
- Jazz Keyboard
- Rhythm Section and Jazz Band Methods
- Jazz Internship
- MIDI and Recording classes
- Jazz Ensembles I, II, III
- Combos
- Jazz and Popular Music Studies
- Private Jazz Studies
- Jazz Repertoire
- Music Business
For more information, please contact:
David Loeb
UNLV Department of Music
4505 Maryland Parkway Box 455025
Las Vegas, NV 89154-5025
(702)895-0862
Dave.Loeb@ccmail.nevada.edu