2021 Midwest Clinic Program - Two O'Clock Lab Band

Directed by Rob Parton

PHOTO BY MATT HELLMAN

Iam pleased and honored to greet you on behalf of the alumni, faculty, staff and students of the College of Music at the University of North Texas, and to extend heartfelt best wishes for a spectacular 2021 Midwest Clinic. We are grateful and humbled to be a part of such a distinguished conference devoted to strengthening, as the Midwest Clinic Mission states, “… international instrumental music education through extensive professional development opportunities, inspirational experiences and cultivation of rewarding professional relationships.” The University of North Texas continues to thrive as a Carnegie R1 university and has reached a record enrollment of 42,372 students this past fall.

It seems that this moment is one of milestones and watermarks. We joyously celebrate with you the 75th anniversary of what is now the Midwest Clinic as we gratefully celebrate our own 75th year of the Jazz Studies degree

program at UNT – the world’s first such program. Our jazz celebration will extend over the next 12 months and will be highlighted by events on campus and around the world. This evening’s performance by the Two O’Clock Lab Band, led by Associate Professor and Chair of the Division of Jazz Studies Rob Parton, is a testament to the depth and consequence of jazz at UNT. There are not one or two big bands (“lab bands”) at UNT. There are EIGHT of them. The “Two” is joined this evening by Associate Professor and Director of the multiGrammy-nominated One O’Clock Lab Band® Alan Baylock. We also are delighted to feature the virtuosity of UNT Jazz alumnus Mike Smith, as well as the music of Hal Leonard composer/arranger/clinician Michele Fernández. You’re in for an evening of joyous, generous music making. Enjoy!

Best wishes for a fabulous conference. Please keep in touch and let us know how we can help you, and be sure to stop by the UNT College of Music booth on the Exhibit floor. I would love to greet you personally.

Most sincerely, JOHN W. RICHMOND, PH.D.

Professor and Dean of the College of Music

University of North Texas

The UNT College of Music

– serving our diverse musical culture with excellence, integrity and imagination.

by the Dean of the College of Music

WORDS OF WELCOME

TWO O’CLOCK LAB BAND

SAXOPHONES

Chase Scelsi (lead)

Gabriel Burns

Austin, TX

Long Beach, CA

Trevor English Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

Gabriel Nieves

Caden Milligan

TRUMPETS

Miles Roth (lead)

Chris Lyman (split lead)

Rolling Hills, CA

Bellflower, CA

Colorado Springs, CO

Grapevine, TX

Benjamin Carroll Jupiter, FL

Joshua Zeitlin Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

Caleb Pitman Greenville, SC

TROMBONES

Tylar Bullion (lead)

Morristown, TN

Luke Stilwell Chicago, IL

Joseph Garza

Collin Ewing (bass)

San Antonio, TX

Frisco, TX

Teddy Van Winkle (bass) Muscatine, IA

RHYTHM

Katelyn Robinson (voice)

Noah Myers (guitar)

Los Angeles, CA

Buena Park, CA

Ethan Nguyen (piano) Boynton Beach, FL

August Bish (bass) Camp Hill, PA

Austin Crawford (drumset) Tampa, FL

MIDWEST CLINIC SETLIST

IN THE TRADITION (1983)

Steve Owen

THE COUNT IS IN! (1993)

Jim Martin

F.M. (1975)

Lyle Mays

SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR (1939)

Strayhorn and Ellington, arr. Thomas Matta

Guest Artist Mike Smith Alto Saxophone

UNT Graduate Alumni in Jazz Studies 1980

OUT OF THIS WORLD (1944)

Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer, arr. Richard DeRosa

GOD BLESS

THE CHILD (1939)

Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog Jr., arr. Richard DeRosa

ROCKS IN MY BED (1941)

Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn

THE TOUCH OF YOUR LIPS (1936)

Ray Noble, arr. Michael Abene

A SHADE OF JADE (1966)

Joe Henderson, arr. Alan Baylock

Guest Conductor Alan Baylock

UNT One O’Clock Lab Band Director

LA LUZ EN TI (THE LIGHT WITHIN YOU) (2021)

Michele Fernandez

Guest Conductor Michele Fernández

Hal Leonard Publishing

LONG WAY ON A BLUES (1987)

Richard DeRosa

PHOTO BY MATT HELLMAN

DOLL

Billy

DARN THAT DREAM (1939)

Jimmy Van Heusen,

THURSDAY,

SEEMS LIKE

John

IS YOU IS

(1943)

Louis

HAPPY SONG

(1945)

DIRECTOR

ROB PARTON

What a crazy first two and a half years at UNT for me. I thank Dean John W. Richmond, for his confidence and support and to jazz division staff Craig Marshall, Madison Russell and Christopher Walker – your assistance has been nothing short of remarkable. This Two O’Clock Lab Band has given me the most incredible thrill since moving to Denton and I’m fortunate to work with these fine people and superb musicians. The College of Music Division of Jazz Studies faculty is an extraordinary group able to attract some of the finest student musicians.

In Spring 2021, recording began and we were able to safely play without bell covers and masks. When considering the program for Midwest, I felt that the music being recorded also warranted live performances in what I consider my hometown of Chicago. So here we are. Many thanks to Michael Abene, Richard DeRosa, Michele Fernández and the late Lyle Mays. As we learned of Lyle’s death, I immediately thought of his work F.M. which has been significant in my personal development. I recall listening to the One O’Clock Lab Band’s Lab ‘75 when I received this piece to play as an undergraduate student. I think this new Two O’Clock Lab Band recorded version would make Lyle smile and be proud of all the students he influenced over his lifetime. An additional thank you goes to Agustín Alonso who guided me and kept me from going too fast in the studio so as to catch any mistakes or clams.

An added bonus is that North Texas Jazz celebrates its 75th Anniversary along with the celebration of 75 years of the Midwest Clinic. Congratulations.

I hope you enjoy the new era of the Two O’Clock Lab Band, starting with this CD, Long Way On A Blues

ABOUT ROB PARTON

Rob Parton is Associate Professor of Jazz Trumpet and Chair of the Jazz Studies Division at the University of North Texas where he also directs the Two O’Clock Lab Band. Prior to joining the faculty at UNT, he held positions at Capital University, Roosevelt University, and Chicago State University. A dedicated jazz educator, he has directed All-State Jazz Ensembles in twelve states as well as serving as a clinician at universities and high schools throughout the United States.

A versatile and in-demand trumpet player, Parton has been called on to perform or record the music of diverse composers from Karel Husa to Leonard Bernstein to Duke Ellington. He has performed with many of America’s major orchestras including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, and Detroit Symphony Orchestra, to name a few. He has also performed as lead trumpet on numerous Broadway shows in the Midwest and with Grammy, Tony, and Academy Award-winning artists from Faith Hill to Natalie Cole to Tony Bennett. As a recording artist, he has performed on hundreds of recordings for national commercials and with various artists on Concord, Verity, Mark Records, Sea Breeze and Sony record labels.

While comfortable in various musical settings, be it jazz trio or brass quintet or as a soloist with larger ensembles, leading a professional big band is the area in which he has enjoyed the most acclaim. Founded in 1984, the Rob Parton Big Band has released eleven recordings, received three preliminary Grammy nominations, performed at the Midwest Clinic three times, at the International Trumpet Guild Conference, and at numerous jazz festivals featuring guest artists such as Lew Soloff, Conte Candoli, and Joe Williams. Dozens of the Band’s recordings and live videos can be found on YouTube.

ALAN BAYLOCK

DIRECTOR OF THE ONE O’CLOCK LAB BAND COORDINATOR OF LAB BANDS

Born and raised in a small town in Southwestern Pennsylvania, Alan Baylock has composed music that is performed throughout the world. One of the most respected and sought-after jazz composers and educators in the industry today, he is the director of the Grammy-nominated One O’Clock Lab Band at the University of North Texas, and previously served 20 years

as Chief Arranger for the USAF Airmen of Note in Washington, D.C. The Alan Baylock Jazz Orchestra recorded three criticallyacclaimed CDs and performed throughout the United States for 15 years. Baylock graduated from Shenandoah University (BME 1990), where he later became Jazz Composer-in-Residence, and the University of North Texas (MM 1994).

DIRECTOR

Baylock travels extensively as guest conductor and clinician, and has been featured with close to 100 professional, collegiate, high school (All-State and regional) and middle school jazz ensembles. Alan is on faculty at the National Jazz Workshop (NJW) and directed the NJW All-Star Big Band in performances on the East and West Coast. Thanks to the Nu Psi Chapter, Alan became an honorary member of Phi Mu Alpha in 2016, and became an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi (Kappa Epsilon Chapter) in 2017. He is an active member of the Jazz Education Network.

Alan’s music has been performed and/or recorded by jazz greats Freddie Hubbard, Jimmy Heath, Michael Brecker, Maynard Ferguson, Doc Severinsen, Joe Lovano, Paquito D’Rivera, Melissa Aldana, Phil Woods, Arturo Sandoval, David Liebman, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Kenny Werner, Joshua Redman, Stefon Harris, Jerry Bergonzi, Nicholas Payton, Sean Jones, Tierney Sutton, Kurt Elling and many more. His eclectic talents have also led him to writing music for Roy Clark, Lee Greenwood, Wynonna, Al Jarreau, Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Spyro Gyra, Ronan Tynan, and symphony orchestras throughout the United States and abroad. His music is published by Alfred Music and ProJazzCharts.com.

Baylock lives in Denton, Texas with his wife, cellist Maria Baylock. In his spare time, Alan enjoys playing table tennis and golfing with his UNT Jazz colleagues.

DIRECTOR

Michele Fernández is an active educator, guest clinician/conductor, adjudicator, published instrumental music composer and performer. Her compositions have been premiered at Midwest, IAJE and Regional Honor/All-State venues. Most recently she is publishing original works for jazz ensemble through Hal Leonard, Excelcia Publishing, JW Pepper, Print Music Source and also serves as a staff composer for the “Jazz Zone” book/ music library series (authored by J. Richard Dunscomb).

Michele frequently serves as a guest clinician/conductor for Regional and AllState groups and honors Jazz/Symphonic groups. She has appeared as a Midwest Clinic lecturer on rehearsal techniques (’07 & ’16), as well as being frequent FMEA Conference lecturer, clinician for Clark College Annual Festival (WA), and holds a yearly clinician/conductor position for FSU summer camps. Michele is a sponsored Hal Leonard clinician, HAPCO Foundation staff clinician and in the past has also served as guest clinician/ conductor/guest lecturer for various universities, including University of Miami, University of Florida and others. She is also a recent co-founder of Your Jazz Education Connection consulting, along with J. Richard Dunscomb, providing both in-person and virtual guidance for educators and their students on various topics.

Michele recently retired from public school teaching after serving Florida’s

MICHELE FERNÁNDEZ

education system full-time since 1989, where her Miami Senior High ensembles consistently earned top honors and gained international acclaim. Her groups have been selected for appearances at the Midwest Clinic (Chicago ’93 & ’98), IAJE (Boston ’94 & NYC ’97), Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland ’96), FMEA Conference (Tampa ’94 & ’97) and have been featured in several national publications. Michele has been the

subject of a documentary spot on “CBS Sunday Morning”, was featured as the cover story in Band Director’s Guide and featured as an outstanding educator in Downbeat Magazine.

In the past, Michele has also taught special education, English and tutored chemistry to ESL students. She is also an active oboist and percussionist in the Miami area and spent several years as a pianist and rhythm section member of a busy local Latin ensemble.

MIKE SMITH GUEST ARTIST

Sinatra included television performances and CD recordings, and the Diamond Jubilee and Come Swing With Me tours (with performances in Japan, Australia, the United States and Europe--including a gala in Monte Carlo for the Princess Grace Foundation). Those years on the road inspired Mike’s third recording for Delmark Records, The Traveler. Mike has continued on as the lead altoist for Frank Sinatra, Jr., touring Europe and the United States. Mike has also held down a continuous weekly gig at Andy’s jazz club in Chicago. This year Mike celebrates thirty-four years at this famed venue.

In his travels Mike has done numerous radio interviews featured on jazz stations nationwide. The Mike Smith Quintet has opened the Chicago Jazz Festival, and Mike is a recipient of the Cannonball Adderley Award for Outstanding Alto Saxophonist in Jazz and a winner of a National Endowment for the Arts award. He has received critical acclaim for his album, Sinatra Songbook, which features liner notes by Frank Sinatra and Frank Sinatra, Jr. Mike is also a Keilwerth saxophone and D’Addario woodwind artist. He has performed as a guest soloist and lecturer, giving masterclasses and concerts at Eastman School of Music, University of North Texas, Berklee School of Music, Pepperdine University, University of Miami, and University of Colorado, Boulder, to name a few.

A Chicago native, Mike Smith first became enthralled with jazz as an eleven-year-old beginning band student. And his dedication to the art form was so great that eight years later he won the coveted Charlie Parker Scholarship to North Texas State University and was a student of famed saxophone professor Jim Riggs. He earned a bachelor of music in jazz performance.

Mike has performed and recorded with over a hundred jazz greats, including Nat Adderley,

Clark Terry, Art Farmer, Tony Bennett, Jimmy Heath, Natalie Cole, Linda Ronstadt, Diane Schuur, Gloria Morgan, Kurt Elling, Nancy Wilson, Frank Sinatra and Frank Sinatra Jr. He is featured as lead altoist on the Harry Connick, Jr. album Come By Me on CBS Columbia.

After spending time with the bands of Maynard Ferguson and Buddy Rich, Mike joined Frank Sinatra’s core band as lead altoist and music contractor. His stint with

Mike has also performed with and workshopped the Navy and Air Force bands in Washington, D.C. His tours have taken him to Southeast Asia, Scandinavia, France, Germany, and the World Saxophone Congress in Spain. He is currently active in the Chicago recording scene, doing national spots for radio and television, Professor of Saxophone at the Chicago College of the Performing Arts at Roosevelt University and performing with his group, the Mike Smith Quartet.

ADMINISTRATION

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS SYSTEM

LESA ROE

Chancellor UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS NEAL SMATRESK President

JENNIFER COWLEY

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs COLLEGE OF MUSIC

JOHN W. RICHMOND

Professor and Dean

WARREN HENRY

Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

FELIX OLSCHOFKA Associate Dean for Operations

EMILITA MARIN Assistant Dean for Business and Finance

RAYMOND ROWELL

Assistant Dean for Enrollment Management and External Affairs

KIRSTEN BROBERG Director of Undergraduate Studies

JAYMEE HAEFNER Director of Graduate Studies

BENJAMIN BRAND

Chair, Division of Music History, Theory and Ethnomusicology

MOLLY FILLMORE Chair, Division of Vocal Studies

STEVEN HARLOS Chair, Division of Keyboard Studies

JOSEPH KLEIN Chair, Division of Composition Studies

KIMBERLY COLE LUEVANO

Chair, Division of Instrumental Studies

ROB PARTON Chair, Division of Jazz Studies

SEAN POWELL Chair, Division of Music Education

ANDREW TRACHSEL Chair, Division of Conducting and Ensembles

MATT HARDMAN

Director, Communications, Marketing and Public Relations

BLAIR LIIKALA Director, Recording Services

JOEL WILEY Director, Admissions

CRAIG MARSHALL Lab Band Manager

MATT HELLMAN

Program Design, Graphic Design Specialist