This academic year, the UNT Jazz Studies program celebrates its 75th anniversary as a leader in jazz education. While jazz had been played before at this and other colleges, the Dance Band degree at North Texas State Teachers College was the first bachelor’s degree of its kind to be offered in the United States. Because the degree focused on popular American music at a time when higher education in music dealt primarily with the European art music tradition, it quickly attracted national attention. The flagship ensemble, the Two O’Clock Lab Band, later renamed the One O’Clock Lab Band, showed through its performances at competitions and on tours and recordings that our students were playing and arranging on a professional level.
This university became known as a place where aspiring jazz musicians could develop their talents with the help of a dedicated faculty and a steady stream of guest artists; meet peers who would challenge and inspire them; and prepare to launch their careers with a comprehensive skill set.
Gene Hall, Leon Breeden, and Neil Slater, the first three directors of the program, also directed the One O’Clock Lab Band, our flagship ensemble. Its international reputation for excellence was earned through the hard work of generations of students who were coached to a professional standard; a yearly recording tradition that began in 1967 and has resulted in seven Grammy nominations; and a busy schedule of national and international tours.
By 2008, when Neil Slater’s tenure ended, the program had firmly established its reputation for excellence. The Two O’Clock Lab Band directed by Jim Riggs, the UNT Jazz Singers directed by Paris Rutherford, the small group program and the Zebras ensemble directed by Dan Haerle, and the guitar ensembles coached by Fred Hamilton had established traditions of their own. The addition of a master’s degree improved our ability to graduate well-prepared educators.
Under the leadership of John Murphy from 2008 to 2019 and Rob Parton since then, the program has maintained its standards of excellence while adapting to a changing music profession. The faculty have worked steadily to revise the curriculum. Our doctoral degree has produced successful college educators. We’ve added options in jazz strings and commercial music. Most recently, the curriculum has been revised to include a certificate in African American Studies and to bring more of our students’ work in core music classes into the jazz idiom. The student-led Jazz and Gender Equity Initiative embodies our dedication to diversity and inclusion.
Through all of these changes in leadership, faculty, and curriculum, one element has remained constant: our focus on students and their musical and professional growth. Our alumni community extends to every corner of the music profession. Alumni help our recent graduates establish themselves in new cities; they support the program as donors; and by their varied demonstrations of musical excellence they show our students that there is no limit to what they can achieve with a degree from UNT.
Alan Baylock, director of the Grammy-nominated One O’Clock Lab Band at the University of North Texas, is one of the most respected and sought-after jazz composers and educators in the industry today. He previously served 20 years as Chief Arranger for the USAF Airmen of Note in Washington, D.C. The Alan Baylock Jazz Orchestra recorded three critically acclaimed CDs and performed throughout the United States for 15 years. Baylock graduated from Shenandoah University, and the University of North Texas. Baylock travels extensively as guest conductor and clinician, and has been featured with over 100 professional, collegiate, high school, and middle school jazz ensembles. Alan is on faculty at the National Jazz Workshop and directed the NJW All-Star Big Band in performances on the East and West coast. He is an active member of the Jazz Education Network. Alan’s music has been performed and/or recorded by jazz greats throughout the world, and much of his music is published by Alfred Music and ProJazzCharts.com.
Ian Weidmann (lead) San Antonio, TX
Carly Stock Los Angeles, CA
Andrew Larsen Portland, OR
Trevor English Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Jack Lanhardt Corona, CA
William Ward (lead) Tacoma, WA
Rénee McGee (split lead) Stafford, VA
Craig Schroeder Dallas, TX
David Vest Lexington, KY
Pete Clagett Dallas, TX
DJ Rice (lead) Rowlett, TX
Jack Courtright Burnsville, MN
Jackson Churchill Duluth, MN
Kenny Ross (bass) Sherwood, OR
Ian Calhoun (bass) Red Wing, MN
Kira Goidel (voice) Morgan Lake, NY
Will Peters-Seymour (guitar) Lexington, KY
June Lee (piano) Bloomington, IN
Guillermo Lopéz (bass) El Paso, TX
Colman Burks (drumset) Plano, TX
The One O’Clock Lab Band, under the direction of Alan Baylock, is the premier performing ensemble of the internationally acclaimed University of North Texas (UNT) Jazz Studies program. With an unprecedented seven Grammy Award® nominations from the library of over seventy critically acclaimed recordings to date, the One O’Clock is noted for exceptional individual musicianship and tight ensemble performance. Concerts feature the wealth of compositions and arrangements from the UNT Jazz Library written by current and former North Texas students, by director Alan Baylock, by Grammy-nominated composers Neil Slater, Steve Wiest, and Rich DeRosa (jazz composition faculty), the Stan Kenton and Maynard Ferguson Jazz Libraries (all housed exclusively at UNT), in addition to library classics and the finest contemporary writers in jazz.
The One O’Clock Lab Band has toured internationally with great success over the decades, performing in Russia, Mexico, England, Australia, Portugal, Finland, Norway, France, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Canada, Italy, Germany, Japan, Hong
Kong, Poland, Ireland, and Thailand. The band has toured the major jazz festivals including Monterey, Cork/Guinness, Montreux (first college band to do so), Vienne, North Sea, Spoleto, Pori and Umbria. In 2010 the band attended the 52nd Grammy Awards while touring in California. The One O’Clock has performed by Presidential invitation at the White House, joined on stage by Duke Ellington and Stan Getz. The band frequently appears at major jazz venues such as Birdland (NYC), Blues Alley (DC), Catalina’s (LA), and as the headliner at jazz festivals, music conferences, and concerts hosted by numerous fine arts series, colleges and high schools across the United States and around the world.
Alumni of the One O’Clock Lab Band are virtually everywhere in the professional music industry as performing artists and Jazz educators.
Seventeen full-time faculty members provide UNT Jazz Studies students with an educational environment unparalleled among university programs.
7:30 pm
Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, Jacksonville, FL Concert
12:50 pm
1:55 pm
7:00 pm
2:30 pm
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL Clinic ROOM: MUB 121
UF Jazz Band Hall, Gainesville, FL Rehearsal and Clinic
Bo Diddley Plaza, Gainesville, FL Concert, Free admission
W. Boca Raton Community HS, Boca Raton, FL Clinic and Concert
7:30 pm Palm Beach State College, Duncan Theatre, Lake Worth, FL Concert
10:00 am
The Parker Playhouse, Ft. Lauderdale, FL Concert
6:00 pm Hialeah Gardens HS Jazz Festival, Hialeah, FL Clinic and Concert
7:15 pm
Chet Baker Jazz Festival, Denton HS, Denton, TX Concert
Begin the Beguine (arr. Bill Holman)
Blues in Hoss’ Flat (Frank Foster) Braindrops (Paul Baker)
Brake Check (Brandon Moore) * Corner Pocket (Freddie Green) Down a Rabbit Hole (Ayn Inserto) ESP (arr. Alan Baylock) *
How Deep is the Ocean (arr. DJ Rice) + I Bet You Thought I’d Never Find You (arr. Rich Sigler) * Imagine My Frustration (arr. John Clayton) Interesting Times (Ben Patterson) * Interloper (Thad Jones) Jolly Beach (Annie Booth) Jolly Wallop (Chris Bauer) * * UNT alum
Joy Spring (arr. Scott Arcangel) Lately (arr. Alan Baylock)* Lost to the World (Jack Courtright) + Muttnik (Quincy Jones) Quietude (Thad Jones) ’Round Midnight (arr. Alan Baylock) * Skyline (Jackson Churchill) + Intrepid Fox (arr. Alan Baylock) * The Ramp (arr. DJ Rice) * Tightrope (John Murphy) * To You (Thad Jones) Vortex (Patty Darling) What will you see when you turn the next corner (Miho Hazama) What You Are Speaks (Ariel Glassman) + + current UNT student
Junior
Favorite One O’Clock Chart: Neil (Lab 2015)
Favorite Musicians: Cannonball Adderley, Maxim Vengerov, John Coltrane Hobbies: Reading Peanuts comics, going on walks
CARLY STOCK
Senior
Favorite One O’Clock Chart: F.M. (Lab ‘75)
Favorite Musicians: Kenny Garrett, Roy Hargrove, Kanye West Hobbies: Video games, visual art
ANDREW LARSEN Master’s (2nd year)
Favorite One O’Clock Chart: A Remark You Made (Lab 2021)
Favorite Musicians: Joshua Redman, Owl City Hobbies: Jiu-Jitsu, reading Shakespeare
TREVOR ENGLISH
Senior
Favorite One O’Clock Chart: In the Tradition (Lab ’88)
Favorite Musicians: Troy Roberts, Joey Defrancesco Hobbies: Building LEGOs, Bloons Tower Defense
JACK LANHARDT
Junior
Favorite One O’Clock Chart: Neil (Lab 2015)
Favorite Musicians: Gary Smulyan, Joshua Redman, Chris Potter Hobby: Building computers
WILLIAM WARD Master’s (2nd year)
Favorite One O’Clock Chart: Modus Operandy (Lab 2011)
Favorite Musicians: Maynard Ferguson, Lake Street Dive, Cinya Khan Hobbies: Watching movies, cooking
RÉNEE MCGEE Master’s (1st year)
Favorite One O’Clock Chart: Tenderly (Lab 2001)
Favorite Musicians: Bill Chase, Clark Terry Hobby: Painting
CRAIG SCHROEDER Sophomore
Favorite One O’Clock Chart: 500 Miles High (Lab 2015)
Favorite Musicians: Tom Harrell, Kiefer, Butcher Brown Hobby: Playing Minecraft
DAVID VEST Master’s (1st year)
Favorite One O’Clock Chart: The Rhythm of the Road (Lab 2018)
Favorite Musicians: Tom Harrell, Kenny Dorham, Marquis Hill, Lou Donaldson Hobby: Bowling
PETE CLAGETT Doctoral (1st year)
Favorite One O’Clock Chart: Foe Destroyer (Lab 2006)
Favorite Musicians: Miles Davis, John Coltrane Hobbies: Anything outdoor related, DIY home improvement
DJ RICE Master’s (1st year)
Favorite One O’Clock Chart: Blues for Kazu (Lab 2018)
Favorite Musicians: Steve Davis, Bob Brookmeyer Hobbies: Super Smash Bros., Cooking
JACK COURTRIGHT Master’s (2nd year)
Favorite One O’Clock Chart: What will you see when you turn the next corner? (Miho Hazama)
Favorite Musicians: John Coltrane, Dave Holland, Maria Schneider Hobby: The New York Times Crossword
JACKSON CHURCHILL Master’s (2nd year)
Favorite One O’Clock Chart: Arbutus (Christine Jensen)
Favorite Musicians: James Taylor, Stevie Wonder, J.S. Bach Hobbies: Distance running, disc golf
KENNY ROSS
Doctoral
Favorite One O’Clock Chart: The Last Theme Song (Lab 2011)
Favorite Musicians: Amy Winehouse, Noname Hobbies: Basketball, board games
IAN CALHOUN Master’s (2nd year)
Favorite One O’Clock Chart: Perseverance (Lab 2011)
Favorite Musicians: Arca, Bon Iver, Rachika Nayar Hobbies: Solving Rubik’s cubes, collecting fountain pens
Junior
Favorite One O’Clock Chart: Arbutus (Christine Jensen)
Favorite Musicians: Bill Evans, Lage Lund Hobbies: Reading, hanging with friends
JUNE LEE Doctoral (2nd year)
Favorite One O’Clock Chart: Jolly Wallop (Lab 2021)
Favorite Musicians: Keith Jarrett, Clare Fischer Hobbies: Soccer, table tennis
Senior
Favorite One O’Clock Chart: Yesterdays (Lab 2011)
Favorite Musicians: Barry Harris, Javier Solís Hobbies: Traveling, working out
Freshman
Favorite One O’Clock Chart: Peacock’s Crown Blues (Lab 2017)
Favorite Musicians: Mel Lewis, Sonny Payne, Philly Joe Jones Hobby: Playing Chess
Master’s (2nd year)
Favorite One O’Clock Chart: Cool Kids (Lab 2021)
Favorite Musicians: Shirley Horn, J.J. Johnson, Dexter Gordon, Hank Mobley Hobby: CrossFit
Class of 1994
Favorite One O’Clock Chart: Values (Lab ’91)
Favorite Musicians: Alice Coltrane, Bill Chase Hobby: Table tennis, thrifting
ROB PARTON
Chair, Division of Jazz Studies,
Associate Professor of Jazz Trumpet – Lead Trumpet Emphasis, Director, Two O’Clock Lab Band
Principal Lecturer of Drumset and Latin Percussion
Director, Afro-Cuban Ensemble Director, Brazilian Ensemble Director, Latin Jazz Lab Band
Professor, Trombone
ALAN BAYLOCKJENNIFER BARNESProfessor of Vocal Jazz Director, Vocal Jazz Studies Director, Jazz Singers
Associate Professor, Director, One O’Clock Lab Band Coordinator of Lab Bands
Senior Lecturer of Jazz Trumpet
Associate Professor of Jazz Percussion
Professor of Jazz Composition & Arranging, Director, Three O’Clock Lab Band
Assistant Professor of Jazz Trumpet
Principal Lecturer of Vocal Jazz
Regents Professor of Jazz Bass Assistant Professor of Jazz Strings Director, Jazz Strings Lab
Assistant Professor of Jazz History & Research, Division Coordinator of Jazz Studies
WARREN HENRY
Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Professor and Dean
Senior Associate Dean, Academic Affairs
FELIX OLSCHOFKA Associate Dean, Operations
EMILITA MARIN
Assistant Dean, Business and Finance
Assistant Dean, Enrollment Management and External Affairs MARK MONTEMAYOR Interim Director, Undergraduate Studies
RAYMOND ROWELL
JAYMEE HAEFNER Director, 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
AUSTIN MARTINEZ Acting Director, Recording Services
CAROL POLLARD Director, Undergraduate Advising
JOEL WILEY Director, Admissions
CRAIG MARSHALL
Lab Band Manager, Division of Jazz Studies
MADISON RUSSELL Administrative Coordinator, Division of Jazz Studies
MATT HELLMAN
Program Design, Graphic Design Specialist
