TCU Jazz The TCU Jazz Ensembles have appeared in concert with such notable international jazz artists as Hank Levy, Don Menza, Urbie Green, Mike Vax , Ed Shaughnessy, Pete Christlieb, Ashley Alexander, Frank Mantooth, Roger Pemberton, Roy Hargrove, Willie Thomas, Carl Fontana, Jon Faddis, Shelton Berg, Rich Matteson, Leon Breeden, John Fedchock, Patrick Williams, Marvin Stamm, Onzie Matthews, Louis Bellson, Clark Terry, Terry Bozzio, Will Calhoun, Dom Famulara, Chester Thompson, Tony Campisi, Peanuts Hucko, the Hal Galper Trio, Chris Vadala, Conte Candoli, Vince DiMartino, Bill Watrous, Dave Pietro, Allen Vizzutti, Carl Saunders, Wayne Bergeron, and Andy Martin.  In addition, the campus has hosted many outstanding professional bands, including Stan Kenton, Buddy Rich, Maynard Ferguson, Count Basie, Mike Vax’s “TRPTS”, the Jim Widner Big Band, and the Stan Kenton Alumni Band directed by Mike Vax, plus numerous service bands. The annual TCU Jazz Festival has become one of the most prestigious festivals in the state.  Since its beginning in 1978, the event has attracted more than 18,000 talented high school players.  In addition, bands have attended the TCU Jazz Festival from as far away as Tennessee, Iowa, and Hawaii.

The band has performed at numerous TMEA conventions in San Antonio, Texas.  Other notable performances include the Mobile Jazz Festival (Mobile, Alabama), Longhorn Jazz Festival (Austin, Texas), Wichita Jazz Festival (Wichita, Kansas), and North Texas Jazz Festival (Addison, Texas).

In May of 1979, the ensemble took a twenty-two day concert tour of the Soviet Union and Poland.  During the spring of 1984, the TCU ensemble toured the New York City area.  In March 1986, the band performed in St. Louis, Chicago, and northern Indiana.  In April of 1987, the TCU Bluegrass/Country-Western Band performed for one week in Tokyo, Japan in conjunction with an American Trade Fair.  In July 1991 and 1999, the band toured Austria, Switzerland, and Hungary, performing at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival, and Vienna (Austria) Jazz Festival.  During the Summer of 2001, they performed at the 8th Annual Honolulu Jazz Festival in Hawaii.  In July of 2003, the TCU Jazz Ensemble performed at the Copenhagen, Pori (Finland), and North Sea Jazz Festivals.  In July of 2007, the TCU Jazz Ensemble appeared at the Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy.  How would YOU like to make a difference?

Thus far, the TCU Jazz studies program has produced sixteen record albums and CDs.  In 1993, the TCU Studio Jazz Orchestra was recognized with a Best Performance Award by Down Beat Magazine.  In 1995, the band was featured on the “Best of College Jazz” – produced by the Sony Corporation and ATA (America Trans Airline).  In 1999, our program was recognized by Down Beat Magazine as one of the top 50 collegiate jazz programs in the United States.  Three jazz ensemble CDs (Classic Mix, Dream On, and Leap Frog) were recognized by IAJE as one of the “Top-10” College CD’s of 2002, 2004, and 2006.

TCU Jazz Band CD's Available:

• New! Just Friends
  
• LeapFrog
  
• Dream On
  

CURT WILSON
Director of Jazz Studies
Professor of Music
 

Curt Wilson has taught at TCU for thirty-one years.  Prior to that, he served as Director of Bands at Ashland College; Ashland, Ohio (1972-1976).  From 1968-1972, he was on the music faculty at Valley City State College; Valley City, North Dakota.  As a professional woodwind performer, he has played with Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians, Glenn Miller – Tex Beneke Orchestra, and many others. In 2001, Professor Wilson conducted the Texas All-State Community College All Star Jazz Ensemble at the annual TMEA Convention in San Antonio.   

Curt Wilson has also served as the president of the Texas Unit of IAJE.  His arrangement of Dave Brubeck’s Blue Rondo Ala Turk was performed in 2002 at the International Clarinet Conference held in Stockholm, Sweden by the Texas Clarinet Consort.  His Concerto for Trumpet and Wind Ensemble was performed at the International Trumpet Guild (ITG) Conference in 2003.  In July of 2004, his elegy for tuba solo and band (Rainbows) was performed at the International Tuba/Euphonium Conference in Budapest, Hungary by German tuba artist Markus Theinert.  In December of 2005, the New York Pops Symphony Orchestra performed two of his Christmas arrangements for choir and orchestra in Carnegie Hall. The Texas Clarinet Consort commissioned him to arrange a Antonio Carlos Jobim medley for a performance at CLARINETFEST, held in Vancouver, B.C. in 2007. Curt Wilson has been the recipient of the Dean’s Teaching Award (2001) and the College of Fine Arts Award for Distinguished Achievement as a Creative Teacher and Scholar (2005).  His jazz ensemble music is available through Walrus Music.