The UNLV Jazz Program took home several awards at the 2015 Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival in March. UNLV Jazz Ensemble I, conducted by Dave Loeb and Nathan Tanouye, received second place in the College Big Band Division, competing among some of the finest university jazz ensembles in the nation. The UNLV Latin Jazz Ensemble, directed by Uli Geissendoefer, and the UNLV Honors Jazz Quartet, with pianist Otto Ehling, drummer Colin Woodford, saxophonist Carlos Mata-Alvarez, and bassist Summer Kodama, scored fourth and sixth place, respectively, in the Open Combo Division with Mata-Alvarez winning a coveted outstanding soloist award in the College Big Band Division. The UNLV Joe Williams Every Day Foundation Jazz Sextet, with student jazz vocalist Gary Fowler, and the UNLV Contemporary Jazz Ensemble, directed by Nathan Tanouye, also gave stellar invited performances at this distinguished festival, considered one of the most prestigious educational jazz events worldwide.
