UNLV's Jazz Studies program has, for the fifth consecutive year, been invited to attend the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival. The festival, which draws top student musicians from around the world, will be held March 28-30 in Monterey, Calif.
UNLV jazz students will perform among exceptional university ensembles from across the nation in one of the most prestigious festivals for young jazz musicians.
"We are extremely proud of our talented and gifted students," said Dave Loeb, director of UNLV jazz studies.
The Latin Jazz Ensemble, directed by Uli Geissendoerfer, and UNLV Jazz Ensemble I, conducted by Loeb and Nathan Tanouye, were selected through a rigorous audition process by a distinguished panel of judges to compete in the College Big Band and Open Combo divisions, respectively.
UNLV jazz students earned four major recognitions at last year's event. In addition, the UNLV Joe Williams Every Day Foundation Scholarship Jazz Sextet was invited to participate as special guest performers for festival attendees.
Under the leadership of Loeb and associate director Tanouye, UNLV's Jazz Ensemble I garnered "Outstanding Performance" in the large-ensemble graduate college division of the 2013 DownBeat magazine's "Student Music Awards." The Latin Jazz Ensemble also received a 2013 DownBeat magazine Student Music Award for graduate college Latin group "Outstanding Performance," sharing the honor with the University of North Texas Latin combo. National acclaim followed with Jazz Times magazine's praise of the UNLV Jazz Studies Program 2013 CD release on TNC Recordings, "The Four of Us."
The UNLV jazz studies program has been active for more than 20 years. Since its inception, the jazz program has received outstanding reviews from critics, including a five-star rating from the internationally respected jazz publication, DownBeat magazine.
With 20 recordings to its credit, the UNLV Jazz Ensemble has performed across the U.S., including the Hawaii International Jazz Festival, Telluride Jazz Festival, the Kennedy Center and the Village Vanguard.
