University of Texas Jazz

10/13/2025

This weekend was full of energy and swinging vibes! Huge thanks to the guest artist Etienne Charles for bringing such an amazing musical experience to Butler. And a special shoutout to student Aidan Berg for making it happen with his 2025 Rainwater grant.

07/14/2025

Congratulations to UT Alum, Altin Brennan Sencalar on his recent appointment!!

We're very excited to welcome trombonist Altin Sencalar to the Thompson Jazz faculty at CU Boulder College of Music. Voted a "rising star" on the 2025 Downbeat critics Poll - Great things ahead for Thompson Jazz and the Colorado scene!!!!

04/27/2025

We’re heading to Japan this summer!!! Learn more about it here: https://music.utexas.edu/news/university-texas-jazz-orchestra-heads-japan-2025-tour

04/11/2025

We’re excited to perform one of Duke Ellington’s masterpieces, “Black, Brown & Beige” at Parker Jazz Club on April 22!! Join us on our final performance before we head to Japan this summer!!! https://parker-jazz.turntabletickets.com/shows/6480/?date=2025-04-22

03/26/2025

We're excited to host our 1st Essentially Ellington Regional Festival at the University of Texas at Austin next Saturday, April 5, at the Butler School of Music. We also incredibly fortunate to welcome the great Lewis Nash as our featured Guest Artist. The festival is open to the public and will feature 20 phenomenal bands. Check it out!!

11/11/2024

Exciting week ahead at UT-Austin for Jazz Studies:
Tuesday 11/12 - AIME & Super Sax Ensemble
(Recital Studio 7:30pm - FREE)
https://music.utexas.edu/events/4622-alternative-improvisation-music-ensemble
Wednesday 11/13 - UT Jazz Combo's wsg/ Michael Dease
(The Loft @ Mozart's Coffee Roasters 7-9pm - FREE)
https://mozartscoffee.com/pages/events
Friday 11/15 - UT Jazz Orchestras wsg/ Michael Dease
(Bates Recital Hall 7:30-9:30pm)
https://music.utexas.edu/events/4624-jazz-orchestras

Diego Rivera, director of Jazz OrchestraMichael Sailors, director of Jazz EnsembleThis event will be streamedWorks by Duke Ellington, Benny Carter, Michael Dease, +more...

10/05/2024

We are honored to host the great Branford Marsalis at the Butler School of Music this coming week!! Our students will work with him for 3 days in preparation for our concert featuring Mr. Marsalis as a guest with the University of Texas Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, and newly formed Jazz Band. The concert will be in Bates Recital Hall and presented by Texas Performing Arts.
Looking forward to an inspiring week!!

Branford Marsalis continues to thrill audiences around the world while racking up achievements, even after four decades in the international spotlight. From his initial recognition as a young jazz lion, he has expanded his vision as an instrumentalist, composer, and educator, crossing stylistic boun...

09/10/2024

Check out this article featuring our very own Dr. Mike Sailors. Congratulations, Prof!!!

https://thedailytexan.com/2024/09/09/ut-professor-and-jazz-musician-releases-first-jazz-record-reflects-on-record-making-process/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAab31neSm8-r2VSf0xJaI7ZNuALuIZfhR7dSTtpqaKAkO2WDH0RCtGyA4Xw_aem_sHGCfMl2E7iubqOTVy381w

Mike Sailors, assistant professor of practice at the Butler School of Music, released his first record, Elias Haslanger meets Mike Sailors on Aug. 16. The record includes 10 songs featuring the piano, drums, trumpet and saxophone. The Daily Texan spoke with Sailors about the record creation process....

09/06/2024

I just released a NEW SINGLE that I hope you'll enjoy!! This is a track from my upcoming release on Posi-Tone Records. The album is a recording of my 2022 Chamber Music America Commission entitled "Ofrenda." Stay tuned for more!!!
I am incredibly honored to be joined with an amazing line-up:
Terell Stafford - Trumpet
Diego Rivera - Saxophones
Art Hirahara - Piano
Boris Kozlov - Bass
Rudy Royston - Drums & Cymbals

Album · 2024 · 1 Song

09/05/2024

We're only a few seats shy of selling out the 8pm show, and tickets are going fast for the 10pm show!! Get your tix at: https://monks-jazz.turntabletickets.com/shows/4311/?date=2024-09-06

Join my Octet at Monks Jazz as we present original arrangements of music by: Yusef Lateef, Smokey Robinson, Kenn Cox, Rodney Whitaker, Donald Walden, Ron Carter and more!! With me is an incredible band:
Mike Sailors - Trumpet
Juan San Miguel - Alto Sax
Diego Rivera - Tenor Sax
Paul Deemer - Trombone
Aidan Brown - Bari Sax
Ross Margitza - Piano
Liam O'Dell - Bass
Daniel Dufour - Drums

09/04/2024

Tickets are selling fast for the Monks Jazz show with my Octet. Get your tickets here: https://monks-jazz.turntabletickets.com/shows/4311/?date=2024-09-06
Featuring:
Mike Sailors - Trumpet
Juan San Miguel - Alto Sax
Diego Rivera - Tenor Sax
Paul Deemer - Trombone
Aidan Brown - Bari Sax
Ross Margitza - Piano
Liam O'Dell - Bass
Daniel Dufour - Drums & Cymbals

08/27/2024

Our 1st masterclass of the year and it couldn't get much bigger! We're honored and thrilled to welcome back Jazz Piano Master Benny Green to the University of Texas on Wednesday, August 28th, from 12:00pm-1:30pm in the Jazz Room (MRH 6.248) at the Butler School of Music. Mr. Green is truly a living legend of our music, and we're incredibly fortunate that he's willing to share his wisdom with our students. Thanks to David Chao, Kris Kimura, and Texas Jazz Society for sponsoring this event.