May 20, 2009

The One O’Clock Lab Band played Manhattan’s famed Birdland, dubbed the “jazz corner of the world,” in March. Dave Berger, conductor of Birdland regulars the Sultans of Swing, invited the lab band to split the evening after talking with Steve Wiest (’88 M.M.), associate professor of music.

In April, the Grammy-nominated Wiest, a former trombonist and arranger for Maynard Ferguson’s band, was named director of the One O’Clock. Professor John Murphy (’84, ’86 M.M.), ethnomusicologist and saxophonist on the UNT faculty since 2001, was appointed chair of the jazz studies division. Both are former members of the One O’Clock. They replace Neil Slater, who held both positions before retiring.
 
Tim Brent, nine-time Down Beat magazine award winner, was named director of vocal jazz this spring, replacing the retiring Paris Rutherford.