USF Jazz Studies brings outstanding jazz artists to campus each semester as part of the Monday Night Jazz Series, and the Jazz residency Program. Artists present masterclasses, rehearse and perform with student and faculty groups while on campus.

Previous Masterclasses:

Bob Mintzer and Russell Ferrante

Monday, February 12, 2007

11:00 am and 1:00 pm

USF School of Music FAH 107

No Cost

Arranger and saxophonist Bob Mintzer has made his mark merging a traditional jazz approach with an all encompassing modernism that embraces lyricism, a strong sense of swing, and arrangements that take the listener on an unpredictable and vibrant journey. Besides leading his own New York-based big band since the early 1980s, Bob leads a jazz quartet, is a 15 year member of the Yellowjackets, and is active in music education. In addition to his busy schedule playing and teaching others, Bob still manages to find time to write saxophone quartets, symphony music, big band arrangements, music for the 'Jackets, and etude books.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

11:00 am and 1:00 pm

USF School of Music FAH 107

No Cost

Michael Rossi is the first recipient of the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Jazz Studies from the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and also holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Education from Florida Atlantic University. Some of his performing and recording credits include appearances with Clark Terry, Joe Williams, Tony Bennett, Lou Rawls, Rob McConnell, Bill Prince, George Russell, Micu Narunsky, Bill Watrous, Aretha Franklin, Rosemary Clooney, Ulrich Suesse, Jurgen Brauninger, The Boston Big Band, The Artie Shaw Orchestra, The African Jazz Pioneers, Darius Brubeck, Alec Dankworth, Jack van Poll, Hein van de Gyn, Winston Mankunku, Barney Rachabane, Johnny Fourie and Carlo Mombelli.

Rossi has contributed numerous articles to the Jazz Education Journal, Saxophone Journal, The South African Music Teacher, and authored "Contrast and Continuity in Jazz Improvisation; a Diatonic and Multi-Colored Approach", an Advance Music publication. He also serves as Secretary of SAJE, South African Chapter of the International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE).