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PLU Jazz Day in Seattle May 3 Posted by: Zach Powers / April 23, 2015 Image: The Jazz Sound Trio, comprised of PLU faculty members David Deacon-Joyner on piano, Clipper Anderson on bass and Mark Ivester on drums, performs at Jazz Under the Stars at the Gonyea House. (photo: John Froschauer/PLU) April 23, 2015 Showcase at Tula's Will Feature the Jazz Sound Trio, the University Jazz Ensemble, Student Combos and Little Big BandsBy Zach Powers '10PLU Marketing & CommunicationsSEATTLE, Wash. (April

New Director of Jazz Studies, Cassio Vianna Posted by: Kate Williams / March 14, 2019 March 14, 2019 By Mackenzie Cooper '19PLU’s music faculty welcomes their newest hire, Cassio Vianna. The native of Brazil brings with him an extensive resume of teaching, composing, and performing jazz music. This year, he’ll begin a new journey channeling his passion into educating and inspiring PLU students as director of the University Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combos, as well as teaching History of Jazz

. They have three CDs to their credit, all of which hit top-10 rankings with jazz stations all over the world. This nationally renowned treasure based in the Pacific Northwest has been featured by articles in Jazz Improv, LA Jazz Scene, Brass Herald and more. August 2 – David Deacon-Joyner Trio with Dennis Hastings David Deacon-Joyner is professor and director of jazz studies at PLU. A native of Memphis, Tenn., Deacon-Joyner was mentored by jazz piano great James Williams, and has performed with jazz

professor and director of jazz studies at PLU. He is a native of Memphis, Tenn., mentored by jazz piano great James Williams. Deacon-Joyner came to western Washington from the University of North Texas in Denton, where he held the position of associate professor of jazz studies from 1986 to 2000. He has served as clinician and adjudicator at festivals and workshops in Tennessee, Alabama, Texas, Ohio, Oregon, Nevada, California, New Mexico, Idaho and Washington. He is the lead instructor for the Great

. The Cassio Vianna Jazz Orchestra performed in the Professional Ensemble Concert category. The 50-minute set included pieces from the 2017 album Infância (meaning “childhood” in Portuguese) as well as a new piece composed especially for the conference. Performers included a face familiar to PLU Jazz followers – former Director of Jazz Studies, David Deacon-Joyner on piano. Other talented performers included Greg Yasinitsky from Washington State University (tenor sax), José Aponte from University of

alumnus Dr. Richard Weathermon ’50, the Richard and Helen Weathermon Joyful Noise Endowment for jazz studies created an annual two-day artist-in-residence program to bring a renowned jazz artist to campus to perform with the University Jazz Ensemble and a select local high school jazz band, to lead rehearsals and public master classes, and participate in other educational and performance activities. Last year, the University Jazz Ensemble featured tenor saxophonist, Jeff Coffin. This year, alto

native of Memphis, Tennessee, mentored by jazz piano great James Williams. He studied composition with Donald Freund and Jonathan Kramer, and ethnomusicology with David Evans. Dr. Deacon-Joyner came to western Washington from the University of North Texas in Denton, where he held the position of Associate Professor of Jazz Studies from 1986 to 2000. He received his Bachelor’s degree in composition and Ph.D. in ethnomusicology from the University of Memphis, and his master’s degree in composition from

charters. Aug. 14 The Jazz Sound Trio with Special L.A. Artists Ginger Berglund & Scott Whitfield The Jazz Sound Trio is comprised of PLU faculty members David Deacon-Joyner on piano, Clipper Anderson on bass and Mark Ivester on drums. In this performance, the trio will back Scott Whitfield, one of the world’s greatest jazz trombonists, and his wife, Ginger Berglund, the newest addition to the legendary Modernaires. Read Previous The End of an Era Read Next A Flutist’s Unplanned Path to Success LATEST

Hall of the Mary Baker Russell Music Center. Learn more. Read Previous University Symphony Orchestra Spring Tour 2019 Read Next Choir of the West 2019 Tour – United Kingdom and Germany LATEST POSTS PLU’s Director of Jazz Studies, Cassio Vianna, receives grant from the City of Tacoma to write and perform genre-bending composition April 18, 2024 PLU Music Announces Inaugural Paul Fritts Endowed Chair in Organ Studies and Performance January 29, 2024 PLU’s Weathermon Jazz Festival to Feature Acclaimed

taking PLU jazz to the heart of this scene and will present our music in a variety of formats, from combos to the large jazz ensemble,” says Deacon-Joyner, who serves as the university’s Director of Jazz Studies. All of the featured students will perform together as the University Jazz Ensemble. Throughout the program, the ensemble will subdivide into various “combos” and “little big bands” that will demonstrate different elements of the students’ musical abilities as well as different dimensions of