Red River Scrapbook
New Jazz Singers director debuts at UNT concert
By UNT News Service
Nov 25, 2009

DENTON (UNT), Texas -- Works by music legends Miles Davis, Harold Arlen and George and Ira Gershwin will be among the featured songs for the debut concert of the new director of the University of North Texas Jazz Singers – Tim Brent.

The debut concert takes place at 8 p.m. Dec. 4 (Friday) in the Winspear Performance Hall of UNT’s Murchison Performing Arts Center, located on the north side of Interstate 35E at North Texas Boulevard.

Led by Brent, the Jazz Singers will perform works including All Blues by Miles Davis, Nature Boy by Eden Ahbez and Song for Bilbao by Pat Metheny. Some members of UNT's One O'Clock Lab Band will perform with the Jazz Singers, which is the premier jazz vocal group at UNT.

Brent said his decision to come to UNT revolved around the UNT jazz program’s more than 60-year tradition of excellence.

“For me, the extremely high level of artistry and passion the students at UNT have were the biggest factors that made me want to join the faculty,” said Brent, who was selected as assistant professor of jazz and director of vocal jazz studies at UNT’s College of Music this fall. “I hope to bring a fresh musical perspective and an energy that will help to not only maintain the high level that the vocal jazz studies program has achieved, but help it to grow and flourish into the 21st century.”

Prior to coming to UNT, Brent spent many years in academia. He was an assistant professor and program coordinator of jazz vocal studies at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and was director of the vocal jazz program at Northern Illinois University.

He has been awarded nine times by Down Beat magazine for his work in vocal jazz education, arranging and/or performing. Brent’s numerous vocal arrangements have been performed and recorded by high school and college groups throughout the country.

Brent received his bachelor’s degree in music education from Western Michigan University. He also holds a master’s degree in jazz pedagogy and a doctorate in jazz performance from the University of Miami.

photo of Tim Brent by Eagleton Photography