Faculty
The faculty of the UCSD Jazz Camp is comprised of more than a dozen nationally- and internationally-known musicians and jazz educators. Many are considered among the living masters on their instruments and in a wide variety of styles of jazz. The camp faculty includes Guggenheim and NEA Fellowship awardees, DownBeat and JazzTimes poll-winners, veteran performers and rising stars. The UCSD Jazz Camp's unique curriculum gives students direct access to some of the world's leading jazz artists, encouraging them to explore a full spectrum of approaches to jazz improvisation.
- David Borgo — Saxophones
- Associate Professor of Music, UCSD, composer and ethnomusicologist, has performed with Kenny Burrell, Billy Higgins, David Liebman, Herbie Hancock, Gerald Wilson, and Louis Bellson.
Learn More > - Gilbert Castellanos — Trumpet
- Member of the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, former Columbia recording artist with Black/Note, has performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis, Charlie Haden, Poncho Sanchez, and Anthony Wilson.
Learn More > - Anthony Davis — Piano
- The music of pianist, improvisor and composer Anthony Davis eludes easy categorization. Active in a variety of media, including operatic, symphonic, choral, chamber, dance, theater, and improvised musics, Davis has focused upon the integration of improvised and notated expressive resources.
Learn More > - Mark Dresser — Contrabass
- Professor of Music, UCSD, has performed and recorded with many of the luminaries of 'new' jazz composition and improvisation, and is well-known for his musical performances on the film classics "Un Chien Andalou" and "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari."
Learn More > - Lisle Ellis — Bass
- Jazz and improvising performer for more than 25 years, including collaborations with Cecil Taylor, Paul Bley, Myra Melford, Andrew Cyrille, and Marilyn Crispell.
Learn More > - Rick Helzer — Piano/Theory
- Associate Professor of Music and Associate Director of the Jazz Institute, San Diego State University, composer, arranger and jazz educator.
Learn More > - Gerry Hemingway — Drums
- Drummer/percussionist/composer, Guggenheim Fellowship recipient, associated with such artists as Cecil Taylor, Reggie Workman, Anthony Braxton, and George Lewis.
Learn More > - Holly Hofmann — Flute
- Leading jazz flutist, collaborator with such artists as Ray Brown, Frank Wess, Slide Hampton, Kenny Barron, Ali Ryerson, and Cedar Walton.
Learn More > - Willie Jones III — Drums
- Bandleader, composer, and drummer, has played with Arturo Sandoval, Milt Jackson, Cedar Walton, Billy Childs, Eric Reed, Bill Charlap, most recently with Roy Hargrove's Quintet, Michael Brecker, and Herbie Hancock.
Learn More > - Geoffrey Keezer — Pianist
- Former member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, has worked with virtually all of the living legends of jazz including Diana Krall, Chick Corea, Joshua Redman and Christian McBride.
Learn More > - Larry Koonse — Guitar
- Born into a musical family, Larry has been playing the guitar since he was seven years old. In 1984, Larry was the first recipient of a BM in Jazz Studies at the University of Southern California.
Learn More > - Charles McPherson — Alto Saxophone
- Leading bebop instrumentalist, longtime Charles Mingus band member, collaborator with such artists as Barry Harris, Lionel Hampton, Art Farmer, Wynton Marsalis, Tom Harrell.
Learn More > - Jason Robinson — Saxophones
- PhD in Music, UCSD, has performed and recorded with artists including Peter Kowald, George Lewis, Gerry Hemingway, and J.D Parran.
Learn More > - Peter Sprague — Guitar
- Interlochen Arts Academy alumnus, former Musicians Institute and CalArts Jazz Studies faculty member, has performed and recorded with Chick Corea, Hubert Laws, David Benoit, and Sergio Mendes.
Learn More > - Rob Thorsen — Bass
- Active as leader and sideman, has performed with James Moody, Charles McPherson, Ernie Watts, Louis Bellson, Hubert Laws, and Bucky Pizzarelli.
Learn More > - Mike Wofford — Piano
- Lighthouse All-Stars alumnus, past music director for Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan, collaborator with Bud Shank, Lee Konitz, Shelly Manne, Chet Baker, Benny Carter.
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