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Brice Winston
Brice Winston was born in Tucson, Arizona. By the time he finished high school, Brice was playing in two Pima Community College jazz ensembles and lead alto in the University of Arizona jazz ensemble, as well as playing professionally in the Tucson area, winning multiple awards for best soloist in high school band competitions. Additionally, he was awarded 1 of 2 positions representing Arizona in the McDonald's All American High School Band, and earned the lead alto chair in the McDonald's All American High School Jazz Band, which toured the United States for a month in the summer of 1988 under the direction of Bob Curnow.
Brice attended one semester at California State University at Northridge before deciding to transfer to the University of New Orleans for the very start of Ellis Marsalis' new jazz school in New Orleans. Being one of a very few students, Brice got a lot of one on one time with Mr. Marsalis, and a lot of playing time with fellow students. He also had the opportunity to study with saxophonist and composer/arranger Harold Battiste, who eventually employed Brice's services for two CDs on his own AFO label.
Living and going to school in New Orleans gave Brice the opportunity to meet countless musicians as well as exposed him to the vast musical offerings of the historic jazz city. It was in this environment that he developed relationships with some of jazz's most prominent players like Nicholas Payton, Wessel Anderson, Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Mark Whitfield and Terence Blanchard, among many others.
After graduating school in 1994, Brice and his new bride and jazz vocalist Eleonor headed to California for what Brice thought would be a good next step. After realizing it wasn't the musical environment they had envisioned, they moved back to New Orleans to capitalize on all the contacts they had made over the years. After working on Bourbon Street for 3 1/2 years with a blues band, Brice decided it was time to step out and take a chance in the jazz world. It was jazz or nothing. Shortly after this decision, it was a former school colleague that called Brice to join his band. Nicholas Payton, who by this time was a Grammy Award winning trumpet player, was in need of someone to fill his tenor chair, and Brice was more than willing to oblige. Brice toured with Nicholas for the better part of a year.
It was at this time that Brice was developing a strong relationship with trumpeter/ bandleader/film composer Terence Blanchard. As the gig with Nicholas was coming to an end, a door was opening up with Terence. After getting called to play on one of Terence’s movie scores "The Soul Of The Game", Terence asked Brice to fill in for his regular saxophonist on a couple of dates with his jazz sextet. Seeing this as his next opportunity, Brice made sure to make a strong impression, and Terence consequently asked Brice to join his band. His first official date with the band was recording Terence's Columbia Records CD Wandering Moon with bassist Dave Holland and saxophonist Branford Marsalis. Since that time Brice has recorded three more records and performed on ten movie scores for Terence, including 6 for writer/director/movie producer Spike Lee. He is also featured on the newly released Jazziz DVD Flow, documenting the world tour for Terence's Blue Note CD release Flow.
Brice's association with Terence has afforded him opportunities to play with some of the best musicians in the business, ranging from piano great Herbie Hancock, who produced and played on Flow, to veterans Slide Hampton and James Moody. As part of a tour promoting the music of Terence Blanchard in Spike Lee's films, Brice performed with the likes of Lou Rawls, Chaka Khan, Mavis Staples and Gerald Levert, in addition to performers such as Bilal and Bruce Hornsby. When he wasn't busy touring with Terence, Brice was working at home with the best of the best New Orleanian musicians like Nicholas Payton, Ellis Marsalis, Steve Mazakowski, Mike Pellera, Johnny Vidocovich, Roland Guerin, and Maurice Brown, recording on a number of CDs in the process. In addition, Brice became a sought after private teacher, attaining private instructor positions at the New Orleans Center For Creative Arts (the arts high school of New Orleans), Delgado Community College, the University Of New Orleans, and Dillard University.
After living in New Orleans for 16 years, Hurricane Katrina forced Brice and his family back to his hometown of Tucson, Arizona, where he now resides. He is taking the opportunity to share his extensive experience as a professional touring musician with the next generation of jazz musicians in and around Tucson. Brice feels strongly about giving back to the community that helped him develop his craft.
Brice Winston has performed with Herbie Hancock, Marcus Miller, Terry Lynn Carrington, John Faddis, Slide Hampton, James Moody, Ellis Marsalis, Nicholas Payton, Kenny Barron, Chaka Khan, Roy Hargrove, Dizzie Gillespie, Reginald Veal, Herlin Riley, Harold Battiste, Irvin Mayfield, Lionel Loueke, Edward Simon, Gerald Levert, Mavis Staples, Branford Marsalis, Dianne Reeves, Bruce Hornsby, Bilal, Bruce Barth, Donald Harrison, Billy Childs, Geoff Keezer, Shannon Powell, Oleta Adams, Nneena Freelon, Delphaeyo Marsalis, Maurice Brown, Cassandra Wilson, Phillip Manuel, Jason Marsalis, Roland Guerin, Peter Martin, Lou Rawls, Bill Wyman, Theresa Anderson, Wynton Marsalis, Dave Holland, Jane Monheit, Wessel Anderson, Mark Whitfield, Lizz Wright, Mark Turner, George Cables and many others.
Selected Discography
"Flow" with Terence Blanchard / "Bounce" with Terence Blanchard / "Wandering Moon" with Terence Blanchard / "Lost In A Fog" with Terence Blanchard / "She Hate Me" with Terence Blanchard / "The Answer" with Peter Martin / "The Unusual Suspects" with Peter Martin / "Ducktones" with "Donald Edwards" "In The Vernacular" with Donald Edwards / "Love Happened To Me" with Phillip Manuel / "Live At The Blue Note" with Roland Guerin "You Don’t Have To See It To Believe It" with Roland Guerin / "Groove, Swing, and Harmony" with Roland Guerin / "Harold Batiste Presents" with Harold Batiste and The Next Generation /"Fertile Crescent" with Edward Anderson /"Gone With The Wind" with Christina Machado "Comment" with David Morgan / 'Vibes" with Theresa Anderson /"Higher Calling" with Troy Davis /"Just For A Thrill" with Bill Wyman / "Beautifully Human Vol. 2" with Jill Scott
Movie Score Performances
Bamboozled / Summer Of Sam / Jim Brown / Fred Brown / Soul Of The Game / Bo Jangles / Next Friday / She Hate Me / Their Eyes Were Watching God / The Inside Man ? Who The ____ Is Jackson Pollack / When The Levees Broke
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 Doug Tidaback
Doug Tidaback grew up in Mendota, a small farm town in Central Illinois. His first professional gig was with a polka band sponsored by the Lasalle-Peru high school band performing in a beer garden on the river front during his sophomore year of high school. It was with the L-P High School Band that Doug got his first taste of travel and music touring Europe and performing at the 1st International Band and Orchestra Festival in Vienna, Austria. Doug attended the University of Illinois on a scholarship and received a Bachelors of Music in 1982. Champaign was an incubator for all styles of music fostering the careers of such notables as Cecil and Dee Dee Bridgewater, Dan Fogelberg, REO Speedwagon, Alison Krauss, The Smashing Pumpkins, Champaign and many others.
While at the University of Illinois, Doug studied with one of the pioneers of repertory jazz, Professor John Garvey. It was with Garvey that Mr. Tidaback learned to appreciate the subtleties of jazz big band repertoire. Garvey taught an almost classical approach to the literature paying particular attention to the various articulations, dynamics, phrasing and solo styles exhibited by each big band. Under Garvey in the fall of 1980 through the fall of 1982 while still an undergraduate Doug was given his first opportunity to teach and was hired to direct the University of Illinois 3rd and 4th jazz bands and the New Watusi Jazz Unit. During this time Mr. Tidaback would travel to Chicago on weekends to perform with the Chicago Jazz Orchestra. Doug played trombone and euphonium on the Chicago Jazz Orchestra's first album “May Day†that received 5 stars in Downbeat magazine.
Mr. Tidaback has performed with Harry Connick Jr., Natalie Cole, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, The Supremes, Patty Page, Jack Jones, Frankie Avalon, The Pied Pipers, Roscoe Mitchell, Roy Hargrove, The Santa Cruz Symphony, The Illinois Orchestra, The Tucson Symphony and many others. Mr. Tidaback was the tenured Bass Trombonist of the Monterey Symphony from 1985 to 1994 and was a lead trombonist with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra for 10 years performing for the King of Thailand in Bangkok, Thailand during the official Thai Millennium Celebration. Mr. Tidaback has taught at Illinois Wesleyan University, Bradley University, the University of Illinois, Hartnell College, Heartland College, Lincoln College, The Birch Creek Music Center, the University of Arizona and the Catholic Schools of the Peoria Diocese.
In 1998 Doug founded the Heartland Jazz Orchestra leading them to numerous awards, jazz festival appearances and two CD projects, "Live at The Coffeehouse" and "Echoes of Ellington". In 2003 Mr. Tidaback founded the award winning Arizona Jazz Academy that helped raise the bar for jazz education and lay the foundation for the Tucson Jazz Institute. During this time the Arizona Jazz Academy ensembles won over 75 group awards and hundreds of individual awards performing throughout Europe and the United States at major jazz festivals. Numerous graduates of the Arizona Jazz Academy are gracing the finer music schools across the country.
Ensembles directed by Mr. Tidaback have been featured and won 1st Place awards at The Notre Dame Jazz Festival, The Elmhurst College Jazz Festival, The Witchita Jazz Festival, The Eastern Illinois Jazz Festival, The Western Illinois Jazz Festival, The Pittsburgh Jazz Festival, The Monterey Jazz Festival, The Fullerton College Jazz Festival, The New Orleans Jazz Festival, The Montreal Jazz Festival The Reno International Jazz Festival the IAJE Western Regional Conference, The Prescott Jazz Festival, The Teluride Jazz Festival and many others. In September of 2008 Doug led the AJA's Ellington Big band on national television performing for the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon in Las Vegas.
Doug has led groups on tours to Canada, The Bahamas, Mexico and throughout the United States and Europe. Doug's ensembles were featured during the Summer of 2001 at the Montreax Switzerland, Vienne France and Umbria Italy Jazz Festivals.
Mr. Tidaback has recorded with The New Watusi Jazz Unit, The Chicago Jazz Orchestra, Champaign, The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, The Heartland Jazz Orchestra, The Monterey Symphony, Dr. Richard Allen, Bill McGurin and many others.
Doug received a Masters of Music from California State University in 1992, and has completed course work and recitals and passed his oral and written exams towards a Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Arizona.
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 Scott Black
Scott Black graduated from Indiana University (IU) with a degree in jazz studies focusing primarily on playing the trumpet with bass as a second instrument. All of Scott's classes at that time were taught by one of jazz educations pioneers and innovators -- David Baker (who is still at IU.) All of Scott's classes at IU at that time were taught by one of jazz educations pioneers and innovators -- David Baker. Six years in New York City followed during which time Scott (motivated by a sore throat and a desire for more small group jazz work) switched from being primarily a trumpet player to being primarily a bass player. Being a vital part of NYC's music scene provided Scott the best possible jazz education and experience. Of significant influence was Barry Harris, one of the most important educators and leading piano players in jazz. Scott was able to observe Barry’s methods first hard while being in his house rhythm section together with Jimmy Lovelace at Barry’s weekly Jazz Workshops for six months.
Moving to the Midwest in 1983, Scott directed a jazz school, taught private lessons and played bass with the many great jazz musicians in Chicago. A vacation in Tucson led to his now permanent vacation home (as he frequently tells people) and a very busy career as a professional musician. Scott created and performs with the Tucson Hard Bop Quintet and is part of a touring trio with pianist Gary Moran, guitarist Matt Mitchell and vocalist Joe Bourne, performing and recording the music of the Nat Cole Trio. He has also recorded and performs often with Tucson artists: vocalists John Ronstadt and Julie Anne, pianists Arthur Statman and Jeff Haskell, drummers Fred Hayes and Pete Swan and guitarist Ed DeLucia.
Scott is the director of AZJazzArtists.com and books jazz music for all occasions. He is the author of Bebop Scales - How to Understand, Practice & Use. Most important, he is an extremely proud junior high and high school jazz combo director as many of his students over the past five years have received top awards and recognitions for their excellence in performance, leaving many professionals in the field in awe.
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 Neaman Lyles
Neamen Lyles is among the Arizona Jazz Institute's rising stars of jazz performance and pedagogy, Neamen Lyles burns as bright as any. An experienced teacher, clinician and performer in and around Tucson, Neamen brings a depth of training, expertise and experience that provides enormous benefits to the Institute and to every student he takes under his wing.
Neamen has studied with renowned jazz educator Jeff Haskell at the U of A, as well as with noted instrumentalists Dr. Kelland Thomas (saxophone) and Dr. Jean Louis Kashy (flute), receiving a Bachelor of Music Degree in Saxophone Performance (Jazz Studies) in 2003. Since then, he has built an impressive set of credentials, including regular performances with well-known Tucson R&B artist George Howard, and with the jazz/funk ensemble Chille Willie Grove. Presently collaborating on his first CD with nationally known pop recording artist Jay Soto, Mr. Lyles now stands on the threshold of breaking onto the national recording scene himself.
Additionally Neamen's well-established Christian Latin jazz-funk band, Cruz Control, continues its vibrant ministry in and around Tucson, and has earned high praise for its work: the band earned finalist honors in The American Christian Music Showcase in 2006.
In the last several years, Neamen has nurtured a growing studio of nearly twenty talented young students at every age and level of achievement. His students have earned notable placement in regional Jazz and Classical competitions, as well as top honors at Arizona's High School All-State Jazz competition. Most of Neamen's students hold first chair in their local school bands at both the elementary and high school levels.
The Arizona Jazz Institute is proud to count saxophone/flute instructor Neamen Lyles among its distinguished faculty.
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 Julie Anne
Julie Anne has a degree in Music Education from the University of Arizona. She taught choir, general music and theatre in the Flowing Wells District for eight years.
Julie Anne has been performing in Tucson for over 20 years. You may have seen her at Tucson Jazz Society events such as the Diva’s of Jazz or Tribute to Women in Jazz concerts, "Tucson Swings!" dances, the piano bar at McMahon’s Steak House, Ventana Canyon, Westward Look, Cushing Street, The Gas Light Theatre or any number of other events, conventions or weddings.
Julie Anne is one of a kind. The classic numbers Julie Anne sings have been interpreted many times before by jazz great such as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Julie London and Peggy Lee. The quality of her voice, her own unique phrasing and interpretations make Julie Anne one of the top jazz performers in town.
You can find out where she’s performing or listen to her sing on her web‐site:
Her Jazz CD is available for purchase on her web‐site or on itunes.
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 Aaron Kalish
Aaron Kalish has been a performer and a musician all his life. A native Tucsonan, Aaron is a graduate of Amphitheater High School, and the University of Arizona with a Bachelors of Arts in Music Education. For the last eight years, Aaron has been the band and orchestra director at Cholla High School on the west side of Tucson, and has helped at various other schools with their music programs. Aaron has also volunteered with various other groups throughout the area, and around the country, most recently being a part of the touring staff of the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps out of Madison, Wisconsin.
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 Stephen Andrew
A native of Tucson, Stephen began his professional singing career when he was 12 years old singing with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. At age 14, his talent was discovered and he landed the role as the boy soprano in the world premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Requiem Variations.” Since then, he has performed in over 12 countries and in addition to numerous solo appearances has performed at the White House for both President George Bush Sr. and President Bill Clinton. Stephen has also had the opportunity to perform in places like the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, TN.
Stephen is a graduate of the University of Arizona with his bachelors in Music Education. As a classical singer, he has been in over 20 operas at the University and Professional level with the Arizona Opera Company and the Nashville Opera Association. While in college, Stephen took the fundamentals of classical voice training and applied them to vocal jazz and music theater. After graduating, Stephen became a music teacher for 3 years in the Vail School District where he ended up being the choral director at Cienega High School. As a choir teacher, it was critical for Stephen to teach his students the basics of a classical/ healthy singing style and to help them apply that to whatever style of music his students were into.
For the last two years, Stephen has been living as a session singer and professional musician in Nashville, TN where he has appeared on over two dozen professional studio and video recordings in Country, Christian, and Gospel productions. He is happy to be back in Tucson as one of the vocal instructors at TJI where he is proud to share his passion to take those who love to sing and turn them into show-stopping vocalists!
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 Paul Johnson
Paul Johnson has been a choral singer for most of his life, performing music ranging from jazz to classical to pop. Most recently, he sang with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Chorus. In 2005, Paul attended World Fest, a festival of men’s and boys’ choirs from around the world. Before receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music (Voice) from Cal State Long Beach, he performed with its Studio Jazz Ensemble in the Montreux and North Seas Jazz Festivals and the University Choir in Australia and New Zealand. Paul has toured Europe with choral groups, and sang with Cantori Domino in Los Angeles and with the San Francisco Choral Artists. He has sung professionally both as a chorister and soloist in a variety of settings, including studio recording sessions. In addition to singing, he plays French horn and acoustic bass. A high school teacher for 13 years, Paul enjoys teaching young people and is especially excited to be working with the Tucson Jazz Institute’s vocalists.
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 Dr. Janice Jarrett
Janice Jarrett, jazz musician, ethnomusicologist, journalist and educator, received her B.A. in voice and composition from Antioch College in Ohio. Her Masters in World Music and her Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology are from Wesleyan University in Connecticut. She has taught music and art in a number of K-12 schools and community programs, a variety of music courses in colleges around the country, and in the jazz studies department at the University of Arizona. At the UofA she taught Jazz History, coached a number of small a cappella ensembles and directed the Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Since moving to Tucson, Jarrett has performed in Arizona venues with a variety of the state’s best players. Several years ago she opened her own Vocal Technique Studio, and teaches a wide range of students and styles.
Early in her career she performed with and led a number of jazz ensembles on the East Coast and toured as a vocalist with minimalist composer Steve Reich’s ensemble. While in Los Angeles, she led a professional five voice jazz group, Borrowed Time, and was also its chief lyricist and arranger. Borrowed Time performed in the greater Los Angeles area for over ten years. Their backup bands included some of the best of LA's jazz and Latin musicians, now stars in their own right - Alex Acuna, Luis Conte, John Patatucci, Tom Garvin, Russel Ferrrante (of Yellow Jackets). The group’s repertoire featured Jarrett's original lyrics and arrangements of music by Kenny Barron, Moacir Santos, George Cables, Wayne Shorter, John Heard and Freddie Hubbard. Her latest release as a lyricist is on Kenny Barron's "The Traveler," on Universal France/Sunnyside (three songs).
Jarrett is a published lyricist, vocal arranger and journalist whose profiles and reviews have appeared locally in the Arizona Daily Star, the Phoenix New Times and the Tucson Weekly. She has lectured frequently on the arts for the UAPresents Arts Encounters, The Learning Curve and as a scholar with the Arizona Humanities Council Speaker's Bureau for consecutive appointments. She has received grants for research for her doctoral work, from the Tucson Pima Arts Council, and the Arizona Council on the Arts. The latter grant was for a special program, “Music is a Metaphor”, a middle school multicultural and interdisciplinary arts pilot program she designed.
 Grant Cherry
Grant Cherry is TJI's youngest staff member, he is a student and the piano accompanists for our vocal jazz programs. Grant was born in Tucson, Arizona on December 22, 1995. He started playing the drums at age 8, studying the next four years with Chip Ritter, Fred Hayes and Pete Swan. At age 11, Grant became a member of the Arizona Jazz Academy. He was introduced to the piano by Reggie Thomas, who was guest artist for the Academy’s winter concert. A year later, Grant began studying piano and purchased his own digital keyboard shortly thereafter. In the same year, Grant enrolled at JazzWerx under the direction of Brice Winston, Kelland Thomas and Pete Swan. He began studying privately with Brice Winston for emphasis on jazz theory. Grant currently studies jazz piano with Nick Stanley, Arthur Migliazza, Arthur Statman and Associate Professor Mike Kocour, Director of Jazz Studies at Arizona State University. At 13, Grant began his professional career with private parties for Pete Swan and Carole Diamond.
In 2009 and 2010, Grant was selected as first chair for the Southern Arizona District Honors Band. In 2009, Grant received the Outstanding Musicianship Award at the Forum Music Festival in Fullerton, California, and was recognized as Student of the Week by the Arizona Daily Star. Grant has received the Outstanding Musicianship Award from Shawn Cullen, Band Director at Magee Middle School for 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. In February, 2010, Grant received the Outstanding Soloist Award at Northern Arizona University’s Jazz Competition, and in March, 2010, received first place for Outstanding Soloist with a perfect score at the Fullerton Jazz Festival. He performs weekly on Sundays at Old Pueblo Grille.
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