Past Performers

2024

• The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra, directed by Scotty Barnhart, with guest vocalist Carmen Bradford
• Orbert Davis
• Marshall Gilkes
• Maria Schneider Orchestra
• Gary Smuylan
• Anthony Wilson

2023

• Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band
• Tamir Hendelman
• Dennis Mackrel
• John Pizzarelli Trio
• Terell Stafford

2022

• John Beasley’s MONK’estra
• Wayne Bergeron
• Denis DiBlasio
• Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
• Steve Wiest

2021

• Kurt Elling
• Ryan Truesdell’s Gil Evans Project presents Birth of the Cool
• Matt Wilson’s Arts & Crafts
• Dennis Mackrel
• Donny McCaslin
• Terell Stafford
• Jay Anderson (High School Invitational)
• Ryan Keberle (High School Invitational)
• Alexa Tarantino (High School Invitational)
• Ryan Truesdell (High School Invitational)

2020

• The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra directed by Scotty Barnhart
• Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra
• Bobby Floyd
• Dennis Mackrel
• Bobby Shew
• Gary Smulyan

2019

• Randy Brecker
• Mike Davis and the Hip-Bone Big Band
• Bill Evans
• John Fedchock New York Big Band
• Mike Stern

2018

• Sean Jones
• Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra
• Maria Schneider Orchestra
• Jiggs Whigham
• Matt Wilson

2017

• Michael Abene
• Dee Dee Bridgewater
• Denis DiBlasio
• Bill Holman Band
• Pat LaBarbera
• Dennis Mackrel
• Rufus Reid
• Bobby Shew
• Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
• Patrick Williams Big Band

2016

• Michael Davis
• Donny McCaslin
• Bob Mintzer Big Band
• Ryan Truesdell & the Gil Evans Project
• Scott Wendholt

2015

• Jimmy Heath & the Jimmy Heath Big Band
• Bill Holman
• Sean Jones
• Ralph Lalama
• Dennis Mackrel 

2014

• Count Basie Orchestra
• Andy Martin
• Bobby Shew
• Gary Smulyan
• Ryan Truesdell and the Gil Evans Project

2013

• Denis DiBlasio
• Dave Douglas Quintet
• Bobby Floyd
• Dennis Mackrel
• Maria Schneider Orchestra
• Byron Stripling

2012

• Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra
• Jeff Hamilton
• Tamir Hendelman
• Christoph Luty
• University of North Texas One O’Clock Lab Band with Mark Colby, Denis DiBlasio & Frank Greene

2011

• Michael Abene
• Mark Colby
• Dennis Mackrel
• Simone
• Byron Stripling
• The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
• Matt Wilson’s Arts & Crafts

2010

• Michael Davis
• Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band
• Phil Markowitz
• Gary Smulyan
• Patrick Williams with Wayne Bergeron, Warren Luening, Tom Scott & Bill Watrous

2009

• Wayne Bergeron
• Denis DiBlasio
• Steve Wiest
• Bill Holman Band
• Maria Schneider Orchestra

2008

• Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra
• Dennis Mackrel
• Mingus Big Band
• Gary Smulyan
• Jiggs Whigham

2007

• John Pizzarelli
• Matt Wilson’s Arts & Crafts
• Denis DiBlasio
• Matt Harris
• Bobby Shew
• Bob Mintzer Big Band

2006

• Matt Harris
• The Joe Lovano Quartet
• Eric Marienthal
• University of North Texas One O’Clock Lab Band
• Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
• Steve Wiest

2005

• Bill Holman Band
• Dave Holland Quintet
• Steve Houghton
• Clay Jenkins
• Nicholas Payton Quintet
• Bob Sheppard

2004

• Patti Austin
• Mark Colby
• Michael Davis
• Orbert Davis
• Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band
• Phil Markowitz

2003

• Count Basie Orchestra, directed by Grover Mitchell, featuring Butch Miles
• Dennis Mackrel
• Bob Mintzer Big Band
• Bobby Shew
• Gary Smulyan

2002

• Tim Hagans
• Frank Mantooth
• Nicholas Payton’s Louis Armstrong Celebration
• Chris Vadala
• Phil Woods Quintet

2001

• Jeremy Davenport
• John Fedchock New York Big Band
• Matt Harris
• Pat LaBarbera
• Clark Terry

2000

• Dee Dee Bridgewater
• Denis DiBlasio
• Bob Florence and the Limited Edition
• Frank Mantooth
• Byron Stripling

1999

• Michael Abene
• Maynard Ferguson & Big Bop Nouveau
• Diana Krall Trio
• Lanny Morgan
• Bobby Shew

1998

• Mark Colby
• Orbert Davis
• Bill Holman Band
• Frank Mantooth
• Mark Whitfield

1997

• Bob Bowman
• Denis DiBlasio
• Steve Erquiaga
• Nicholas Payton
• Howie Smith
• Ed Soph

1996

• Randy Brecker
• Ronnie Cuber
• Kevin Mahogany
• Frank Mantooth
• University of North Texas One O’Clock Lab Band

1995

• Pete Christlieb
• Conte Candoli
• Bob Rummage
• Clark Terry

1994

• Nick Brignola
• Paul McKee
• Orbert Davis
• Frank Mantooth

1993

• Tom Garling
• Bud Harner
• Mike Tomaro
• New York Voices

1992

• Louie Bellson
• Conte Candoli
• Pete Christlieb
• Denis DiBlasio
• Terry Gibbs
• Lee Konitz
• Frank Mantooth
• Roger Schueler
• Bobby Shew
• Kelly Sill
• Clark Terry
• Uncle Festive
• Jiggs Whigham

1991

• Bob Bowker
• Alan Broadbent
• Gary Foster

1990

• Bill Evans
• Art Farmer
• Frank Mantooth

1989

• Denis DiBlasio
• Frank Mantooth
• Bobby Shew

1988

• Pat LaBarbera
• Roger Schueler
• Ed Soph
• Clark Terry
• Phil Wilson

1987

• Conte Candoli
• Kelly Sill
• Jiggs Whigham

1986

• Steve Houghton
• Rob McConnell
• Bobby Shew

1985

• Louie Bellson
• Bunky Green
• Warren Kime
• Frank Mantooth

1984

• Ashley Alexander
• Dick Buckley
• Terry Gibbs
• Frank Mantooth

1983

• Pete Christlieb
• Jay Daversa
• Les Hooper

1982

• Bob Brookmeyer
• Dick Buckley
• Clark Terry

1981

• Dick Buckley
• Bud Harner
• Lee Konitz
• Rob McConnell

1980

• Dick Buckley
• Barret Deems
• Milt Jackson
• Don Rader

1979

• Dan Morgenstern
• Clark Terry
• Paul Tolosko
• Ernie Wilkins

1978

• Don Menza
• Dan Morgenstern
• Kai Winding

1977

• Jamey Aebersold
• Louie Bellson
• Dan Morgenstern

1976

• Jamey Aebersold
• James Coffin
• Paul Tolosko
• Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra

1975

• Jerry Coleman
• Joe Daley
• Paul Tolosko

1974

• James Coffin
• John LaPorta
• Rev. George Wiskirchen

1973

• Julian “Cannonball” Adderley
• David Baker
• Nathan Davis
• Rich Matteson
• Rufus Reid
• Bob Tilles

1972

• David Baker
• Bunky Green
• Buddy Montgomery
• Rufus Reid
• Cy Touff

1971

• Dizzy Gillespie
• Ron Modell
• Charles Suber

1970

• David Baker
• Marian McPartland
• Howie Smith
• Bob Tilles

1969

• Joe Daley
• Robert Share
• Bob Tilles
• Phil Wilson

1968

• Jamey Aebersold
• David Baker
• Bob Tilles