Robin Eubanks, a Grammy Award-winning trombonist who has collaborated with such musical greats as Barbra Streisand and the Rolling Stones, will be the guest artist for TJC's annual Jazz Festival.
He will share his considerable knowledge and performance skills with young musicians from area schools during the two-day festival, set Thursday and Friday, March 5 and 6, in the Whitehouse High School auditorium.
Eubanks will perform with the TJC Jazz Ensembles at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday in the WHS auditorium. Also taking the stage with will be Tyler jazz pianist, George Faber.
Admission is free, and the public is invited to attend. Whitehouse High School is located at 901 E. Main St., in Whitehouse.
Eubanks is a Yamaha Trombone Performing Artist and former tenured professor of jazz trombone and jazz composition at The Oberlin College Conservatory.
“It’s always a big thrill for us to bring someone of Robin’s caliber to come and work with our students,” said Heather Mensch, TJC music department chair and professor of low brass. Mensch is also director of TJC Jazz Ensemble 1.
“The students get an idea of what it’s like to be a real, working musician by learning from someone who’s spent years in the profession, honing his craft.”
TJC Jazz Ensemble 1 students and their hometowns are: Blane Benson, Longview; Jared Cockrum, Tyler; Collin Damskov, Tyler; Andrew Fitzgerald, Forney; Collin Hill, Lindale; Zach Holcek, Tyler; Jordan Juarez, Lufkin; Faustino Lara, Palestine; Uriel Martinez, Jacksonville; Patrick McClain, Lindale; Cameron Miller, Tyler; Dustin Nino, Rusk; Parker Phillips, New Diana; Parker Rathbun, Tyler; Kaylen Rhodes, Springtown; Mark Simmons, Houston; Austin Stanberry, Rockwall; and Jace Thomas, Chandler.
Micah Bell, TJC music professor, directs TJC Jazz Ensemble 2.
TJC Jazz Ensemble 2 students and their hometowns are: Joshua Anschutz, Lindale; Isaac Bernardo, Kaufman; Hayden Bethany, Mansfield; Jared Cockrum, Tyler; Marli Dority, North Lamar; Dakota Epps, Marshall; Anthony Gutierrez, Tyler; Lupe Hernandez, Tyler; Sebastian Hernandez, Marshall; Sam Hicks, North Richland Hills; Collin Hill, Lindale; David Holcomb, Tyler; Uriel Martinez, Jacksonville; Patrick McClain, Lindale; Dustin Nino, Rusk; Joshua Phakvang, Anna; and Rylee Risner, Canton.
The festival will also include music clinics and performances by jazz bands from area middle schools, high schools and universities. At the conclusion of each school group’s performance, the students will receive immediate feedback from the guest artists on the stage in the form of a masterclass or clinic.
The performances are free and open to the public.
Festival schedule
Thursday, March 5, Whitehouse High School Auditorium
• 9 a.m.: Three Lakes Middle School
• 10 a.m.: Beckville High School
• 11 a.m.: Redwater HS
• 1 p.m.: Hallsville HS
• 2 p.m.: Sulphur Springs HS
• 3 p.m.: McKinney Boyd HS
• 4 p.m. LeTourneau University
Friday, March 6, Whitehouse High School Auditorium
• 9 a.m.: Boulter MS
• 10 a.m.: Chapel Hill HS
• 11 a.m.: Robert E. Lee HS #1
• 1 p.m.: Robert E. Lee HS #2
• 2 p.m.: Brownsboro HS
• 3 p.m.: Moore MST Magnet School
• 4 p.m. Whitehouse HS
For more on TJC bands, go to TJC.edu/band.