Jazz: The Great American Art Form

About the Author

Jack Wilkins is Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of South Florida School of Music where he is Director of the Jazz Studies program, teaches courses in jazz improvisation, jazz styles and analysis, and jazz history, coordinates the jazz combo program, and teaches applied jazz performance to seniors and graduate jazz studies majors. Formerly Assistant Professor of Jazz studies and Saxophone at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Mr. Wilkins has held faculty positions at Appalachian State University, the University of North Carolina, and as a graduate teaching assistant at Indiana University.

Jack Wilkins is an active performer, appearing as guest artist with numerous professional and collegiate jazz bands, in solo recitals, jazz concerts with his own groups, with the University of South Florida faculty Jazz Ensemble, and as a sideman in many musical situations. Jack is an active clinician and adjudicator for many high school and college jazz festivals in the USA, Canada, Russia and South Africa. He has served on the faculty of the Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshops for over 15 years and is Selmer Instrument Company Clinician. Jack Wilkins is a member of the International Association for Jazz education Resource Team, providing expert advice and counsel to the 10,000 plus members of that association.

Jack Wilkins' career has included performances with many leading jazz artists and entertainers including JJ Johnson, Nat Adderley, Bobby Shew, Hank Marr, David Baker and others. He has recorded with cornetist Nat Adderley, guitarists Bob Ferrazza and Scott Sawyer, bassist Matt Kendrick, and pianist Paul Tardif. Jack's playing can be heard on the two well received CD's by the Chuck Owen Jazz Surge big band. He has also been involved with a number of commercial recordings including John Mellencamp's Scarecrow album.

Jack Wilkins' newest CD release, Ridgelines, on ClaveBop Records, features Wilkins original compositions and arrangements for a variety of group configurations from quartet to nonet. Wilkins saxophone performances are featured along with performances by trumpeter Scott Wendholt, drummer Danny Gottlieb, and guitarist Barry Greene. Ridgelines was selected to be featured on the JazzSouth radio show, a syndicated radio program featuring deserving jazz artists heard on over 100 jazz radio programs throughout the USA and abroad. Jack's first release, ARTWORK, on Koch Jazz Records, received outstanding reviews and radio play.