A Fort Worth native, Irwinsky – who graduated with a degree in jazz studies from UTA – has played with Peter Erskine, Louie Bellson, Joe McBride, and the Jim Wiedner big band. He has also played aboard the SS Oceanbreeze, the SS Rembrandt, and the Seabourn Legend.
From his stellar performances in solo acts to playing in large ensembles,Aaron Irwinsky has been dazzling audiences in the DFW area for over 15 years.
Mr.Irwinsky is a graduate of the UTA jazz studies program. Aaron has performed with jazz legends as, Peter Erskine, Louie Bellson Buddy DeFranco, the Jim Widner Big Band, and Joe McBride.Throughout 1999-2000, Mr.Irwinsky was the featured saxophonist on the cruise ships S.S. Oceanbreeze, the Seabourn Legend(which appeared in the movie Speed 2 Cruise Control), and the S.S. Rembrandt.
Irwinsky has lent his talents to many staples in the DFW jazz scene as well. You can currently hear him on Sergio Paimes album "What Brought You Here" and Dave Zoller's new album "Evidence: The Music of Thelonious Monk".
Aaron has performed at many jazz festivals including the Montreux Jazz fest in 1995, the North Sea Jazz fest in 1999, the Katy Jazz fest in 2017, and the Denton Arts and Jazz fest in 2017.Most recently, Aaron performed with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra presenting" The Cotton Club" conducted by Jeff Tyzik. Finally, Aaron has maintained a balance of performing and teaching throughout his care
Ben Bohorquez is a local musician in the DFW area. Born in El Paso, TX, his family moved around from Indianapolis, IN to La Paz, Bolivia before settling down in Houston, TX. His mother taught him piano at the early age of 5, but Ben started taking music seriously when he chose to play the saxophone in 6th grade. Through the band programs, private instruction with local legend Martin Langford, and his father’s church where he became a worship leader at age 12, Ben excelled in music and was exposed to many different styles. Mr. Langford introduced him to great saxophone players who improvised in the different idioms of jazz. This became a goal at an early age. After graduating from the prestigious High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA), Ben moved to Denton, TX to pursue a Jazz Studies degree from the University of North Texas. He was in the last generation of UNT students who studied with Jim Riggs, and the first generation to study with Brad Leali. He recorded with the UNT Jazz Singers I and the 2 O'Clock Lab Band. Ben completed his degree in 2009 and now resides in Dallas, TX where he is a freelance musician. He performs regularly with The Funky Knuckles, Tatiana 'LadyMay' Mayfield, Catie Waters, and RSVP. He has also performed with Snarky Puppy, Bernard Wright, Foley, Foe Destroyer, and the Dallas Theatre Center.
Ben has been teaching private lessons since 2007. His first student is now pursuing a double major in Music Education and Jazz Studies at UNT. Whether teaching beginner or advanced students, Ben has always tried to tailor the lessons to the personal interests of each student, while inherently ensuring that the necessary fundamentals of the instrument and music are instilled. One of his passions is helping students discover what the meaning of music is in their lives and watching them grow as musicians.
Saxophonist Chris McGuire is a member of the University of Texas-Arlington music faculty and an in-demand performer on saxophone, clarinet, and other woodwinds. Holding a BM and a MM from the University of North Texas, his 30+ year freelance career has included performing and touring with many diverse musical acts such as The Duke Ellington Orchestra, country star Jamey Johnson, the Jim Cullum Jazz Band, and the industrial rap of MC 900 ft. Jesus, to name a few. He has worked at UTA for 10 years where he has taught applied saxophone, coached small ensembles, and directed the Jazz Lab. More recently, he has also taught as an adjunct professor of saxophone at UNT’s Jazz Studies Program. Outside of teaching, he maintains a full performance schedule playing for a range of ensembles and recording projects. His extensive recording credits include tenor and soprano saxophone, bass clarinet, and flute parts on One Step Ahead of the Spider by MC 900 ft. Jesus which has also been featured as bumper music on NPR.
David Lown is a graduate (M.M., B.M.) of the University of North Texas, where he performed for three years with the acclaimed One O'Clock Lab Band and directed the Four O’Clock Lab Band. After graduating from UNT, Lown worked for several years as a saxophonist and educator in New York City, performing with many notable jazz artists and ensembles. As a saxophonist, Lown’s recording credits include albums with jazz legends Jimmy Cobb, Dave Liebman, Kenny Wheeler and many others. Mr. Lown has directed the jazz program at Carroll Senior High School in Southlake, Texas since 2008. Under his direction, Carroll Jazz Ensembles have been named national finalists at the prestigious Essentially Ellington competition five times (2010, 2014, 2018, 2020, 2021), where they have won numerous Outstanding Soloist and Outstanding Section awards. Lown was named Carroll Senior High School's Teacher of the Year for 2013-2014, and in 2017 was named a Quarterfinalist for the 2018 GRAMMY Music Educator Award. He is a past president of the Texas Jazz Educators Association and is now on the organization’s board of directors.
David Williams’s saxophone career began as a teenager and continued as a graduate of the jazz program at the University of North Texas. His talent has brought him around the country performing with artists such as Natalie Cole, Wayne Newton, Aretha Franklin, and Louie Bellson. He is a member of the Rage out Arkestra which was the top selection of Fort Worth Weekly’s jazz poll in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. As a bandleader, his original compositions have been nominated for jazz album of the year in the Village Voice critic’s poll.
Jason Davis is a musician, composer, educator, and bandleader whose musical adventure started as a 9-year-old classical clarinet soloist for major civic and state-wide events. The modern-day Texas Tenor Man has performed or recorded with artists ranging from the East Texas Symphony, Judy Collins, and Kirk Franklin to Herbie Hancock, David “Fathead” Newman, and Chaka Khan. Currently, the recording studio manager at The South Dallas Cultural Center, Davis is an energetic performer who also produced hugely successful CD projects for Children’s Literacy, Kwanzaa, Environmental Awareness, and New Orleans Traditional Dance Music.
Jim Riggs is a University of North Texas (UNT) Regents Professor Emeritus where for 38 years he taught applied saxophone and directed the award winning UNT Two O’Clock Band. He is a recording artist and performed regularly with the Dallas and Ft. Worth Symphony Orchestras. Riggs recorded Prokoviev’s Lt. Kije Suite, Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, Porgy and Bess and American In Paris with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and performed with the orchestra on a seven country European tour. Riggs appeared as a jazz soloist with the United States Navy Commodores in Washington, D.C. and has appeared as a featured performer/clinician at Jazz Festivals throughout the USA and Sweden. Riggs is founder and leader of the Official Texas Jazz Orchestra of Denton. As a student Riggs performed with the UNT One O’Clock Lab Band and as a freelance artist performed with Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, Nancy Wilson, Henry Mancini, Nelson Riddle, Miche Legrand and others. Riggs and pianist Stefan Karlsson recently recorded Texas Times, a CD on the Bolo-Digital label. Riggs holds degrees from the University of North Texas, the University of Toledo and is an artist/clinician for Conn-Selmer Corporation and D’Addario-Rico Reeds.
As an award-winning saxophonist, flutist and vocalist from Dallas, TX, Joyce covers the gamut of musical influence, style and genre from traditional to contemporary jazz and classical to R&B, funk, fusion, blues, pop, and Gospel/Christian. The mixing and blending of musical styles in her upbringing is definitely her forte and an asset to writing music and entertainment. Whether it's upbeat music or sultry smooth jazz or ballads, Joyce provides sensational musical entertainment on saxophone (soprano, alto, and tenor), flute and vocals that caters to the fans or venue.
Her educational background includes a bachelor's degree in instrumental music education where she also studied saxophone and flute, classical and jazz, theater, and radio and TV broadcasting. She also participated in the college choir, stage plays, and musicals. After a brief period with the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra on flute, Joyce moved from Louisiana to Texas where her career shifted to corporate America; however, she returned with sheer determination over seven years ago with her first album, "Sweet Dreams", and has since released several more projects, including the latest jazz album. "Many Colors", “It's Christmas Time" and other singles releases like “Cherish” and "Sax-O-Phunk".
She has graced the stage of many music festivals, concert venues, and corporate shows in the United States, but radio stations all over the world are playing her music. Radio stations have honored her with awards and special recognitions such as the GHP Radio Music Award, Sound Fusion Radio Song of the Week, Ssassy Radio Top 20, etc. along with several special features with radio stations like The Jazz Oasis, Coffee Talk Jazz, Jazzy100 and Amazing Smooth and Jazz Radio.
In addition, David McLorren featured Joyce as the lead soloist in two tracks on his Grammy consideration album, “Life Happens”. Other notable awards and nominations are the Black Women in Jazz Female Saxophonist of the Year, GHP Radio Virtual Music Award for Best Groove Featuring Sax, NAACP Music Award (Garland), Coffee Talk Jazz Radio "Heart & Soul Instrumental" Award, ASCAPLUS Awards Panel Recognition and the Akedemia Award for best funk song (Many Colors). South Florida Gospel Music Awards, Best Female Jazz Flutist and Best Producer/Arranger/Composer by Black Women in Jazz and Fine Arts also nominated her Best Female Artist.
When Joyce is not performing, she is hard at work on her next project, collaborating with other independent artists or co-hosting on GHP Radio, "The Indie Live Spot".
Saxophonist Justin Pierce began his musical career in the musically diverse region of the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast. After beginning saxophone studies at age 12, he developed a passion for music in the middle school jazz ensemble. Since that time, he has performed across the United States and internationally, earned degrees in both classical and jazz styles, and taught at the secondary and college levels.
Justin earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Saxophone Performance at the University of North Texas, where he also earned a Master of Music in Jazz Studies. While at UNT, he served as lead alto saxophonist in the One O'Clock and Two O'Clock Lab Bands. As a freelance woodwind performer, Justin has performed with The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Arturo Sandoval, Randy Brecker, Doc Severinsen, The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, The Temptations, The O'Jays, and Wayne Newton.
Justin is a Conn-Selmer Performing Artist and Vandoren Regional Artist. To learn more, visit justinpiercemusic.com.
North Texas jazz fans know saxophonist Karl Lampman as a member of Clave and for gigs with artists such as Julie Bonk and Drew Phelps. Karl has recorded with Tom “Wolf” Morrell & The Time-Warp Tophands and UNT’s famed One O’Clock Lab Band. A native of Washington state, he has taught at Eastfield College, where he was a member of the Eastfield College Faculty Jazz Quintet led by Dr. Oscar Passley.
