Guest Artists

Kirk Garrison
Kirk Garrison is a professional musician residing in the Chicago area. He attended Mankato State University in his home state of Minnesota from 1978-1983. During a nine year United States Air Force Band career he developed his unique abilities as a lead trumpet player, creative jazz soloist and writer. One of the peaks of his military career was an assignment as musical director for a select band deployed to the Middle East during operation Desert Storm. Kirk left the Air Force in 1992 to complete his Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies at DePaul University (June 1995). While at DePaul he received many music awards and academic honors, including Downbeat Magazine's Outstanding Jazz Soloist (1995), and Outstanding Combo Awards (1994).

Kirk performs and records with several notable jazz ensembles throughout the country. Recent performance credits include, The Munich Philharmonic Orchestra Brass (Blechschaden), the Chicago Jazz Festival, The Chicago BluesFestival, and with the Ravinia Festival Orchestra. His compositions and arrangements are used in an array of contemporary performing mediums throughout the music industry. Commissions include: DePaul Univerity, Rob Parton's Jazz Tech Big Band, The Chicago String Ensemble under the direction of Allan Lewis, the Millar Brass Ensemble at Northwestern University, and dozens of other professional organizations.

Howard Reich, jazz critic for the Chicago Tribune wrote, "The spectacular trumpet solo that Kirk Garrison offered... reminded listeners why the Jazz Members Big Band stands among the best repertory units in the country." Cadence Magazine's jazz critic Jack Bowers wrote "Kirk Garrison's marvelous trumpet work ... so moving it brought tears to my eyes." His trumpet artistry was described as "cool work" by John Von Rhein, music critic of the Chicago Tribune. John Killoch of Mainly Big Bands (UK) wrote in a review, "This guy nails the section with a big, accurate lead sound and when he flexes his chops ... the sound is again right down the middle, in tune, big and so high. Musical is a good way to put it. An object lesson to anyone who aspires to be a top lead trumpeter." http://dansr.com/wick/artists/4/20/kirk-garrison

Tony Gulizia
Born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, Tony Gulizia started his music career early, at the age of 8, working with his father, and, later, with Joey, his brother.  Tony studied music at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.  It was there the Gulizia Brothers were formed. In 1979, the talented musical duo began working, in conjunction with the Nebraska Arts Council, in the Artists in Schools program.  By 1990, their involvement in music programs for youth had escalated to leadership in the Mid-America Arts Alliance, involving themselves increasingly in Artist in Schools programs spanning a 7-state region.

Tony worked the very first jazz camp and hasn’t missed a one!  All 24!  He’s always a favorite with the students and the audiences.  He’s an incredible teacher, a great player and a marvelous crooner.  (plus a good schmoozer!)

In 21 years, the Gulizia Brothers have completed well over 250 residencies, and have worked with well over 100,000 students, grade levels K through 12, as well as with college and university students.  In 1992, Tony, his wife, Liane, and their three sons moved to Edwards, Colorado.  Tony and Liane both work as music educators with the Eagle County School District. Tony, a superbly talented musician and composer, maintains a busy schedule, performing virtually every day of the week in Beaver Creek.  In 1997, Tony and Joey received the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Education.   His passion is his music—and, of course, working with young people.   He is accompanist for the Eagle Valley Children’s Chorale, which is directed, of course, by Liane Gulizia.  Tony has a great love for music.  “Viva la musica!!!” says he.

Joey Gulizia
Joey has been performing since the age of ten, and continues to perform as a professional musician. He has proven diversity by working in many musical situations such as a featured artist with the Omaha Symphony, Nebraska Jazz Orchestra, Nebraska Brass, and countless other musical groups including his own. He has entertained on many cruise ships and has performed in Japan, Europe and the Caribbean.

Since 1979, Joey has done hundreds of week-long residencies in schools sponsored by the Nebraska Arts Council. He has been involved teaching music at the Nebraska Scholars institute since 1982 and works as a jazz clinician in schools and universities throughout the Midwest.

Joey started working the very first jazz camp and has only missed 1 – the summer his wife has his baby daughter.  Joey is always amazing with all the new percussion information he has to teach us every day.  He’s so inventive and talented.

Joey began studying music at the age of six and plays many instruments. He specializes in the field of percussion and has acquired a collection of instruments from around-the-world. He also performs as a soloist using soprano sax and a MIDI wind controller. Joey can be heard on many CD's, commercials, and soundtracks.

Andy Hall
Andy Hall is a professional bassist on both the acoustic and electric bass. Versatility is the key to his success playing with a wide variety of groups and in many different styles. His favorite style of music, "Jazz" is the style of choice. He finds this style the most challenging, yet the most musically rewarding. Jazz improvising pushes the players to their highest level of musical communication.

Hall is a graduate of the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education. He is currently the jazz bass instructor at The University of Nebraska Omaha.

For the past twenty-three years, Hall has played bass with the nationally known jazz vocalist, Marilyn Maye. In addition to performing, he spends a great deal of time teaching at jazz workshops, jazz camps, artist-in-residence programs and acts as an adjudicator for jazz festivals. Hall has performed concerts and taught workshops in Japan, Germany and Denmark.

Andy has currently recorded with Marilyn Maye, The Nebraska Jazz Orchestra, The Headliners and The Jazz Factory. He performs each year with a host of players. His past performance credits include Jay McShann, Clifford Jordan, Chuck Berry, The Four Lads, The Four Freshman< Mose Allison, ED Shaughnessy, Russell Malone, Doc Severinson, Freddie Hubbard, Ritchie Cole, Bob Mintzer, The Count Basie Orchestra, Rosemary Clooney, Peter Nero, Don Menza, Pete Christlieb, Bobby Shew many numerous others.