专辑简介

The University of North Texas Jazz Singers is the premier vocal jazz ensemble within the Division of Jazz Studies in the College of Music. Under the direction of Jennifer Barnes, Jazz Singers consists of twelve vocalists and a four-piece rhythm section who perform a challenging and varied repertoire of jazz and jazz-influenced music, emphasizing close vocal harmonies, cutting-edge repertoire and improvisation. The ensemble was awarded “Outstanding Performance” as a Graduate-level Jazz Choir in the 2012 and 2013 DownBeat Student Music Awards, and has been named the Collegiate Jazz Choir winner numerous times under the leadership of founding director, Paris Rutherford. UNT Jazz Singers has performed at state, national and international music conferences and festivals, including those for the Jazz Education Network, International Association for Jazz Education, the American Choral Directors Association and the Texas Music Educators Association. UNT Jazz Singers is one of four vocal jazz ensembles that are part of the comprehensive Vocal Jazz Studies major at UNT, which comprises a global student population of 30 – 30 students who pursue Bachelor’s, Masters and Doctoral level degree programs.

Jennifer Barnes is the Director of Vocal Jazz at UNT, in addition to being a highly sought-after vocalist, educator, clinician and arranger throughout the U.S. and Canada. She has directed DownBeat award-winning Vocal Jazz Ensembles at eight universities, has served as a guest conductor for District and All-State Music Festivals in 15 states, has taught jazz vocals at the Jamey Aebersold Jazz Camps since 1998, and her vocal arrangements are published by Sound Music Publications and UNC Jazz Press. In addition to her teaching activities, Jennifer is an active performing and studio vocalist, including her roles as alto vocalist, composer and arranger for the vocal ensemble Vertical Voices, as well as singing solo and group vocals for television shows, video games and films including “World of Warcraft”, “Wall-E”, “Enchanted”, “Ice Age (2, 3 & 4)” and “Glee”. Ms. Barnes is a member of the American Society of Composers, Arrangers and Publishers (ASCAP), Screen Actors Guild (SAG), the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), the Jazz Education Network (JEN). She earned the Master of Music degree in Studio Music and Jazz Performance from the University of Miami (FL) and the Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from Western Michigan University.