JAZZ@FIRST | TIMELESS VOICES: THEN AND NOW

Step into a world where the elegance of the past meets the creativity of the present. This program will take you on a journey through the rich tradition of vocal jazz, featuring beloved standards immortalized by legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Carmen McRae — alongside original modern works that honor their timeless style. With a voice that blends emotional depth, instrumental-level improvisation and warm storytelling, Jennifer Barnes bridges generations, inviting audiences to rediscover the heart of jazz through both familiar favorites and fresh new gems that carry the legacy forward. She is joined by her husband, drummer Steve Barnes, whose intuitive rhythm and subtle nuance provide the perfect foundation for this intimate, swinging celebration.

 

A complimentary wine and cheese intermission is included with your ticket.

 

Jazz@First Series Sponsor: Al Harris

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Musicians

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Jennifer Barnes, vocals

Aaron Jacobs, bass

Phil DeGreg, piano

Steve Barnes, drums
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About the Artist: Jennifer Barnes, vocals

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Jennifer Barnes is a highly sought-after vocalist, educator and arranger throughout the U.S. and
Canada. Referring to her CD recording, You Taught My Heart, legendary jazz bassist Rufus Reid
said, “Jennifer integrates rich vocal quality, clarity of pitch and emotion with an additional
pivotal skill that sets her apart from other great singers; she sings improvisations that are
melodically and rhythmically interesting from the point of view of a jazz instrumentalist.” Her
voice has been featured on television and radio commercials including Chili’s Restaurant, Epson,
Old El Paso, McDonald’s and Kellogg’s. She demonstrates tremendous musical versatility within
small jazz group settings but also as a big band vocalist, most notably as the featured vocalist on
the Doug Lawrence Orchestra CD, Big Band Swing. Chicago Tribune jazz critic Howard Reich
reported, “she produces a sumptuous, wide-open sound...yet she threw off ornate lines at quick
tempos with apparent ease.”

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During a decade in the Los Angeles area, Ms. Barnes established her vocal presence through both
live and studio singing opportunities, having been invited to perform or record with such
musical legends as Doc Severinsen, Barry Manilow, Cy Coleman, Marilyn & Alan Bergman, and
Bono. Her voice has been heard in feature films including Wall-E, Ice Age 2, 3 & 4, Enchanted, Star
Trek, and the television show Glee as well as the World of Warcraft video games.

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Ms. Barnes has gained notoriety not only for her performing abilities, but also for her
commitment to jazz education. She is an active, long-time member and advocate of JEN (Jazz
Education Network) and has taught privately and directed DownBeat [magazine] award-winning
Vocal Jazz Ensembles for over thirty years, including her current post as Professor of
Music and Director of Vocal Jazz Studies at the University of North Texas. Her proudest role is
that of wife to her husband, Steve Barnes, and mother to their daughter, Emily (and beloved cat,
Pepper!).

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Learn more at jenniferbarnesmusic.com.

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About the Artist: Steve Barnes, drums

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Steve Barnes is a highly acclaimed drummer and educator, whose signature sound and musicality have made him a valuable asset in settings ranging from big bands to orchestras to television soundtrack recordings. He has performed with jazz greats including Gene Bertoncini, Don Braden, Richie Cole, Hank Crawford, Hal Galper, Eddie Harris, Antonio Hart, Conrad Herwig, Dan Haerle, Groove Homes, Jay Leonhart, Dave Liebman, Mundell Lowe, Frank Morgan, New York Voices, Diane Schuur, Bob Sheppard, Sonny Stitt, Marvin Stamm, Tierney Sutton, Bill Holman’s Big Band, Bob Florence Big Band and the Tommy Dorsey Big Band.

 

During a decade in Los Angeles, Steve's professional experiences included not only live gigging and touring, but also television recording (including on-camera playing) for the ABC Family show “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” and “The Middle.” Since relocating to Dallas in 2011, Steve has enjoyed making music with some of the Metroplex’s finest jazz musicians as well as being asked to join the drum chair rotation with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s Pops Series under the baton of Jeff Tyzik.

 

Steve has over 35 years of private teaching experience, including most recently as Adjunct Instructor of Drum Set at the University of North Texas, and serving on the faculty of the Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshop from 2001 through 2019. Past teaching positions include teaching jazz drum set at the University of Cincinnati's College Conservatory of Music and serving as drum set mentor for both the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra’s jazz division from 2012 to 2014 and the Los Angeles Jazz Society’s Bill Green Mentor Scholarship program from 2004 to 2011.

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About the Artist: Phil DeGreg, piano

 

Phil DeGreg began playing the piano in his childhood and now performs as a jazz pianist internationally. His earliest jazz influences were Bud Powell and Bill Evans, but he is accomplished and comfortable in a wide range of jazz styles, ranging from mainstream to bebop to Brazilian jazz. A graduate of Yale and the University of North Texas, he toured with the Woody Herman Orchestra in the 1980s and has 10 CDs to his credit as a leader. For 13 years he accompanied many national and international jazz artists in the house trio in Cincinnati’s famous Blue Wisp Jazz Club. He has been on staff with the renowned Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshops since 1983, and has performed and taught in Europe and South America.

 

Phil DeGreg is the retired Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and is the recipient of two National Endowment for the Arts study grants. In 2008 he was awarded a 4-month Fulbright Fellowship as a lecturer in Brazil.

 

His text “Jazz Keyboard Harmony” is a practical text for teaching jazz harmony for all musicians, and is used all over the world in universities and for private study.

 

Learn more about Phil DeGreg on his website phildegreg.com.