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Lamont School of Music

Faculty: Jazz Studies and Commercial Music

Malcolm Lynn Baker

Lynn Baker

Malcolm Lynn Baker is the Director of the Jazz Studies and Commercial Music Program at the Lamont School of Music, University of Denver, where he directs the Lamont Jazz Orchestra, coaches combos, and teaches Jazz Improvisation and Composition class, Jazz History classes, and Jazz Techniques classes.  Lynn holds degrees from the University of Oregon and Western Oregon University and has also studied at Mt Hood Community College with Larry McVeigh and at Indiana University with David Baker, Dominic Spera and Eugene Robinson.  Before coming to Denver in 1993 Lynn taught at Indiana University and before that Carleton College, and universities in Oregon.

  • Office: Newman Center for the Performing Arts, Room 335
  • Phone: 303-871-6997
  • Email: mbaker@du.edu

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Thomas Ball

Tom Ball

Originally from Louisville, KY,Tom Ball grew up in Aurora, Colorado and graduated from Overland High School. Tom Ball earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Trombone Performance from Berklee College of Music 91', and a Master of Music degree in Trombone Performance from the University of Colorado 98'. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Arts degree in Trombone Performance/Pedagogy with a secondary emphasis in Jazz Pedagogy from the University of Northern Colorado. He has been a freelance trombonist and euphoniumist since 1990, living and working in Miami, Fl., Boston, Massachusetts., New York, NewYork Currently, Mr. Ball is an active member of the Denver Front Range performing and recording scene and has continually maintained a private teaching studio since returning to Colorado in 1996. He was a visiting Assistant Professor of Music at Adams State College 2003-04, and has taught  for the jazz programs of both the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of Northern Colorado. In addition to teaching at Lamont, Mr. Ball currently teaches music for Denver Public Schools.

  • Office: Newman Center for the Performing Arts, Room 402
  • Phone: 303-871-6919
  • Email: thmsbal@earthlink.net

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Art Bouton

Art Bouton

Art Bouton is first call saxophonist and woodwind performer throughout the Western U.S. He has extensive performance experience on all saxophones, flutes, clarinets, and bassoon, as well as the Akai Electronic Wind Instrument. Art is a founding member of the Lamont Jazz Faculty group The Climb and is featured on many of their recordings. He plays lead alto and flute for the Ninth and Lincoln Orchestra and the Wil Swindler Elevenet, contemporary ensembles specializing in new music for jazz ensembles.

Mr. Bouton regularly performs with the Colorado Symphony, the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, and is a member of the pit orchestra at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Mr. Bouton has studied saxophone with Douglas Masek, Roger Greenberg, and Vince Gnojek. Art performs as guest soloist and clinician at high schools and colleges throughout the U.S. and has served on the faculty of the Yellowstone Jazz Camp, Mile High Jazz Camp, the Telluride Jazz Camp, and Clark Terry Great Plains Jazz Camp. Art can be heard playing lead alto on recordings of New Music for Jazz Ensemble by Kendor Music.

  • Office: Newman Center for the Performing Arts, Room 340A
  • Phone: 303-871-6937
  • Email: abouton@du.edu

Eric Gunnison

Eric Gunnison

Eric Gunnison, instructor of Jazz Piano, was raised in a musical family in Buffalo N.Y. and attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, graduating with a B.A. in Music Composition in 1979. He lives in Denver where he has been a mainstay in the music scene for 19 years. Eric has toured and recorded with vocal jazz group Rare Silk, jazz vocalist Carmen McRae, saxophonist Nelson Rangell, and trumpeter Ron Miles. In addition, he has performed in concert with Dizzy Gillespie, James Moody, Phil Woods, Red Rodney, Bobby Shew , Jerry Bergonzi, John McNeil and Eddie Gomez.

  • Office: Newman Center for the Performing Arts, Room 340C
  • Phone: 303-871-6407
  • Email: egunniso@du.edu

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Dave Hanson

Dave Hanson

Dave Hanson, instructor of Jazz and Commercial Music Composition and Arranging at the Lamont School of Music, has written for the Boston Pops, Steve Houghton, Paul Winter, Marvin Stamm, Rhonda Larson, and many others.

  • Office: Newman Center for the Performing Arts, Room 340C
  • Phone: 303-871-6407
  • Email: dhanson@du.edu

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Alan Hood

Alan Hood

Trumpeter Alan Hood hails from the small upstate New York town of Pumpkin Hook and has been performing music for over 30 years.  Mr. Hood toured the world with the Phil Collins Big Band, appearing at the Montreux and North Sea Jazz Festivals and New York City's prestigious Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall.  He is among featured soloists on the band's live compact disc recording "A Hot Night in Paris," on the Atlantic jazz label. Appearing with the orchestras of Woody Herman, Glenn Miller and Harry James, and performing on stage with Ray Charles, Doc Severinsen, Natalie Cole, Manhattan Transfer, Arturo Sandoval, the Richie Cole Alto Madness Orchestra, Jon Faddis, Conte Candoli, Clark Terry and Wynton Marsalis, to name just a few, has rewarded Alan with an array of irreplaceable memories and a well spring of professional experience.

  • Office: Newman Center for the Performing Arts, Room 403
  • Phone: 303-871-6918
  • Email: ahood@du.edu
  • Background:
    • Bachelor of Music, University of Kentucky
    • Master of Music, Northern Illinois University
  • Publications:

    A leading authority on the life and work of jazz trumpet legend, Clifford Brown, his doctoral research topic, Al has to his credit, several published articles on Brown and been invited to present his findings at international conferences.

Alan Joseph

Alan Joseph

Originally from Detroit, Alan Joseph continues to be a musical catalyst in the Pike's Peak Region and Denver. Presently he is instructor of Guitar in the Jazz and Commercial Music Program at the University of Denver 's Lamont School of Music. Along with his studio teaching at Lamont, Alan is part of the acclaimed Lamont Jazz Faculty Combo "The Climb."

  • Office: Newman Center for the Performing Arts, 340B
  • Phone: 303-871-6946
  • Email: ajoseph@du.edu
  • Focus: Jazz Guitar

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Mike Marlier

Mike Marlier

Mr. Marlier has performed and recorded with a number of professional artists including the GRP All-Stars, Mose Allison, Julian Lennon, Dave Valentin, Los Lobos, Images, Steve Haun, Wake Up Call and Nelson Rangell. His drumming can be heard on a host of local and national radio and television commercials. Offering a diverse and well-rounded approach to the drum set, he strives to share his knowledge with his students. Composer and keyboardist Dave Grusin calls Mr. Marlier "Denver's answer to all the superstar drummers. This guy is a great player."

He is currently performing with Dotsero, the Montgomery/Olstad big band, Don Grusin, Nelson Rangell, and countless others. He is also the staff drummer at the Heritage Christian Center, the music coordinator the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, and the drummer for the Climb, the faculty jazz combo in residence at the Lamont School of Music.

  • Office: Newman Center for the Performing Arts, Room 122
  • Phone: 303-871-6777
  • Email: mmarlier@du.edu
  • Focus: Mike has been teaching privately for 25 years and employs a diverse and thorough approach to drumming.

Marc Sabatella

Marc Sabatella

Ken Walker

Ken Walker

Ken Walker, Instructor of Jazz Bass, started playing upright bass when he was a student at Arkansas Tech University, where he received his bachelor of music education degree. He has performed as the regular bassist at El-Chapultepec, and with groups including the Art Porter Trio and the popular Artistry. As house bassist for jazz clubs, Walker has accompanied entertainers and international jazz recording artists such as Mose Allison, Eddie Harris, Jon Abercrombie, Clifford Jordan, Eddie Daniels.

  • Office: Newman Center for the Performing Arts, Room 337
  • Phone: 303-871-6947
  • Email: kwalker@du.edu
  • Background: BM, Arkansas Tech University

Donna Wickham

Donna wickham

Donna Wickham holds a BM in vocal performance and an MM in conducting from the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver.  She performs regularly with St. Martin's Chamber Choir, the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, and the Carnegie Hall Workshop Chorus, and is choir director at Christ Episcopal Church in Denver.  Donna is also an active jazz performer, composer and arranger, as well as a private studio teacher.  She is the vocal jazz instructor at the Lamont School of Music and a music instructor for Colorado Community Colleges Online.

  • Office: Newman Center for the Performing Arts, Room 338
  • Phone: 303-871-6945
  • Email: dwickham@du.edu