UNC Compass Jazz Orchestra LIVE on KUVO

KUVO’s High School and Collegiate Series presents the University of Northern Colorado Compass Jazz Orchestra on all of KUVO’s channels.

The Compass Jazz Orchestra at the University of Northern Colorado is considered to be one of the premier college big bands in the country. They were recognized in DownBeat Magazine’s Student Music Awards ten of the last thirteen years, most recently in 2023. Nine of these were ‘Winners’ in the Graduate Large Ensemble Category.

“Carmen Sings Carmen,” their most recent recording, will be released in March of 2025. This tribute to Carmen McRae features the great vocalist and longtime member of the Count Basie Orchestra, Carmen Bradford. The pieces for this project, some of which are already being performed by the Basie Band, were selected by Bradford and arranged by UNC faculty and students.

Following a tour of Romania, two excursions to China, and multiple invitations to appear at Jazz Education Network Conferences, the group was invited to perform in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic last year at its most acclaimed concert hall, Teatro Nacional Eduardo Brito. This visit was timed perfectly for UNC as we are celebrating the launch of our new undergraduate degree in Latinx Music, the first of its kind in the nation.

Compass Jazz Orchestra’s repertoire focuses on new music: original compositions and reinterpretations of jazz classics. Their last album, “The Romeo and Juliet Project,” is a musical sketchbook of Shakespeare’s most famous work, featuring pieces by notable jazz composers, including John Hollenbeck. His contribution, “This Kiss,” was recorded later on his release “John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble,” which was nominated for a Grammy Award. The UNC Compass Jazz Orchestra is under the direction of Dana Landry.

Members of the UNC Compass Jazz Orchestra are:

• • Christian Longoria and Cade Gutierrez (alto saxophones)
  • David Bernot and Hendrik Viljoen (tenor saxophones)
  • Edward Moncada (baritone sax)
  • Andrew Wilson, Jules Colombel, Payson Bouchard, Skyler Mendell (trumpets)
  • Jonathan Bumpus, James Standish, Alex Hoskins, Raymond Arango (trombones)
  • Nathan Borton (guitar)
  • Gavin Allen-Dunn (piano)
  • Bodin Chompoosri (bass)
  • Tony Manoguerra (drums)
  • Diego Da Silva (percussion)
  • Marion Powers (voice)

LIVE performances on KUVO JAZZ are supported by KUVO Studio Club members, the Bonfils Stanton Foundation, Drum City Guitarland, Grace Design Pro Audio, Listen Up, Flesher-Hinton Music in Wheat Ridge, Carlos Lando Musician & Event Fund donors.

The UNC Compass Jazz Orchestra from KUVO’s Masterpiece Studio, Tuesday, October 1 at 7 p.m., is on the air, on the stream, on the app, and on KUVO’s YouTube and Twitch channels.

Stay connected to KUVO’s programs and our community! Sign up for the Oasis E-News today!