Longhorn Jazz Festival

About the Artists

Terell Stafford

Terell Stafford, acclaimed trumpet player based in New York, has been hailed as “one of the great players of our time, a fabulous trumpet player” by piano legend McCoy Tyner. Stafford is recognized as an incredibly gifted and versatile player; he combines a deep love of melody with his own brand of spirited and adventurous lyricism. Stafford’s exceptionally expressive and well-defined musical talent allows him to dance in and around the rich trumpet tradition of his predecessors while making his own inroads. Stafford is the Director of Jazz Studies and Chair of Instrumental Studies at Temple University

Since the mid-1990’s, Stafford has performed with groups such as Benny Golson’s Sextet, McCoy Tyner’s Sextet, Kenny Barron Quintet, Frank Wess Quintet, Jimmy Heath Quintet and Big Band, Jon Faddis Jazz Orchestra, Carnegie Hall Jazz Band and Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Alumni Band. Stafford with the Hamilton- Clayton Jazz Orchestra, performed on Diana Krall’s GRAMMY nominated From this Moment On (2006). John Clayton invited Stafford to perform with the Clayton Brothers Quintet and Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. Stafford is a member of the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and they were awarded a GRAMMY in 2009 for Best Large Ensemble, Live at the Village Vanguard. Stafford can be heard on over 130 albums. 
 

Seth Ebersole

Originally from Reading, Pennsylvania, Seth Ebersole has performed as a bandleader and sideman at such venues as the Detroit Jazz Festival, Rochester Jazz Festival, Jacksonville Jazz Festival, and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. He has appeared and recorded with such artists as Terell Stafford, Walter Smith III, Jon Faddis, and Gordon Goodwin. In 2018, Seth released his debut record “Sometimes I’m Happy” and is currently producing his followup record, “Dear Emily”. He previously held the title of Jazz Artist in Residence at Saginaw Valley State University and In 2021, won the position of baritone saxophonist with the Airmen of Note, the United States Air Force’s Premier Jazz Ensemble.
Seth holds a Masters Degree in Jazz Studies from Michigan State University and was mentored by Dick Oatts of the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra as well as the great tenor saxophonists, Diego Rivera and Timothy Warfield Jr. Seth resides in the National Capital Region and continues to perform nationally and internationally.

Andy Langham

Andy studied music at The University of North Texas and Texas State University. Currently Andy can been seen touring all over the world as a member of the Grammy Award winning Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band. He also has toured with Natalie Cole, Christian McBride, Jane Monheit, New York Voices, and Ernie Watts. Andy has recorded or performed in concert with an extremely diverse group of artists that include John Abercrombie, Gary Bartz, Scotty Barnhart, Terence Blanchard, Randy Brecker, James Carter, Ravi Coltrane, Roberta Gambarini, Terry Gibbs, Gerry Gibbs, Tom Harrell, Jon Hendricks, Bill Holman, Dave Liebman, James Moody, Willie Nelson, Bobby Shew, Lew Soloff, Mike Stern, Take Six, Clark Terry, Steve Turre, and Bill Watrous. Andy has appeared on over 100 recordings, including 5 Grammy-nominated albums. He currently resides in Los Angeles and teaches Jazz Piano at the Bob Cole Conservatory at California State University Long Beach.

Alex Claffy

Alexander Claffy is a jazz bassist, composer and arranger based in New York. He has played with artists including Jimmy Cobb, Louis Hayes, Harold Mabern, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Christian Scott and Joey Alexander. In addition to an album of standards, he has released a series of genre-defying compositions with his band simply known as Claffy. He studied with legendary jazz bassist Ron Carter. He hosts the podcast Village Green with Alexander Claffy where he interviews NYC musicians. Alexander Claffy grew up outside of Philadelphia in a musical family. His father was a pianist and composer, his mother a vocalist and agent. As a child, Alexander played piano, trombone, sang and acted. He often accompanied his father to gigs in Philadelphia. In middle school Claffy picked up the electric bass when some friends needed a bass player for their band and as a teen he could frequently be found in jazz clubs around Philadelphia. In 2011 he earned a scholarship to the New School and moved to New York City.

Gerry Gibbs 

Gerry Gibbs is a Grammy nominated Drummer, Multi-Instrumentalist, Producer, Band Leader, Composer & Arranger. In 2021, has recorded with Chick Corea, Ron Carter, Kenny Barron, Buster Williams, Patrice Rushen, Larry Goldings, Geoff Keezer, and Christian McBride. Gerry’s 1995 debut CD: “The Thrasher” was executive produced by Quincy Jones on his Qwest/Warner Brothers label and won several awards. Since then, Gerry has gone on to record numerous albums under his own name constituting an expansive and eclectic range: a tribute to Miles Davis’ later electric period, original Big Band music, Gerry’s epic 4-piece band playing forty instruments between them along with launching his all star ‘Thrasher Dream Trio’ in 2013. All three of his trio recordings made their way to #1 on the JazzWeek International Radio Charts and one garnered a Grammy nomination. Gerry is also an in demand drummer who has worked with a who’s who in the history of jazz: McCoy Tyner, Alice Coltrane, Stanley Clarke, Joe Henderson, Hubert Laws, James Moody, Sam Rivers, Patrice Rushen, Randy Brecker, Tom Harrell, and Brad Mehldau.

Jazz Orchestra