Jazz Band, Ensemble & Orchestra

About the Artists

Three-time GRAMMY™ Award–winning drummer Ulysses Owens Jr. is recognized as “a drummer who takes a back seat to no one” and “a musician who balances excitement gracefully and shines with innovation,” according to The New York Times. A performer, producer, educator, and Global Curator; Owens continues to push boundaries within the jazz world and beyond, maintaining an expansive career as a bandleader, collaborator, author, and cultural leader.

Owens has released ten albums as a bandleader and gained international recognition for his performances on GRAMMY Award–winning albums by Kurt Elling and the Christian McBride Big Band. In 2023, he received his third GRAMMY Award for his participation on an album featuring Steven Feifke, Bijon Watson, and the Generation Gap Jazz Orchestra. His work has been recognized by Rolling Stone, which named Songs of Freedom a “Top Ten Album of 2019,” and by Jazziz, which selected Soul Conversations as a top album in 2021. That release received widespread critical acclaim, extensive playlist placement, and launched a national tour. The Ulysses Owens Jr. Big Band was also named “Rising Star Big Band” by DownBeat in 2022.

Owens has served on the jazz faculty at The Juilliard School for over seven years as small ensemble director. He has also served on Juilliard’s EDIB committee (equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging) and taught workshops through the Alan D. Marks Center for Career Services and Entrepreneurship. He is the founding artistic director of his family nonprofit organization, Don’t Miss a Beat, which empowers youth through musical theatre and civic engagement at the DMAB Community Arts Center in Jacksonville, Florida.

Owens also joined Drumeo as its inaugural jazz drum instructor and has developed multiple online courses, including 30 Day Jazz Drummer and Jazz Drumming 101. He previously hosted the weekly YouTube series From the Drummer’s Perspective. Ulysses is expanding his educational reach by launching the Ulysses Owens Jr. Global Intensive Summer Drum Camp in Shanghai and Beijing, China, in August 2026. In partnership with Cashell Music, this initiative offers Chinese drummers the opportunity to study his acclaimed jazz pedagogy while strengthening their alignment with the admission standards of American conservatories and institutions.

Judah Guerra
 

Judah Guerra is a trombonist and bassist from West Michigan. Raised in a musical family, he pursued every musical opportunity he could before earning his bachelor’s degree in jazz studies from Michigan State University, where he studied trombone with Michael Dease and upright bass with Rodney Whitaker. His performance experience has taken him across the United States and internationally to Jamaica and Japan. Following graduation, Guerra recorded his debut album, Student of the Way, with musicians from his musical community. The independently released album was released on July 1, 2026. Guerra continued his studies at The University of Texas at Austin, where he has performed with artists including Nicholas Payton, David Kikoski, Helen Sung, Joel Frahm, Summer Camargo, Aubrey Logan, and Kate Kortum. He also serves as a teaching assistant at UT while remaining active as a performer in Austin. New York trombonist Robert Edwards has described Guerra as “refreshing” to the modern jazz scene for maintaining “joy and excitement for the tradition.”
 

Brett Cole

Brett Cole is a professional trumpet player originally from Houston, Texas. He has been active in the Houston music scene, performing as a guest artist with the Conrad Johnson Youth Orchestra and teaching for numerous years at the Houston Summer Jazz Workshop. Brett earned his bachelor’s degree in music education from Loyola University New Orleans and his master’s degree from Florida State University, where he served as a graduate assistant. During his time at Florida State, he was the musical director of the Latin Soul Orchestra, an ensemble specializing in Salsa, Merengue, Cumbia, Bachata, and Latin jazz. Brett is currently pursuing his D.M.A. in jazz trumpet performance at The University of Texas at Austin, where he serves as a teaching assistant in the Jazz Studies program.

Michael Sailors

Mike Sailors is a critically acclaimed trumpeter, valve trombonist and arranger who’s toured the world appearing at the most celebrated festivals in the world including The Tokyo Blue Note Jazz Festival, The Newport Jazz Festival, The EFG London Jazz Festival, The Montreal Jazz Festival, The Detroit Jazz Festival and the Ravinia Music Festival, to name a few. Sailors has received commissions and composed/arranged for Mack Avenue Records, Decca Records, Dewey Redman, Terrell Stafford, Dick Oatts, Jimmy Cobb, Lady Gaga, Sleep No More and many other organizations, jazz greats, entertainers and Broadway shows. He is a copyist for the Jazz at Lincoln Orchestra led by Wynton Marsalis, and former copyist for The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra led by Arturo O’Farrill.  Sailors leads The Mike Sailors Sextet and Nonet, The Higher Calling Orchestra, co-leads The New Alchemy Jazz Orchestra, and is a member of the GRAMMY nominated Multiverse Big Band, led by Bobby Sanabria while also maintaining a highly active freelance schedule locally and nationally.

 Diego Rivera

A world-class musician, composer, arranger and educator, Diego Rivera has entertained audiences for over 20 years. Rivera is known for his muscular tone and unique blend of straight-ahead jazz fused with music inspired by his Chicano background and heritage.  Since 1999 he has performed at the most prestigious venues and festivals across the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. In addition to touring with his own ensemble, Rivera has performed with The Jazz @ Lincoln Center Orchestra w/ Wynton Marsalis, Ellis Marsalis, and Kurt Elling. Rivera has released 5 critically-acclaimed albums as a leader for Posi-Tone records. He also has several other credits to his name as a recording artist, composer and arranger on the Mack Avenue and Detroit Music Factory Record Labels. A passionate educator Rivera has presented masterclasses at schools and universities both in the United States and abroad. Several of Professor Rivera’s former students enjoy careers as professional musicians performing with artists such as: The Christian McBride Big Band, Birdland Big Band, and The Count Basie Orchestra.

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Jazz Band

Saxophone
Brady Ginsburg, alto I
Jaciel Trejo, alto II
Peter Rudl, tenor I
Michael Salas, tenor II
Edgar Castro, baritone

Trumpet
Brady Lang, trumpet I
Nico Sifuentes, trumpet II
Brett Harrington, trumpet III
William Nabors, trumpet IV

Trombone
Ruyonga Karamagi, trombone I
Ryan West, trombone II
Ian Stalnaker, trombone III

Rhythm Section
David Coker, guitar
Jackson Bickens, piano
Sam Rincon, piano
Annie Nguyen, bass
Braedan Connolly, bass
Grayson Lambert, drums
Marissa Eddleman, drums

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UT JAZZ ENSEMBLE

Saxophone
Clayton Bristol, alto I
Ben Goodman, alto II
Kole Aitala, tenor I
Ripley Swingle, tenor II
Shyam Thandullu, baritone

Trumpet
Miguel Gonzalez, trumpet I
Solomon Tejada, trumpet II
Devin Merchant, trumpet III
Mario Diaz, trumpet IV

Trombone
Austin Dalbey, trombone I
Aidan Peng, trombone II
Grayson Cliff, trombone III

Rhythm Section
Andy Flores, guitar
Will Bangle, piano
Bryson Klein, piano
Nathan English, bass
Chelsea DeRoach, bass
Harrison Murphy, drums
Sid Srivats, drums

Voice
Jonathan Simon

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JAZZ ORCHESTRA

Saxophone
Mason Rheinhardt, alto I
Matthew Chavez, alto II
Eli Wyatt, tenor I
Stephen Jensen, tenor II
Andrew Stine, baritone

Trumpet
Jonah Springs, trumpet I
Isaac Pittinger, trumpet II
Arianna Shepherd, trumpet III
Brett Cole, trumpet IV

Trombone
Judah Guerra, trombone I
Cesar Torres, trombone II
Graham Simpler, trombone III
Michael Newell, trombone IV

Rhythm Section
Sam Silverman, guitar
Joao Camargo, piano
Ryan Townsend, piano
Oscar Burowitz, bass
Miguel Rodriguez, bass
Spencer Frye, drums
Jaylon Alley, drums

Voice
Lademi Davies
 

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Upcoming Events

Jazz Combos @ Mozart's

Catch The University of Texas Jazz Combos Wednesday nights at the Loft at Mozart's Coffee Roasters.  

See dates
 

JAZZ ORCHESTRAS
with Wycliffe Gordon, trombone
Friday, February 19, 7:30 p.m.
Bates Recital Hall
 

AIME
Free Admission
Tuesday, March 9, 7:30 p.m.
Recital Studio
 

LONGHORN JAZZ FESTIVAL
with Anat Cohen, jazz clarinet
Saturday, April 3, 8:00 p.m.
Bates Recital Hall
 

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