The trombone section in the 2014 MPYO was a “stacked deck.” All five trombonists were 2014 All State band members. Here the boys perform a 5/4 tune “Decoupage” from the Stan Kenton library.
Trombones from left to right are:
“Decoupage” also featured alto soloist Tanner Deters from Southlake Carroll High School. Tanner went on to study jazz at UNT.
Video courtesy of Chuck Aston, Aston Video Productions.
Mike Williams has been Count Basie’s lead trumpet player since 1987. Mike has played with the MPYO several times.
Gary Phillips has also contracted Mike for educational events at Castleberry, Richland, McKinney North, Liberty (Frisco), Burleson, Keller and Lamar High Schools.
Video courtesy of Chuck Aston, Aston Video Productions.
Guest artist Jonathan Woodrow, assistant director of Keller’s Hillwood Middle School performs in January 2016 with the all star Keller Area Youth Jazz Orchestra.
Video courtesy of Westside Production House.
Keller resident Rene Ozuna in a gorgeous performance of “You Are So Beautiful” with the 2016 KAYJO, under direction of Justin Pierce. Mr. Ozuna gigs all over DFW, and has performed with Miranda Lambert, Aretha Franklin and The Temptations.
Video courtesy of Westside Production House.
Local freelancer Rene Ozuna appears with the band as a guest artist, and in crowd-pleasing duet goes toe-to-toe with resident conductor Justin Pierce. Mr. Pierce has been resident conductor of the band since 2013. He is a Vandoren artist and director of jazz and woodwinds at Oklahoma Baptist University. He performs all over DFW, and has performed with Wayne Newton, Tommy Dorsey and Doc Severinsen. This tune also features Tony Anderson Jr on drums. Tony was a 10th grader at Richland High School.
Featuring Zach Gross, a senior on tenor sax; and Nathan Brooks, a junior, on alto. Both sax players are from Liberty High School in Frisco.
Video courtesy of Westside Production House.
Featuring guest soloist Mario Cruz in an event at the Northside Community Center. Mario is a Fort Worth native, and graduate of TCU and North Texas State University. He is a prolific writer and recording artist. Mario has toured with Bruce Springsteen, Jaco Pastorius and Weather Report, and Blood Sweat & Tears. The chart also features 11th grade two-time All State jazzer Jonathan Shier from Birdville High School.
A montage of clips compiled by MPYO dad John Eyler. John’s son Jacob came into a mature trombone section when he was just a freshman. By his junior year, Jacob had come into his own. He placed second in All State Jazz competition in 11th grade, and lead trombone in the All State Jazz band his senior year. Mr. Eyler’s montage shares clips from formal performances, a clinic with Mike Williams (from the Basie Band), as well as excursions to Six Flags.
Video courtesy of Mr. John Eyler.
Featuring guest vocalist Jackie Wasson; and the tasty lead alto sax styling of Keller High School graduate Brad Labio. Under direction of resident conductor Justin Pierce.
Featuring guitarist Andre Leboulluec, a junior at Lamar High School; and college intern Miles Belvin on trumpet.
Video courtesy of First Baptist Church Keller
Featuring soloist Rene Ozuna.
Video courtesy of First Baptist Church Mansfield.
In 2002, Gary Phillips got an unexpected call from the late Bill Robinson, Corrections Concepts, Inc. Bill told Gary: “You haven’t done church until you’ve done it with a bunch of convicts.” The MPO made numerous trips with Bill to minister to incarcerated brethren. Bill passed away in 2014.
Courtesy of Ross Reitzammer.
Video courtesy of John Eyler.
Video courtesy of Cesar Dario.
Video courtesy of Cesar Dario.
Featuring resident conductor Justin Pierce and guest soloist Rene Ozuna.
Video courtesy of Jeff Sweren.
Video courtesy of Kevin Marlow.
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