Tarleton State Bands
Tarleton Jazz Festival
Every year since 1962 the university hosts the Tarleton Jazz Festival. The event is designed for high school and junior high groups to perform for and work with outstanding jazz educators and to hear our amazing guest artists. Recent performers have included:
2012 Darcy James Argue's Secret Society
2011 Bob Mintzer
2010 Kathy Kosins, vocals
2009 Sean Jones, trumpet
2008 Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band
2007 David “Fathead” Newman, saxophone and flute
2006 Maria Schneider, composer
2005 Rufus Reid, bass
2004 Jim Snidero Quartet, saxophone
2003 Bertha Coolidge
2002 Gary Hobbs, drums
2001 Thomas Shabda Noor, trumpet
2000 John Fedchock, trombone
1999 Count Basie Orchestra
1998 Kim Park, saxophone and flute
1996 Collection Jazz Orchestra
1995 Maynard Ferguson’s Big Bop Nouveau
Tarleton Jazz Festival 2012
50th Anniversary of the Tarleton Jazz Festival, March 24, 2012
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Tarleton Jazz Festival and to celebrate we are bringing in an amazing big band from New York City, Darcy James Argue's Secret Society. With the release of their first album, Infernal Machines, Argue and his band were at the top of Downbeat Magazine's Critic's Poll in three categories, Composer, Arranger and Big Band. The CD was also nominated for a Grammy and has received countless awards world-wide. Their appearance at the festival will be their Texas debut and we are very fortunate to have them on our campus. Ticket and festival information is available by clicking on the links below.
Greg Ball
