NOTABLE ALUMNI


Howard University Jazz Ensemble Alumni (1976-2019)

Saxes

William Murray, United States Air Force Academy Falconnaires (ret.) (Leader)

Greg Osby, Blue Note Recording Artist

Gary Thomas, Director of Jazz Studies at Peabody Conservatory, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock

Paul Carr, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival

Kevin Levi, Chuck Brown

Kebbi Williams, Outkast

Antonio Parker, Author, TV personality independent recording artist

Tim Warfield, Nicholas Payton

Gene Smith, Jackson State University

Bryan Mills, Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers

Brent Birckhead, Morgan State University, Lauryn Hill

John Kocur, Northern Virginia Community College

Elijah Jamal Balbed, Chuck Brown

Langston Henry Hughes, II, Independent recording artist

Trumpets

Wallace Roney, Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner, Tony Williams

Ravi Best, 1st Trumpet for the Broadway Musical “42nd St.”,
Kool and the Gang, Little Stevie and the Disciples of Soul

Chris Royal, Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra

Lorne Lee, Director of Bands at Johnson C. Smith University

Aaron Broadus, Jazz Ensemble Director at Georgetown University

Alvin Trask, Director of Jazz Studies at Montgomery College, MD

Donvonte McCoy, Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra

Demarr Woods, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

Larry Jenkins, Tennessee State University

Michael Fitzhugh, Howard University

Benita Gladney, Howard University

Jonathon Neal, Grambling State University, LA

Trombone

Gregory Royal, Duke Ellington Orchestra

Stephen Baxter, Ray Charles Orchestra, Barry Manilow

Allen Gardner, Director of Bands at Chaney State University, PA

Mark Williams, Chuck Brown, Count Basie Orchestra, Count Basie Orchestra

Christopher Steele, Theater musician in the DMV

Piano

Geri Allen, Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Pittsburgh, jazz soloist

Michael Bearden, Whitney Houston, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Patti LaBelle, George Lopez Show (Music Director)

Wayne Linsey, Babyface, Whitney Houston, Jay Leno Show, American Idol

Marcus Johnson, Founder of Three Keys Records

Mark Batson, Beyonce, Dave Matthews Band

Amy Bormet, Founder, Washington Women in Jazz

Samuel Prather, Independent recording artist

Tristan Ledale Benton, Mecca Filmworks

Cherie Mitchell-Agurs, Chuck Brown

Byron Hill, Chinese Jazz Artist

Guitar

Vinnie Valentino, Independent recording artist

Jay A. Thompson, Independent recording artist

Baron Tymas, North Carolina Central University

Nicholas Lipkowski, Independent recording artist

James Rodney Richardson, Independent recording artist

Joshua Walker, Independent recording artist

Bass

Clarence Seay, Billy Harper, Wallace Roney

Carroll V. Dashiell, Jr, Director of Jazz Studies at East Carolina University, Yellowjackets, Bobby Watson

Eric Wheeler, Benny Golson, Curtis Fuller, Cyrus Chestnut

Karine Chapdelaine, James Madison University

Eliot Seppa, Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra

Hamilton Hayes, composer and independent recording artist

Drums

Land Richards, Gladys Knight, Los Angeles studio musician

Chris Dave, Mint Condition, Kenny Garrett

Winard Harper, Billy Taylor

Gorden Campbell, Earth, Wind and Fire, Jessica Simpson, George Duke

Adolph Wright, Director of Bands at Bowie State University, MD

Cora C. Coleman, Prince, Beyonce

Jonathan Laine, David Foster, Oddisee

Carroll V. Dashiell, III, Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra

McClenty Hunter, Kenny Garrett

Keith Killgo, Donald Brown, Joe Henderson

Savannah Harris, Kenny Baron, Geri Allen

Vocalists

Natalie Denise Jackson aka Kudisan Kai, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Kahn

Lamont van Hook, Rod Stewart, Dianne Ross, Phil Collins, Lyle Lovette