The Jack Courtright Big Band

Led by award-winning trombonist and composer Jack Courtright, the Jack Courtright Big Band features a murderer's row of the most exciting and in-demand jazz musicians in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Improvisation, the very essence of jazz music, permeates every moment of the show over a backdrop of infectious grooves, screaming shout choruses and heartfelt melodicism. The rich traditions of jazz are alive and well as they joyfully collide with the worlds of rock, pop, funk and more when this powerhouse of a band takes the stage. Jack Courtright currently serves as Director of Jazz Ensembles at East Texas A&M University. He holds a Bachelor's and Performer's Certificate from the Eastman School of Music where he studied with Mark Kellogg and Larry Zalkind, as well as a Master's from the University of North Texas where he studied with Nick Finzer, serving as a Teaching Fellow and as Jazz Chair trombonist in the One O'Clock Lab Band. He has been the winner of four international trombone competitions at the International Trombone Festival, American Trombone Workshop and UNT/Conn-Selmer JTBN Day. Under Jack's direction, UNT's jazz trombone ensemble, The U-Tubes, were named winners of the ITA's 2021 Kai Winding Jazz Trombone Ensemble Competition. Also an in-demand composer and arranger, Jack's works for big band and trombone ensemble are performed by professional, collegiate and high school groups across the U.S.