Huston-Tillotson University’s jazz program is undergoing a renaissance, reconnecting students with a rich musical legacy shaped by alumni who collaborated with jazz legends. The program is rebuilding its sound and history, blending past and present, creating a new force in the American jazz scene.

A Living Embodiment of History

In a rehearsal room in East Austin, the Huston-Tillotson University jazz orchestra’s sound begins with a count-off and a vibrant eruption of horns. This isn't simply a band; it’s a living embodiment of history, connecting current students to a rich legacy.

Reclaiming a Legacy

The revived jazz program at Huston-Tillotson is a reclamation, a blending of past and present that is forging a rising force in the American jazz scene. The 17-piece big band, rebuilt over the past five years, carries the weight of history while embracing something new. University Director of Bands William Oliver describes it as a “return to greatness.”

Legends of the Past

Oliver emphasizes the profound legacy of jazz musicians who have emerged from Huston-Tillotson, individuals who shared stages with Duke Ellington, Count Basie, B.B. King, and Miles Davis. Carmen Bradford, a Huston-Tillotson alumna and longtime vocalist with the Count Basie Orchestra, serves as a living link to the program's enduring jazz roots.

The university’s history, born from a merger, has been shaped by both archives and the collective memory of its community. Demita Jo, celebrated as Austin’s Ella Fitzgerald, exemplifies the enduring jazz heritage of Huston-Tillotson. Alumni like Leroy “Hog” Cooper, a defining tenor saxophonist in Basie’s band, further solidified the university's contribution to swing music.

From Dormancy to Dynamic Growth

Over time, the program’s visibility diminished, even as its influence extended through the careers of its graduates. In 2020, when William Oliver arrived, the jazz program was in a dormant state, a small ensemble quietly performing. Rebuilding required not only recruiting musicians but also reconstructing a sound and reintroducing a forgotten history.

A Collaborative Effort

Oliver initiated a collective that has since grown, creating a space where a new generation could rediscover a past almost lost and transform it into momentum. The Huston-Tillotson Jazz Orchestra’s rehearsal space is now a place where a legacy rooted in generations of Black American music is being brought back to life.

National Recognition and Future Innovation

The program’s resurgence is also attributed to Dr. Jeremy George, who leads jazz studies at the university. He found students with latent talent and a need for in-depth musical training upon his arrival four years ago. The program has achieved milestones, including a third-place finish at the National Collegiate Jazz Competition.

This success has propelled the ensemble closer to recognition in the jazz world. The journey, from a competition in Nashville to a residency in Virginia, showcases the program’s ambition and dedication. Students are innovating within the established framework, injecting their own energy and perspective into the music, and contributing to the ongoing evolution of jazz.