Performer Details
Performer Bio Synopsis
The University of North Florida Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious
University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program. Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich
Matteson in 1986, UNF’s JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz
ensembles worldwide. Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been
invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the U.S. and in Europe. Jazz Ensemble 1 is the
2015 Downbeat award-winning undergraduate jazz ensemble. The ensemble also has been invited to
perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta, Boston, Miami and
New Orleans, the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, the Suncoast Jazz
Festival in Tampa, the Savannah Jazz Festival, the Mobile Jazz Festival, The Lakeside Jazz Festival,
The Orange Blossom Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival. A special component
of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series, which regularly brings in stellar
jazz artists as residents. This series, along with other opportunities, has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to
perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists.
University of North Florida Jazz Ensemble I
Conductor's Bio
J.B. Scott earned his B.A. degree in music as the first graduate of the acclaimed jazz program at the University of North Florida, under the tutelage of the legendary Rich Matteson. An Associate Professor at the University of North Florida’s School of Music, he is Director of Jazz Studies, directs the award winning UNF Jazz Ensemble 1 and is Artistic Director for the UNF Great American Series. While in college, Mr. Scott performed with several established groups that included the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, was a band member on the 1988 Japan Tour with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and performed regularly in the Walt Disney World theme parks. After graduating, he did a three-year stint in New Orleans as the trumpeter and musical director of the world-famous Dukes of Dixieland and was featured in the PBS special, “Salute to Jelly Roll Morton.” In 1996, Scott earned his M.S. degree in music education at Florida International University, where he studied with the legendary trumpeter, Arturo Sandoval. In addition to his collegiate big band performances, Scott performed professionally with the Mickey Finn Show and numerous Latin bands led by such legendary names as Eddie Palmieri, Paquito D’Rivera and Arturo Sandoval. After teaching in Orlando, Scott returned to the University of North Florida in 1996 to carry on the Rich Matteson ‘old school swing’ legacy, teaching trumpet, music history courses and to direct the UNF Jazz Ensemble 1, one of the most respected, award winning collegiate big bands in the country where he is currently an associate professor of Jazz Studies. Scott is a member of the International Trumpet Guild, Jazz Educators Network, MENC and the Florida Band Masters Association where he currently adjudicates District and State jazz ensembles for their annual MPA. Scott also served for 6 years as Secretary of the Florida Chapter of IAJE. As a soloist, Scott has performed on many festivals including the Maceio Jazz Festival, (Brazil), the Elkhart Jazz Festival, the Pescara Jazz Festival in Pescara Italy, the Montreux Jazz Festival, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and many others. He has appeared with such notables as Nick Brignola, Ira Sullivan, Rufus Reed and Ed Calle, to name just a few. Musically partnering with respected vocalist Lisa Kelly in 1997, Scott and Kelly have performed internationally for major festivals, jazz clubs and jazz societies, as featured soloists with big bands, and with their own big band and small groups. They are highly regarded adjudicators and guest artist clinicians for secondary to collegiate music programs, competitions, and music camps. Scott has performed and presented clinics for IAJE, FMEA/FMENC, Chicago Midwest, the 2010 inaugural JEN (Jazz Educators Network) in St. Louis, has conducted the Florida All-State Jazz Band for the annual FMEA/MENC Conference in Tampa, FL, and is a regarded adjudicator at many festivals for middle and High school jazz ensembles, including annually at the Lakeside Jazz Festival, Koger/Matteson Jazz Festival, and the Northeast Florida Jazz Festivals. He was featured in the book 2010 book, “The New Face of Jazz,” available on Amazon.com. J.B. Scott was inducted into the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival “Hall Of Fame.” He is a WARBURTON signature trumpet artist and clinician.
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