Clinician: DENNIS WILSON

After graduating from Berklee College of Music, Dennis Wilson began his professional career with Lionel Hampton as trombonist, arranger, and musical director. He has been a lead/solo trombonist for the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, The New Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, and for ten years with Mr. William "Count" Basie and his Orchestra.

He received a Grammy Award nomination for arrangements created for Manhattan Transfer. He has performed on over six Grammy Winning Albums with the Count Basie Orchestra. His experience includes work with many jazz greats including Sarah Vaughn, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Clark Terry, and Joe Williams.

A subject of biographical reference in both "Who's Who in Education" and "Who's Who in Entertainment", Mr. Wilson is presently the Music Production Manager for the Count Basie Orchestra. His primary task there is the development of, "THE BASIE WAY", music education program of the Basie Orchestra. Mr. Wilson's educational involvements include being an associate and patron member of the International Association of Jazz Educators He often speaks and performs in colleges throughout the country.

He currently leads the trombone section of the new and prestigious Carnegie Hall Jazz Band under the musical direction of Jon Faddis. On October 12, 1994 he conducted the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band on a work commissioned by the Carnegie Foundation in honor of Count Basie.

Mr. Wilson joined the music staff at Kansas State University as Director of Jazz Studies in August of 1994. His duties there included conducting jazz big bands, combos, and improvisation classes as he developed a more comprehensive jazz program for Kansas State University. In 1998 he broaden his duties at Kansas State University becoming an Assistant Dean for the College of Arts and Sciences.

Today Professor Wilson is on the jazz faculty for the School of Music at the University of Michigan. Dennis feels the appointment at the University of Michigan is an opportunity to add greatly to the multi-directional and inclusiveness of jazz education nationally.

Dennis was named Artist in Resident for the the San Jose Jazz Society in June of 2001. His duties there include working with education and outreach programs, performing and directing the new San Jose Jazz Orchestra.