Jazz Faculty
Martin Bejerano, Director of Honors Jazz Ensemble, UM Faculty, jazz piano, UM Associate Professor, Dept. of Studio Music and Jazz
Kate Reid, Director of the Jazz Vocal Performance Program at the Frost School of Music and Associate Professor of jazz voice in the Studio Music and Jazz department at the Frost School of Music
Steffen Zeichner, Jazz Violin Faculty
Aaron Lebos, Jazz and Rock Guitar
Jackson Bunn, Piano / Keyboard
Marty Quinn, Bass
Seth Crail, Woodwinds
Pauly German, Recording Technology
Alexander Ambrose, Jazz Drumset / Percussion
Michael Gutierrez, Trumpet
Alexandra Skye Brandenburg, voice and piano
BIOGRAPHY
MARTIN BEJERANO
Martin Bejerano is an Assistant Professor of Jazz Piano at the FROST School of Music. As head of the jazz piano department, he teaches applied jazz piano instruction, advanced improvisation, undergraduate jazz composition, jazz accompanying, and Trio Ensemble. Jazz Times said of him, "Add Martin Bejerano to the expanding roster of hot young pianists that stretches from Hiromi Uehara and Eldar Djangirov to Robert Glasper and Taylor Eigsti..."
Professor Bejerano has been active as a professional musician from the age of fifteen. An internationally acclaimed jazz pianist and composer, he has been a member of Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award-winner Roy Hayne's Grammy-nominated quartet for fourteen years, and has performed and/or recorded with such jazz luminaries as Christian McBride, Dave Holland, Pat Metheny, Chick Corea, Russell Malone, Ron Carter, Roy Hargrove, Ignacio Berroa, Lonnie Plaxico, Arturo Sandoval, Brian Lynch, Marcus Strickland, E.J. Strickland, Adam Nussbaum, Joe Locke, Kate Kinhan, Kevin Mahogany, Armando Gola, and Jonathan Joseph.
Aside from performing at most of the major jazz clubs, festivals and venues around the world as well as on "Late Night With David Letterman," he is also featured on over fifteen albums, including the Grammy-nominated Fountain of Youth, and three albums as a leader of the award-winning Martin Bejerano Trio. His trio has performed at such notable venues as Symphony Space, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, The Jazz Gallery, Barquisimeto Jazz Festival, El Hatillo Jazz Festival, Lucerne Piano Off-Stage Festival, Festival Miami, South Dade Cultural Arts Center, and Arturo Sandoval's Jazz Club. The group was also featured on NPR's "Jazz Set," a nationally syndicated radio show that spotlights outstanding jazz artists.
An award-wining composer, Professor Bejerano was awarded the prestigious New Jazz Works composition/ensemble development grant from Chamber Music America in 2010, and, in 2014, he was awarded the "Bacardi Choice" Commission by Bacardi and the Dranoff International 2 Piano Foundation to compose a piece for two pianos. His piece "Fantasia de Tres Mundos", a fusion of classical, jazz, and Afro-Cuban influences, premiered in April 2014 at the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center and has been performed and recorded internationally. In 2016, he was commissioned to compose a Latin jazz arrangement of Dvorak's "New World" Symphony for chamber orchestra, as part of the New York Philharmonic's "New World Initiative".
As an educator, Professor Bejerano has presented numerous masterclasses and clinics all over the world, and has adjudicated for the National Young Arts Foundation, the Jazz Educators Network, and numerous other institutions. He has been published in Keyboard magazine, and in August 2016, he released a one of a kind multi-media iBook on jazz improvisation, Practicing Jazz Improvisation.
KATE REID
Kate Reid is Director of the Jazz Vocal Performance program and Associate Professor of jazz voice in the Studio Music and Jazz department at the FROST SCHOOL OF MUSIC at the University of Miami. Apart from overseeing all aspects of the Jazz Vocal Performance program, Professor Reid directs two of the FROST's three jazz vocal ensembles - FROST Extensions and FROST Jazz Vocal I. Dr. Reid also teaches jazz improvisation, sight-singing and music theory and she maintains a full jazz voice studio of undergraduate and graduate students.
Dr. Reid's multifaceted career also includes work as a studio and session singer in Los Angeles. Her film credits include Planes, Star Trek Into Darkness, Oz-The Great and Powerful, Epic and Men In Black III, featuring the music of composers Danny Elfman, Michael Giacchino, John Powell and Joel McNeely. She has lent her voice to several network television series, to commercial spots for Ace Hardware, T-Mobile, and Suntory Whiskey, and to recordings by such artists as MUSE, X Japan and Josh Groban.
In addition to teaching at the FROST SCHOOL OF MUSIC, Dr. Reid continues to perform, record and teach throughout the U.S. and Europe. Dr. Reid earned her B.M. in Jazz Studies from Western Michigan University and a M.M. and D.M.A. in Jazz Vocal Performance from the University of Miami.
STEFFEN ZEICHNER
Steffen Zeichner is a creative violinist who actively performs jazz, classical, klezmer, and a variety of other genres. Steffen is also a passionate educator with a focus on developing the creative potential of string players, particularly through exposing them to musical genres outside of the classical world and by helping students develop improvisational skills. Throughout his career Steffen has performed with a variety of top artists including Chick Corea, Gloria Estefan, Cyrille Aimee, Nestor Torres, Kenny Loggins, Ben Folds, Maria Schneider, Terence Blanchard, and George Benson, with whom he was featured as the violin soloist and concertmaster for Benson's 2013 album, "Inspiration". He has a BM in Violin Performance from Indiana University, and has recently received his Doctorate of Musical Arts degree at the University of Miami. His dissertation was on jazz violin pedagogy.
AARON LEBOS
Aaron Lebos is a well-known, versatile guitarist born and raised in the South Florida area. He received his Bachelors from the University of Miami and a Masters at Florida International University, both in Jazz Performance. Aaron developed much of his versatility playing gigs, touring and recording in the diverse South Florida music scene. He currently also plays with some of the biggest names in South Florida such as Nicole Henry, Nu Deco Ensemble, The Spam All-stars as well as doing many other gigs and sessions. In 2010 he recorded an album of jazz standards and his first all original album called Jazzilla. In 2012 he formed Aaron Lebos Reality and has since recored 3 original albums and the next one is due mid 2018 making it his 6th album. During this time the group has been touring, playing festivals and growing in popularity locally and nationally.
JACKSON BUNN
Jackson Bunn is from Winston-Salem, NC. He began learning songs from movies, tv, and radio on the piano at age six. He studied piano and viola through high school in the Chicago area and graduated from Illinois State University. He has played professionally thirty plus years in Chicago, Los Angeles, and South Florida. He has performed with jazz clarinet legend Buddy DeFranco, comedian Dan Aykroyd, and rising smooth jazz artist Wayne Gutshall. (UM grad 1997) to list a few. His original cd 'Chosen Path' has seen airplay on radio stations nationwide. He has played with the Brass Evolution Brass Band since 2005 which performs rocking arrangements of Chicago, Blood, Sweat, and Tears, Earth, Wind, and Fire, and Steely Dan that recently opened up for Lee Greenwood on Fort Lauderdale Beach 2019. His current project H2O features the music of Hall & Oates which recently performed at the Dania Beach Casino and Key West Theater. He has been thrilled to be a part tremendous faculty at the Frost School of Music Young Musician's Camp since 2008 and plans to release new original music in the fall of 2021!
Marty Quinn is a bassist who actively tours and performs locally across multiple genres. Originally from Chicago, Marty completed his master's in Jazz Pedagogy from the Frost School of Music. He teaches and works equally on upright bass as well as electric. Marty has had the pleasure of performing with artists such as Arturo Sandoval, Adam Rogers, Shelly Berg, Nicole Yarling, and more.
SETH CRAIL
Seth is currently a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the UM Frost School of Music studio of Jazz Saxophone Professor Gary Keller. His compositions have been performed by the University of Miami Concert Jazz Band and the University of Miami: Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra as part of their Jazz Roots Festival 2019.
PAULY GERMAN
is a pianist, arranger, producer, composer and music educator from the Dominican Republic. He graduated with Summa Cum Laude honors from the prestigious Berklee College of Music with a Bachelor of Music in Contemporary Writing and Production as a full-tuition scholarship scholar. While completing his bachelor, he received the "Award for Excellence in Vocal Writing," and the " Contemporary Writing and Production Achievement Award". He's currently pursuing his Master of Music in Media Writing and Production at the acclaimed Frost School of Music, where he's also a Teaching Assistant.
ALEXANDER AMBROSE
Zander Ambrose's passion for music as a performer and music educator is infectious. In 2014 he enrolled with a scholarship to the prestigious University of Miami, Frost School of Music in Coral Gables, Florida. Ambrose received his Bachelors of Music degree (B.M) in the Studio Music and Jazz program in the studio of his mentor Stephen Rucker in May 2018. As an undergraduate student, Zander played in the DownBeat award-winning Studio Jazz Big Band, the perennial DownBeat award-winning UM Funk/Fusion Ensemble where he and his ensemble received a Down Beat ensemble award and the multiple Grammy award-winning artist and faculty mentor Brian Lynch Artist Ensemble.
In the Winter of 2018, Ambrose was awarded a full scholarship to pursue his Master's Degree in Jazz Pedagogy from the University of Miami where he was selected as the graduate teaching assistant for the drum set studio under the direction of Steve Rucker. In his masters program, Ambrose held the drum set chair in the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra artistically directed by NEA jazz master Maria Schneider. This group was a big band jazz ensemble, and full orchestra combining the jazz and classical departments of the Frost School of Music. This prestigious ensemble represented the University of Miami in many high level performances. As a member of this group, Ambrose was able to perform alongside artists such as John Williams, Quincy Jones, Maria Schneider, Arturo Sandoval, Donny McCaslin, Dave Koz, Jose Feliciano, Tim Reis, Kristin Chenoweth, Matthew Morrison and Lucy Woodward.
MICHAEL GUTIERREZ
"He is one of the finest, extremely talented young gentlemen that I have had the pleasure of meeting." - Gary Pratt
"Michael is one of the young lions in the trumpet world. He is a triple threat; great lead player, creative soloist and composer... plus he's a nice guy!" - Wayne Bergeron
Michael began his musical journey by studying with local jazz band director Paul Lucckesi and professional trumpeter Scott Dean in his hometown. This is where he began to discover his passion and never-ending fascination for music. While pursuing his undergraduate jazz studies degree at California State University, Northridge, Michael was mentored by local trumpeter and Yamaha performing artist, Wayne Bergeron. Currently, he is in progress of receiving his Doctoral degree in trumpet performance from the University of Miami Frost School of Music as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for Brian Lynch's trumpet Studio.
Along with attending school, Michael has traveled around the world performing in various countries. He has performed at the Java Jazz Festival in Jakarta, Indonesia, the Noto Jazz Festival in Noto, Japan, Wellington Jazz Festival in Wellington, New Zealand, and various places in the United Kingdom. In correspondence to his national touring, Michael has performed with his own ensembles and as a sideman in a variety of venues throughout the United States.
Throughout his career, Michael has played with many prestigious artists such as: Wayne Bergeron, Matt Harris, Ron King, Gary Pratt, Dave Tull, Maria Schneider, Dave Richards, Dave Robaire, Katisse Buckingham, Nick Mancini, Larry Carlton and many more.
For now, as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the Frost School of Music, Michael has been teaching and performing as a freelance musician in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area.
ALEXANDRA SKYE BRANDENBURG
Vocalist and pianist Alex Brandenburg is proof that the future is bright for the jazz community. A versatile musician, she has performed solo, duo, with small groups and big bands, in coffee shops and concert halls alike. Jazz and popular music luminaries she has performed with include Peter Eldridge, Darmon Meader, Donny McCaslin, Becca Stevens, Jo Lawry, Kathleen Grace, and Dena DeRose. Alex has performed in major concert series such as the Stanford Jazz Festival and Jazz Roots at the Adrienne Arsht Center. She most recently spent a week performing in Zagreb, Croatia as part of the International Association of Schools of Jazz. As an arranger, her work has been featured at the New York Voices Vocal Jazz Camp. Her debut single "Take Your Seat" is available for streaming and purchase on Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music and more. Currently, Alex is a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Miami, where she studies with Dr. Kate Reid, sings in Downbeat award-winning vocal group Extensions, and teaches jazz voice lessons and ensembles. In addition to her work at UM, Alex has worked with students of all ages in private lessons, summer camps, choir, and musical theatre productions