Mel Graves Scholarship Concert has SSU Jazz Faculty on Board

Emerging from a year of regrouping after the loss of Jazz Director Mel Graves, the Sonoma State University Music Department welcomed trombonist and composer Doug Leibinger to head the jazz program. One of his first tasks was to assemble players for the Mel Graves Scholarship Concert that took place on November 7th, the anniversary of Mel's death and one year after the historic "Movin' On" tribute to his life and work at SSU. All of SSU's jazz faculty were on board including; Bob Afifi, flute, Jim Rothermel, sax, Pete Estabrook, trumpet, Leibinger on trombone, John Simon, piano, Randy Vincent, guitar and George Marsh, percussion. This occasion also marked the debut of SSU's new bass teacher, Cliff Hugo, known for his work with artists as diverse as Warne Marsh, Ray Charles and Supertramp.

A Chicago native, Leibinger holds three degrees in jazz performance from the University of Miami. During his graduate studies there, he directed the studio jazz band for four years and taught almost every class in the curriculum. He was a trombone soloist on the UM Concert Jazz Band's recording of Maria Schneider's "Three Romances," which was nominated for a Grammy award in 2004.

Leibinger is also an active composer and arranger. His composition, “Ring Shout,” was performed at the 2nd International Jazz Composer’s Symposium in Tampa, FL. Leibinger's residence in South Florida for 18 years led to professional engagements in a wide variety of styles. His credits include Randy Brecker, Jon Faddis, Claire Fischer, Maria Schneider, Chayanne, Sean "P Diddy" Combs, Jose Luis "El Puma" Rodriguez, Jimmy Buffett, Sam Moore, Les Elgart, Jerry Lewis, Peter Cetera, and many more. Before coming to SSU, Doug was the Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Missouri-Columbia for four years.

Leibinger's course load includes jazz composition, arranging and improvisation, two concert jazz ensembles and the newly formed Jazz Orchestra, an 18-piece big band. The Jazz Orchestra gives its first full concert at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 13 in Warren Auditorium.

For more information regarding the Jazz Orchestra concert, please contact Mary Rogers in the Music Department at 707.664.2324.