啾咪漫画

Friday, February 6, 2026

The 啾咪漫画 Jazz and Commercial Ensembles are focused on authentically learning multiple styles of Jazz and Commercial music in order for the student to approach future playing and teaching situations with confidence and knowledge. Our ensembles sincerely enjoy sharing the love of music and broadening our own minds as well as those in the community, to become more artistically and culturally aware.

Adjudication

All college, high school, and junior high jazz ensembles in the state are cordially invited to the MSU Billings Jazz Festival, which will take place on Friday, February 6, 2026, at MSU Billings.  All sizes of ensembles are invited to attend, including big bands, combos, modern bands, vocal jazz, and any other size or instrumentation of Jazz or Commercial ensemble. In addition to adjudication, highly experienced clinicians will also provide improvisation, instrumental, and music production clinics. This festival is non-competitive and focused on education and nurturing the love of music. Top Soloists of the festival will be awarded at the evening concert. There are no adjudication fees required for this festival.

2026 All-Star New Orleans Jazz Ensemble, Sunshine Special

Sunshine Special brings together some of New Orleans鈥� top traditional jazz musicians in a new collaboration dedicated to the spirit of early jazz. Though newly formed, the band鈥檚 members are seasoned performers who have honed their craft on stages across the world. Each musician carries a deep knowledge of the early jazz tradition, while also drawing on a wide range of experience spanning classical, swing, and modern jazz.

Rooted in the sound of New Orleans yet shaped by diverse influences, Sunshine Special celebrates the energy, joy, and timelessness of early jazz 鈥� brought to life by a group of players who know how to make the music swing.  Listen to these fantastic players caught on camera playing Weatherbird Rag.

Guest Artists & Adjudicators

• Jory Woodis, clarinet, bandleader

  • Jory Woodis is a clarinetist and saxophonist from Cowley, Wyoming, known for his lyrical sound and deep connection to the spirit of early jazz. Growing up in the Big Horn Basin, he found his passion for music at the Yellowstone Jazz Camp and the Yellowstone Summer Music Camps before going on to study at Brigham Young University, where he recorded two DownBeat Award鈥搘inning albums with Synthesis and led his own New Orleans鈥搒tyle band, The Salt Lake City Seven.

    After teaching saxophone at Utah Valley University and Snow College, Jory followed his heart south to New Orleans during the 2020 pandemic and quickly became a familiar face in the city鈥檚 thriving traditional jazz community. He performs almost daily with a rotating cast of bands and musicians across town鈥攐n riverboats, in packed clubs, and anywhere good music can be found.

    Jory has toured internationally across Europe and South America and now co-leads Sunshine Special with trumpeter Zach Lange, the ensemble featured at this year鈥檚 festival.

• Steve Detroy, piano
  

  • Steve has been a mainstay in the New Orleans music scene for over a decade--highly in demand playing several nights a week in the area.

    Originally from Norwalk,Connecticut, he began playing piano at the age of 6 under the instruction of his father, who is also a professional pianist and keyboardist. He briefly attended the jazz and contemporary music program at The New School University in NYC, studying with legendary pianist Junior Mance- before embarking on his own musical journey which eventually led to New Orleans.

    Upon moving to the Crescent city he was quickly brought into legendary blues/funk/r&b guitarist - Walter 鈥淲olfman鈥� Washington鈥檚 band- The Roadmasters. He served as Walter鈥檚  keyboardist for 8 years until Walter鈥檚 passing in 2022- touring throughout the United States and internationally in Europe, China, India and South America.

• Defne "Dizzy" Incirlioglu, washboard

  • Defne is a jazz and blues percussionist based in New Orleans. Growing up in Ankara, Turkey, she started playing washboard with Delta blues and ragtime musicians in parks and subway stations while studying literature at New York University, before moving to Louisiana to expand her understanding of early jazz and living folk music traditions. Since 2007 she has performed across the United States and Europe, including festival appearances at New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, French Quarter Fest, Umbria Jazz, Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, Fest Jazz Brittany, Bix Fest, Pismo Jazz Jubilee, among others. The Syncopated Times featured a profile and interview with Defne as the cover story for their November 2024 issue. She plays regularly with Shake 鈥楨m Up Jazz Band, Secret Six Jazz Band and Sirocco Brass.

• Taylor Kent, bass

  • Taylor Kent is a versatile upright bass player and bandleader based in New Orleans, Louisiana. Kent is a dynamic performer fluent in both traditional jazz and classical chamber music.

    Since moving to the city in 2017, he has become a sought-after musician in the early jazz scene, performing regularly at iconic New Orleans venues, including Preservation Hall, the Steamboat Natchez, Palm Court Jazz Cafe, and Jazz Fest.

    Kent began his professional career in 2010 upon gaining a tenured position in the Spokane Symphony. He is currently a regular substitute with the Louisiana Philharmonic and performs with a variety of ensembles.

• Zach Lange, trumpet

  • Zach Lange is a New Orleans-based trumpet player known for his deep passion for improvised music and his love for traditional jazz. Originally from the Midwest, Zach spent 11 years in the Seacoast region of New Hampshire and Southern Maine. Now, Zach has become a prominent figure in the New Orleans vibrant music scene, performing regularly at top clubs and venues.

    Zach has taken his distinct sound across the U.S. and internationally, captivating audiences on stages worldwide. His performances are defined by spontaneity and emotional depth, drawing on New Orleans' rich musical heritage while expanding the boundaries of jazz. A skilled improviser, Zach blends technical mastery with a creative spirit that pushes the traditional limits of the genre.

• Molly Reeves, guitar

  • Raconteur of song Molly Reeves is a performer and adorer of early 20th-century American music. Molly is known globally for her enigmatic approach to rhythm guitar and her ability to invoke the idiomatic tone and language of 1920s and 30s acoustic guitar players. A crooner by nature, her dynamic and warm vocal stylings echo popular singers and storytellers of yesteryear. Molly resides in New Orleans where she plays with The New Orleans Jazz Vipers, The Shake Em鈥� Up Jazz Band, Russell Welch Hot Quartet, and the Chloe Feoranzo Quartet in addition to leading her own projects. As a guitar instructor Molly is sought out for her creative and enthusiastic teaching methods and is a faculty member of the New Orleans traditional jazz camp.

• Stephan Tenney, trombone
  

  • An up-and-comer on the scene, Stephan Tenney is a masterful trombonist steadily working his way to the top of the brass world. His nimble approach to the trombone make him a significant force, along with his warm cocooning sound. With a diligence and work ethic that carried him through his time at Berklee, Stephan became a desired addition to many groups in the North East. During his time in Boston, he caught the eye of late drummer and Jazz Messenger, Ralph Peterson Jr., and was the lead trombonist on the subsequent record 鈥淟isten Up!鈥� with Peterson鈥檚 Gen-Next Big Band. Since then, Tenney has been playing and/or on tour with master musicians like: Jens Lindemann, Matt Catingub, Larry Sieberth and others. While in New Orleans, Stephan has been steeping himself in the sounds of traditional American music and has allowed that education to chime into his compositions. Stephan hopes to continue gathering as much new input as he can to continue writing and making more new music each day. His consummate musicianship and polished attitude towards music is what makes him a fresh voice on the trombone.

Concert Tickets

The Jazz Festival Gala Concert featuring the MSUB Jazz Orchestra and an All-Star New Orleans Jazz Ensemble, Sunshine Special, will take place at the MSUB Petro Theatre from 7-9 p.m. on Friday, February 6, 2026 (doors open at 6:30 p.m.). for only $15. Ticket sales open up one month before the Gala concert.  Admission is FREE for MSUB students and employees with a valid MSUB ID by reserving in advance through the Music Office. If you need help purchasing tickets, please call the Music Department Office at 406-657-2350.

MSU Billings鈥� past jazz festivals have been very successful with guest artists such as , , , Wayne Bergeron, Katisse Buckingham, Maynard Ferguson, Bill Watrous, Doc Cheatum, George Shearing, Bobby Shew, Nick Mancini, Denis DiBlasio, , Kelly Berdahl, , , , and . Please join us in making this another educational tradition and a musical mainstay in Montana.

For more information please contact John Roberts.