During undergraduate years at North Texas from 1965 until graduating with a B.M. degree in 1968, Jay Saunders, lecturer, was a member of the One O'Clock Lab Band, an undergraduate teaching assistant in trumpet, and played two tours with Stan Kenton Orchestra. After graduation, from 1968-1971, he played lead trumpet in the Studio Band of the U.S. Army Field Band in Washington D.C. Upon discharge from the Army, he immediately rejoined and toured with the Kenton band until the fall of 1972. He returned to UNT as a graduate student serving as a graduate assistant in trumpet and lab bands until the summer of 1975, having earned his M.M.E. degree in fall 1974.
During the next ten years he rejoined the Kenton band for short stints and taught at Kenton clinics. He was a member of the Jerry Grey Orchestra in the Fairmont Hotel's Venetian Room, backing such performers as Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Billy Ecstine, Sarah Vaughn, and hundreds of other noted artists. Since the 1980s he has been a performer/educator in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including playing first trumpet for the Dallas Summer Musicals; performing with the Dallas and Fort Worth Symphony Orchestras as part of their Pops Series; and for shows and recordings in the area. He has been heard as lead trumpet for broadcasts by CNN-SI, CNN, HBO, ESPN radio, Warner Bros. and Paramount TV themes, for the BBC, VOA, WABC, KABC, WNBC, WCBS and many other broadcasters in the United States. He has recorded eleven albums with Stan Kenton, one album each with Doc Severinsen and Ornette Coleman, and many rock, Latino and religious artists. He has taught at the University of North Texas, Richland College, Tarrant County Community College, Texas Wesleyan University and Collin County Community College.
|