ABOUT JACK WILKINS

Jack Wilkins is a professional saxophonist/composer and the Director of the Jazz Studies Program at the University of South Florida. At USF he teaches courses in jazz improvisation, jazz styles and analysis, and jazz history, teaches applied jazz performance and directs the USF Jazztet, an internationally acclaimed student jazz ensemble that has performed at many European jazz festivals including the Montreux, North Sea, Jazz A' Vienne and Umbria Jazz Festivals, and conducted concert tours of Colombia and South Africa.

An accomplished jazz saxophonist, Jack Wilkins has 7 CD’s out as a leader, including the newest release on Chronograph Records titled "The Rundle Sessions." This follows "The Banff Project", a collection of Wilkins compositions with original films by Edwin Dennis and others. Both these projects drew inspiration from time spent in the Canadian Rockies as part of artist residencies at the Banff Centre and as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Calgary. These recordings feature outstanding Canadian musicians like Laila Biali, Kodi Hutchinson and Chris Andrew as well as American recording artists Sara Caswell and Corey Christiansen. Earlier CD's include "The Blue and Green Project", a unique set of Wilkins original compositions and arrangements based in American roots music and inspired by the culture and environment of the Appalachian Mountains. Jack also co-lead a group with the legendary Swedish trumpeter Jon Allan, Swedish/American pianist Per Danielsson and Swedish all stars Hans Backenroth (bass) and Johan Lofcrantz (drums), and American saxophonist Tamara Danielsson. CD's released by this group include Jack's CD “Dear Old Stockholm” and "Artwork" by the group Two of a Kind  which is a collection of compositions by Wilkins, Swedish composer/arranger Georg Reidel, and Per Danielsson.  Wilkins CD's “Ridgelines” and  “ARTWORK”, have stood the test of time, featuring exciting music and some outstanding musicians.

Jack can be heard as a soloist on all of the recordings by Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge.  Jack is the featured soloist, along with guitarist LaRue Nickelson, on the Grammy nominated "River Runs: A Concerto for Jazz Guitar, Saxophone and Orchestra." He can also be heard on the latest CD - "Whispers on the Wind", also a finalist for multiple Grammy awards.

Jack Wilkins is a Yamaha Instrument Company clinician, a Fulbright Scholar and a long time member of the faculty of the Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshops.