Professor of Music Thomas Erdmann had an article published in the professional trumpet journal.
Professor Thomas Erdmann in the Department of Music had an article published in the October 2022 issue of The International Trumpet Guild Journal.
The article, “Having the Right Mindset: Jeff Jarvis,” is about the jazz trumpeter, composer, arranger, conductor, writer, and educator Jeff Jarvis who is currently Director of Jazz Studies at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University Long Beach.
You would be hard-pressed to find an area of jazz Jarvis has not worked in at one point or another in his life. His credits as a performer include the Atlanta, Buffalo, Denver and Syracuse Symphony Orchestras. With regard to military ensembles, he has appeared with the U.S. Air Force Airmen of Note, U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors, U.S. Army Blues, Jazz Knights of the United States Military Academy Band at West Point, U.S. Air Force Commanders Jazz Band, and U.S. Air Force Shades of Blue.
A few of the big bands he’s played with are the Riverside Jazz Orchestra, Dallas Jazz Orchestra, Oslo Big Band (Norway), Frank Mantooth Jazz Orchestra and Tom Kubis Big Band. Working live he’s also been frequently called upon to be a side musician with top jazz performers including Louie Bellson, Eddie Daniels, Gladys Knight, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Golson, Slide Hampton, Jimmy Heath, Jon Hendricks, Joe Lovano, Kevin Mahogany, Henry Mancini, Rob McConnell, Van Morrison, Grady Tate, Doc Severinsen, Joe Williams, and many more.
It all began while Jarvis was still in college at Temple University. He worked his way into becoming a studio musician with Philadelphia International Records. The sound created in their studios became known as “Philly Sound” and artists from all over the world went there to tap into the magic. During this time, Jarvis worked with not only the top pop bands in the area but also national artists such as Michael Jackson, Melba Moore, The O’Jays, Teddy Pendergrass and Lou Rawls, to list just a few. All told, Jarvis made over 100 recordings backing this wide variety of artists.
As a composer and arranger, Jarvis has composed commissioned music for school, military and professional big bands, as well as pops orchestras and studio session material for many artists. His composed and/or arranged published works are available from UNC Jazz Press, Alfred, iJazz and Kendor Music.
Interest in sharing his knowledge with others led Jarvis to author a number of books including “Jamz 15 Solos in Modern Styles,” and co-author a number of others including “The Jazz Educators Handbook” with Doug Beach and “The Chord Voicing Handbook” with Matt Harris. As if this isn’t enough, he has acted as contributing editor for The Instrumentalist, and written for Flute Talk, Band & Orchestra Product News and Jazz Educators Journal.
Today, while still performing frequently, Jarvis works as a guest conductor leading honors jazz bands, including all-state jazz ensembles in 39 states and four Canadian provinces. He is past president of the California Alliance for Jazz and served as vice president of the International Association for Jazz Education. His time spent as co-owner of Kendor Music Publishing, from 1985 to 2015, was fostered when he started working there as an editor. Jarvis’ many accolades include the Lifetime Achievement in Jazz and Jazz Education award from Global Music Awards.
For this musician, who comes from a musical family (his father was a trumpet player and band director, his mother was an elementary vocal teacher, and his two sisters are retired elementary school music vocal teachers) and whom famed critic Scott Yanow described as playing “hot solos (with) strong musicianship,” you’d be hard-pressed to find something Jarvis hasn’t done.