The Indianapolis, Indiana, native says the faculty at Iowa opened her eyes to musical styles she never expected to fall in love with. While looking at master’s programs, a friend and fellow percussionist, Cassius Goens III, suggested Iowa, where he got his master’s degree. Giauna Neville got her bachelor’s degree in music education and wanted to study jazz more in depth. It’s cool because then I get different perspectives on everything.” And he plays completely different than Professor (James) Dreier, who plays completely different than Professor Grismore. “So, Professor Phillips plays completely different than Professor Menefield. “The thing about jazz is every single person plays it differently,” Truong says. Iowa started its undergraduate degree in jazz studies in fall 2019, with the first student graduating in spring 2020. Marvin Truong, a first-year student working toward a double major in jazz studies and business, says he appreciates the expertise and musical diversity of the faculty. I firmly believe that we have a world-class team of leaders in the jazz field.” “And I think we’re able to put ourselves up against the top schools in the country based on the people that we have here. “The faculty are the heart and soul of any school,” Walker says. The program will welcome another new faculty member in fall 2021, award-winning trumpeter Curtis Taylor-who will take over after Steve Grismore retires. Menefield started in fall 2020-filling a hole left after John Rapson, who was previously head of jazz studies, retired. Part of that change in direction comes from an influx of new faces in the program. I really believe we are poised for an incredible transformation and surge of impact in the jazz area.” Faculty leading the way “He’s building upon the rich history of the program here, but also taking it in a different direction at a really fast pace, which has already been exciting. Phillips has a really strong vision about how jazz at Iowa is going to set itself apart from other programs,” says Tammie Walker, director of the School of Music. Phillips started at Iowa in 2013 and was named head of the jazz studies program in 2019. “Iowa currently is not always the place that people think of when they consider where to go to school for jazz studies, but if the quality of what you build is strong enough, people will come to get the training that they need.” “The goal is to establish ourselves as a national powerhouse of jazz studies,” says Phillips, associate professor and head of the jazz studies program.
The jazz musicians and professors in the University of Iowa School of Music are determined to put Iowa on the map for future jazz educators and students. I almost needed a map to remember where Iowa was.”
“The last time I checked, the state was not a hotspot for jazz. “Iowa was not on my radar,” Menefield says. Damani Phillips and William Menefield say they never expected to end up in Iowa.
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