The annual performance by Kelly Durbin and James Gilyard is one of the most highly anticipated annual events of the season. Durbin, a UT Dallas faculty member and jazz pianist, brings together local musicians each year for a performance to delight both jazz connoisseurs and casual listeners alike. The name James Gilyard means many things – jazz bassist, composer, producer and lecturer. In addition to all of his other ventures, he is the artistic director for the Sammons Jazz series at the Sammons Center for the Arts in Dallas. This year’s concert will feature music from the Cole Porter and Richard Rodgers songbooks.

Kelly Durbin (piano)
Kelly Durbin is a faculty member at The University of Texas at Dallas, where he directs the Jazz Ensemble and teaches classes in music theory, MIDI, jazz history, and jazz keyboard. He holds a Master of Music degree from The University of North Texas College of Music. Durbin has enjoyed long tenures with the James Gilyard Ensemble and the Wayne Delano Quartet.  He was a long time member of the Marchel Ivery Quintet.  Durbin has performed at numerous jazz concerts, festivals and workshops and given a lecture on jazz at the Dallas Museum of Art. His professional credits include work with The Woody Herman Orchestra (directed by Frank Tiberi), David "Fathead" Newman, James Clay, Cornell Dupree, Chuck Rainey, Billy Hart, Louis Hayes, Ed Soph, Lynn Seaton, Hank Crawford, Sebastian Whittaker, and Roseanne Vitro. Durbin was the music consultant and pianist for the Hollywood film "Daddy's dying, Who's got the will?" and can be heard on recordings by James Gilyard, Chuck Willis, Wayne DeLano, and Freddie Jones.

James Gilyard (bass)
The name James Gilyard means many things - jazz bassist, composer, producer and lecturer. Gilyard has performed with Kenny Burrell, James Clay, Red Garland, Barney Kessell, Billy Hart and Roseanne Vitro to name a few and has three of his own recordings under his belt. Gilyard was born in Stillwater, Oklahoma in 1945 and graduated from Langston University with a B.A. in education in 1967. He undertook post graduate studies in Human Relations at the University of Oklahoma and recently retired as a human resource/training manager for a Fortune 500 company.

Gilyard's early music career included three years during the Viet Nam era in the 97th United States Army Field Artillery Band. He also served as staff bassist for Benson Sound Studios in Oklahoma City during the early 70's. Gilyard, who is sought out for his solid and sensitive accompaniment, is a favorite rhythm section member in the bands of many Dallas area jazz notables. Gilyard has been featured in articles by the Dallas Morning News, The Dallas Observer and Buddy Magazine.

Gilyard's knowledge and experience have been instrumental in the development of many Dallas-Fort Worth area artists. In addition to all of his other ventures, he is the artistic director for the Sammons Jazz series at the Sammons Center for the Arts in Dallas.

http://www.jazzdfw.com/

For more information on this event, visit http://ah.utdallas.edu/season0809/durbin.htm.