School of Music

Martin Saunders – Director of Jazz Studies and Professor of Trumpet

Dr. Saunders holds three degrees in music; a Bachelor of Music Education from Winthrop University, a Master of Music from Wright State University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Oklahoma. Prior to teaching a Marshall University, Martin spent seven years in the Air Force Band program at Offutt AFB in Omaha, Nebraska. There he performed primarily as the Lead Trumpeter, and later became Musical Director, for the Noteables Jazz Ensemble. He was also a member of the Concert Band.Dr. Saunders is an active jazz performer, adjudicator, and clinician for a number of universities and jazz competitions across the United States. He is a trumpeter and a featured soloist with Bluetrane, the Marshall University Faculty Jazz Ensemble, and with the MU Faculty Brass Quintet. Dr. Saunders is also a lead trumpeter and featured soloist with the Landau Murphy, Jr. Big Band, the Lippz Big Band, and performs with River Jam in Charleston, West Virginia. Martin has been an Artist Faculty member of the National Trumpet Competition since 2002, and has chaired the jazz division competition numerous times. He has performed with a number of highly regarded entertainers such as Arturo Sandoval, LeAnn Rimes, Byron Stripling, Rich Little, the Cab Calloway Orchestra, The Temptations, and Frank Sinatra, Jr. Dr. Saunders is a Conn/Selmer Bach Artist.

Jeff Wolfe (Trumpet) – Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies

Mr. Wolfe teaches courses in jazz studies and applied trumpet, conducts the MU Jazz Combo I and Jazz Ensemble II, and coordinates the Jomie Jazz Guest Artists Series. Mr. Wolfe holds an M.M. in Jazz Studies from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he studied jazz improvisation, pedagogy, history, and composition with world-famous jazz educator and composer David Baker. As an Associate Instructor of Jazz Studies at Indiana University, Jeff conducted one of the IU jazz ensembles and taught jazz improvisation. Jeff also holds a B.A. in Music Education from Marshall University. He is a former trumpet student of John Rommel, Edmund Cord, Pat Harbison, and Dominic Spera. Jeff is an active performer, adjudicator, and clinician having appeared on NPR’s nationally syndicated program Mountain Stage, and frequently performs with Columbia Records recording artist and former America’s Got Talent winner Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr. He has served as an adjudicator for the jazz division of the National Trumpet Competition, and appeared as a clinician for the Nashville Songwriters Association International. Mr. Wolfe is a charter member of the Jazz Education Network where he serves on the education committee, and is also a member of the International Trumpet Guild.

Ed Bingham – Professor of Saxophone and Jazz Studies

Dr. Ed Bingham holds degrees from the University of Tennessee, The Juilliard School and The University of Kentucky. In addition to the large saxophone studio ant Marshall University, he directs the Marshall University Jazz Ensemble and coordinates two jazz festivals each year. Marshall’s winter jazz festival is one of the longest-running collegiate jazz festivals in the country having just celebrated its 38th anniversary. In early summer, Dr. Bingham directs the Jazz-MU-Tazz Festival that features high school and college students with prominent jazz artists and clinicians. He is a founding member of Marshall’s faculty jazz ensemble Bluetrane. Bingham is Fellow of the Drinko Honors Academy Marshall. His research into the creative process was featured at Marshall’s Drinko Symposium and at the International Association for Jazz Education International Conference in Long Beach, California. Dr. Bingham maintains an active performance schedule in addition to his teaching responsibilities at Marshall and at Blue Lake. He is a bassoonist and saxophonist with the Huntington Symphony Orchestra and has performed with the Lexington (KY) Philharmonic, the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, the River Cities Symphony Orchestra and the Ohio Valley Symphony. Current projects include a presentation at the national conference of the College Music Society in Salt Lake City and the release of Bluetrane’s first CD.

Jesse Nolan (Percussion) – Visiting Assistant Professor of Jazz

Jesse received his BA in Music Education and MM in Jazz Studies & Percussion from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. He is currently working toward his DMA in Music Education from Boston University. Jesse teaches jazz courses (arranging, history, styles), music technology courses (intro to music tech, digital recording techniques), and applied jazz percussion. Jesse’s most recent engagement, a four year tenure as a Resident Music Director for multiple Blue Man Group productions, saw him performing with the group on two North American tours and two international tours, as well as drumming as a member of the Chicago and Orlando casts. He has performed and toured the world with artists, bands, and shows including James Moody, Allen Vizzutti, Bob Shepard, Lorraine Feather, David Baker, the Rob Parton JazzTECH Big Band, the Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra, the 50th Anniversary European Tour of West Side Story (2 Olivier Nominations), and a 2009 North American Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar (w/ Ted Neeley). As a classical percussionist, Jesse has played under the baton of Fred Fennell, Harry Begian, Michael Barrett, and Ray E. Cramer, and has performed at The Midwest Band & Orchestra Clinic, Bands of America, and the College Band Directors National Association Conference.  As President of MashPlant, an education technology company, Jesse works to oversee all software development and educational initiatives throughout the United States. He is also the owner of Big Pear Productions, a company that specializes in commercial music, recording, audio & video production and live events for clients including State Farm, Banana Republic, Virgin America, Bergdorf-Goodman, & the Intercontinental Hotel Group.  Jesse is a sub-committee chair of the Jazz Education Network Ed Committee and a proud member of the Vic Firth Education team, with whom he holds an educational endorsement.

Danny Cecil – Bass

Bassist Danny Cecil earned his BA in Music and MME (Jazz Emphasis) from the University of Kentucky as well as a BS in Biology from Marquette University, and has been an active member of the central Kentucky music scene since 1999. He has performed and/or recorded with such jazz luminaries as Joe Lovano, Bob Mintzer, Kenny Werner, Sam Rivers, Bob Degen, Jeff Coffin and Howard Levy. Additionally, he had the great fortune of performing with Arlo Guthrie and the UK Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall in fall 2007 while pursuing his graduate degree. Cecil currently plays acoustic and electric basses in many local and regional acts including the DiMartino-Osland Jazz Orchestra (DOJO), Barry Mando Project, Paragon Music Theater, Osland-Dailey Jazztet, as well as freelance work with such notable local artists as Jay Flippin, Orville Hammond, Raleigh Dailey and Lee Owen. Danny brings a wealth of performing, recording and touring experience to his work as an educator, and stresses the importance of versatility and comprehensive musicianship to his bass students.

Brief Discography: DOJO Quotient, ODJ Evidence (2009) and Music of Raleigh Dailey (2011 release), New KY String Ticklers Generations, Andy Mason Illumination, Bob Mintzer GO!, Kenny Ray Kenny Ray, UKSO George McKay’s Epoch, among others.

Duane Flesher – Piano