High School & Collegiate Series: UNC Compass Jazz Orchestra on YouTube; Twitch on Thursday 10/30, 11 a.m.
KUVO’s High School Collegiate Series features the Compass Jazz Orchestra from the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) on the KUVO YouTube and Twitch channels beginning Thursday, October 30, at 11 a.m. and will be available on demand. The set was captured earlier this month in KUVO’s Masterpiece Studio, in front of a live studio audience with emcee Geoff Anderson. The award-winning band is under the direction of Dana Landry, and this performance features original compositions.
The Compass Jazz Orchestra is considered one of the premier college big bands in the country, having earned more DownBeat Student Music Awards than any other university jazz orchestra over the past two decades, most recently in 2025 for Best Large Jazz Ensemble. Their newest release features Grammy Award–winning vocalist Carmen Bradford of the Count Basie Orchestra. They have traveled the globe and will be appearing at the upcoming Jazz Education Network Conference in New Orleans in January 2026.
Band Director Dana Landry, a 23-year faculty member at the UNC-Greeley School of Music, was named the “Carlos Lando Educator of the Year” at KUVO’s 2025 Live at the Vineyards. Also, in October 2025, Landry will be honored with a DownBeat Magazine Lifetime Achievement Award.
Members of the Compass Jazz Orchestra are:
Alto Saxophone: Cade Gutierrez, Hendrik Viljoen
Tenor Saxophone: Christian Longoria, Natalie Gallatin
Baritone Sax: Edward Moncada
Trumpet: Jules Colombel, Andrew Wilson, Sidney Hollander, Skyler Mendell
Trombone: Jonathan Bumpus, James Standish, Ian McGuire
Bass Trombone: Raymond Arango
Guitar: Ben Hall, Alfredo Balcacer Manzano
Piano: Ian McCune
Bass: Gabe Rupe
Drums: Chris Peters
Percussion: Diego Da Silva
Set List and Soloists:
- Better and Better - Ben (guitar), Christian (tenor 1), Sydney (trumpet 4), Chris (drums)
- Leao Do Norte (Lion of the North) - Natalie (tenor 2), Alfredo (guitar)
- Saoirse's Waltz - Cade (alto 1), Skyler (trumpet 3), Christian (tenor 1)
- Flight 962 - James (trombone 2), Edward (baritone saxophone), Diego (percussion), Chris (drums)
- Cold Hearts Warm Nights - Gabe (bass), Jonathan (trombone)
- Ring of Life - Ian (piano), Ben (guitar), Chris (drums)
Production by:
Lead Audio Engineer: Klaus Larson
Video Engineering by: Alec Kenefick & Javon Manning
Hosted by: Geoff Anderson
Booking: Domi Edson
Recorded in the Masterpiece Studio in Denver, CO
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