about

born in Las Vegas, Nevada and raised in Nacogdoches, Texas, i grew up surrounded by music, art, and educators. my mother is a classically trained vocalist, with music degrees from LSU and Baylor; my first step-father was the professor of music theory, composition, and electronic music at Stephen F. Austin State University for 35 years. surrounded by college art and music professors since pre-K, i was afforded the opportunity to understand how the arts can impact people and communities. my father, who taught law for 42 years at South Texas College of Law in Houston, and step-mother are life-long choir members of their church; and my step-father now, plus all my siblings, sing or play music instruments.

i attended the University of North Texas College of Music as a saxophonist and music education student. i have taught since 1998 in Texas public schools, both as a private lesson teacher and band director. i have performed with over 20 different music groups since graduating from college, recording on over 10 albums. i performed at SXSW multiple times, Utopia Music Festival twice, Steamboat Springs Music Festival in Colorado, and in 2013 i performed at Austin City Limits Music Festival.

originally hired as a part-time jazz band director at The One The Only LBJ Jaguar Band in 2003, i helped continue their outstanding legacy. they have been consistent award winners at jazz festivals at TCU, Tarleton Univ., Austin ISD, Georgetown, and Temple College. i have been teaching so long that i have now performed proudly with former students in professional settings! in 2007, i lead the jazz band in performances in Beijing and Tianjian, China. they even performed on the legendary Great Wall of China!

since 2010, i’ve been a full-time band director, and in 2013 i became the fine arts department chair. for the past several years i’ve been the TMEA Region 18 jazz coordinator, hosting the all-region jazz band auditions and organizing the bands for their rehearsals and concert.

in summer of 2021, i became a full-time member of LASA High School, officially leaving the LBJ campus. in summer 2022, i became the director of bands at LASA.

campuses

  • Wylie Intermediate School – 1998
  • Grapevine Middle School – 1998-2001
  • LBJ and LASA High Schools (shared campus) – 2003-2021
  • KIPP Austin College Prep – 2006-2008
  • LASA High School  – 2021-present

camps

clinician

  • Austin ISD All-City Jazz Band – Director and Organizer (since Spring ’04)
  • Region 15 – TMEA All-Region Jazz Band Two – March 2015
  • Kealing MS, AISD
  • Hernandez MS, RRISD
  • Cele MS, PfISD

current groups

  • Chris Jones Quartet (Ichiro Asian Bistro in Georgetown, Texas)

groups i’ve played or recorded with

  • 2022 – East/Hayward Sextet – Austin, Texas
  • 2019-2020 – Bon Annee Quintet – Cedar Park, Texas
  • 2016-2020 – The Gladiators Big Band – Austin, Texas
  • 2014-2019 – Jai’beaux (jazz quintet) — Cedar Park, Texas
  • 2016-2017 – Boss Street Brass Band (New Orleans style brass band) — Austin, Houston, Texas; recorded album Put It On You; performed Austin Jazz Festival (Circuit of the Americas)
  • 2015 – Branford Marsalis Quartet — guest appearance at One World Theater — Austin, Texas
  • 2015 – Monster Big Band — Austin, Texas
  • 2013-2019 – Bob Slaughter (world music) —Austin, Texas; recorded albums The River Knows; We Are Water; The World Passes By
  • 2012-2017 – K Phillips and the Concho Pearls (Americana/country-soul) — Central Texas region & Steamboat Springs, Colorado
  • 2012-2013 – Nakia (Soul/R&B/Rock) — Austin, Texas; SXSW 2012
  • 2011-2013 – The Wheeler Brothers (Folk-rock/Americana/Alt-country) — Austin, Dallas, Houston, Texas; ACL Music Fest 2012; Old Settlers Music Festival 2012; Utopia Music Fest 2012-13
  • 2011 – T-Bird and The Breaks (funk/soul) — Austin, Texas; Fun, Fun, Fun Fest (Auditorium Shores)
  • 2009-2011 – The Lucky So & So’s (Soul-jazz) — Austin, Texas; recorded album One for Grant
  • 2010 – Blue J (jazz small group) — Austin, Texas; recorded album Blue J
  • 2010-present – Shane Pitsch and the Smokestack Revue (Texas rock and jazz) — Austin, Texas; recorded album Movin’ On
  • 2009-2013 – Akina Adderley and The Vintage Playboys (soul, R&B, rock, funk) — Austin, San Antonio, Tyler, and The Woodlands, Texas; Memphis, Tennessee; recorded album Say Yes!
  • 2008-2011 – Austin Jazz Band (big band jazz) — Austin, Texas; recorded album Night Flight
  • 2007-2012 – The Belltower (small group jazz) — Austin, Texas
  • 2004-2007 – Global Soul (jazz/Latin jazz) — Austin and San Antonio, Texas; recorded album Global Soul; performed at Corpus Christi Jazz Festival, October 2005
  • 2004-2010 – Bright Lights Society (jazz/Texas swing/standards) — Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Texas
  • 2002-2006 – Funk Shui (jazz/funk) — Austin, Texas
  • 2002-2004 – Indagroove (funk-rock horn band) — Austin and San Marcos, Texas
  • 2002 – Creeker (alternative rock) — Austin, Texas; recorded album Letters
  • 2001 – EAST (rock/jam-band) — Austin, Texas; recorded albums 4113 Speedway; Habits From The Past
  • 1998 – Irving Community Band — Irving, Texas
  • 1996-1997 – DCF Big Band — Denton, Texas
  • 1996-1997 – Travis Harris Big Band — Ft. Worth, Texas