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Brian Gorrell
briangorrell@ucojazzlab.com
Brian Gorrell serves as Head of the Jazz Studies Division for the University of Central Oklahoma School of Music. Gorrell, a former pianist for the Lawrence Welk Orchestra, also manages operation of the Jazz Lab Recording Studio and teaches Applied Saxophone, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Theory & Analysis, Music Technology, Jazz Improvisation, and Jazz Piano. Gorrell completed a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Central Oklahoma and received a master’s of music degree in Saxophone Performance from Oklahoma City University.
Equally proficient on both saxophone and keyboards, Gorrell has produced many album projects including In Some Other World (1995), Soulmates (1999), In The Swing of Christmas (2001), and The Jazz Company Live @ the UCO Jazz Lab (2007 release). In addition to the Welk Orchestra, Brian has performed on saxophone and/or keyboards with such notables as The Manhattan Transfer, Louie Bellson, Phil Woods, Bill Trujillo, Jay Migliori, Jay Daversa, Clark Terry, The Lennon Sisters, Ralna English, Patti Page, Slide Hampton, Kay Starr, Steve Allen, Jim Nabors, Ty England, Diane Schuur, Christopher Cross, The Temptations, The Drifters, and many others.
Gorrell has always been passionate about music education and has been aggressive in developing new programs at UCO including the Minor in Jazz Studies and the pending Master of Music in Jazz Studies.