The UTPB Jazz Kettle will be hosting internationally celebrated musicians Willie Murillo and James Morrison for a concert on Monday, March 3, 2025. This will be an event that will benefit students at UTPB, Odessa College, and Midland College, as well as community members. The Guest Artists will rehearse with community and college musicians on Sunday night, speak to groups and individuals in private lessons and Master Classes on Monday, and perform with jazz band members from UTPB, OC, MC and the greater Permian Basin community that evening at the Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center. The magnitude of this experience cannot be overstated. Willie Murillo is an LA based trumpeter, singer, arranger, and producer who visited UTPB last year for a similar residence. Everyone who was associated with that rehearsal/performance 2-day event left the experience exhilarated and edified. James Morrison is an Australia based multi-instrumentalist who has been called “the Genius of Jazz”. He and Mr. Murillo will be on multi-state tour across the nation, and they are looking forward to spending a few days in the Permian Basin before moving on to other tour dates and locations. Includes musicians from Odessa College, UTPB Jazz Kettle, and Midland College.

Jason Lyle Black is an internationally-acclaimed pianist, composer, and entertainer whose clever charisma and musical ingenuity has won fans all over the world. As a touring artist, Black has performed all over the United States, having given concerts in 30 states from Washington to Florida, from California to New Jersey, and from Utah to Indiana and in between.  As an international performer, Black has visited more than 30 countries, as one of the highest rated and most booked piano headliners on luxury cruise ships, working with brands ranging from Regent, Seabourn, Crystal, and Silversea to Viking, Celebrity, Oceania, and more. Live on Stage audiences will remember Black from his first feature performance at the 2018 National Conference, leading to his tour with numerous concert associations during the 2019-2020 season.   Black is back with his all-new show, From Blockbusters to Broadway: 100 Hits of Stage & Screen®, featuring music from the greatest rock songs of ACDC and Queen, to musicals like Wicked, Sweeney Todd, and Phantom of the Opera, to movie and TV hits from Star Wars to Game of Thronesand many, many more!  This new show features an all-new musical program from Black, as well as the addition of live drums onstage, and […]