UTD's own jazz pianist, faculty member Kelly Durbin brings together local musicians for a performance sure to delight both jazz connoisseurs and casual listeners a like. Performers will include Peggy Lauren Lohr, James Gilyard, Karl Lampman, Wayne Delano, Carl Hillman, and Dennis Durick.

Kelly Durbin (piano)
Kelly Durbin is a faculty member at The University of Texas at Dallas, where he directs the Jazz Ensemble and teaches classes in music theory, MIDI, jazz history and jazz keyboard. He holds a Master of Music degree from The University of North Texas. Durbin is a long time member of the Marchel Ivery Quintet and the James Gilyard Ensemble, and has performed at numerous jazz concerts, festivals, and workshops. His professional credits include work with David "Fathead" Newman, James Clay, Chuck Rainey, Billy Hart, Louis Hayes, Ed Soph, Lynn Seaton, Hank Crawford, Sebastian Whittaker and Roseanne Vitro. Durbin was the music consultant and pianist for the Hollywood film "Daddy's dying, Who's got the will?" and can be heard on recordings by James Gilyard and Freddie Jones.

Peggy Lauren, vocalist, is a native Texan whose impressive career includes film, television, commercials and LA's hottest clubs. She's performed at prestigious parties and charity events including the Academy Awards Governor's Ball for five years and the Director's Guild Awards Presentation. She performed at the La Costa Weekend starring Barbara Walters. Peggy has worked with noted lyricist and composers including Marilyn and Alan Berman, Dave Grusin, Johnny Mandel, John Barry, Michel Legrand and Lalo Schiffrin. She has performed with the great Les Brown and The Band of Renown. Her
vocal film credits include "American Flyer," "For The Boys," "Best Friends," and "Out of Africa." When Peggy lived in Branson, Missouri, she performed in New Year's Eve shows for the Lawrence Welk Resort and entertained at the National Veteran's Day Festival with Jimmy Rogers.

Dennis Durick, drummer, born and raised in the D.C. area, came to Texas to study music in Denton. He keeps busy performing with many different artists and projects that are musically diverse. He has recorded with Dave Liebman, Dave Zoller, Joe McBride, Tony Hakim, Pete Brewer, Larry Spencer, Leora Salo, Kellye Gray, and Brian Moore. Currently Dennis is working on projects with Quartet Out, Flipside, Café Noir, Bill Lohr, Lyles West, Paul English, Circo, and his own band, Brouhaha.

James Gilyard, jazz bassist, composer, producer and lecturer has over 39 years of performing experience in the clubs and other venues of Texas and Oklahoma. He graduated from Langston University in 1967 with a B.A. in education and took post graduate studies in Human Relations at the University of Oklahoma. He retired from a 27 year career as a HR professional with a Fortune 500 company to pursue a music career. He is a solid, sensitive accompanist and has performed with many well known artists including Red Garland, Sonny Stitt, Barney Kessell, Dewey Redman, Roseanne Vitro, James Clay and Billy Hart, to name a few. He has recorded four albums for Generativity, Ltd. and was one of five nominees for “Jazz Artist of the Year” in the 1996 Dallas Observer Reader’s Poll. Gilyard was also selected “Sammons Jazz Artist of the Year” for 1998 by the Sammons Center for the Arts, and is now the Artistic Director for the Sammons Jazz series.

Karl Lampman, saxophone, holds a Master of Music degree from The University of North Texas. During his time at UNT, Lampman was a member of the "One O'Clock Lab Band" and has performed with numerous artists including Ronnie Ball, The Supremes, Rosemary Clooney, Johnny Mathis, Billy Daniels and Buddy Greco. Lampman also toured with the Barnum & Bailey-Ringling Brother's Circus as well as the Ice Capades Band.