Featured Composer

DR. LOU FISCHER

Dr. Lou Fischer is Co-Founder, Past President, and the Conference Coordinator for the Jazz Education Network (JEN). A Professor Emeritus of Music, Lou acted as Jazz Studies Chair from 2001-2017, directed the Big Band, the conFUSION BAND, and taught Jazz Theory and Jazz Arranging. Lou is the Founder of the Capital University Jazz & World Music Festival now in its 24th year. While at the University of North Texas, Dr. Fischer was a member of the UNT One O’Clock Lab Band (1971-1974).

Returning to the university after his extensive professional touring career, Fischer holds a BM (1991) and MA (1992) from the University of Denver, and a Doctor of Arts from Ball State University (1999).

As the former 11-year jazz division head for Music For All, Lou’s forty-five year career represents a virtual Who’s Who in Music, including composing and/or performing studio work, Broadway Shows, and extensive touring with The Crusaders, Red Rodney, Airto, Charlie Byrd, Andy Williams, Emmy Lou Harris, Woody Herman, Louis Bellson, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Bill Watrous and Bobby Shew, among many others.

A select list of recordings include groups he has co-founded: highTIME Morning Walk; Beaux J Poo Boo All Things Are New. In addition, he has performed on Steve Houghton’s Gershwin: The Manne We Love; Bill Watrous’ A Time For Love & Bone-i-fied; Shelly Berg’s The Joy; Frank Mantooth’s A Miracle; and Sunny Wilkinson’s High Wire.

A Yamaha Bass Artist Representative, performing on the Yamaha Silent Bass exclusively, clinics/concerts have been performed in Europe, Canada, Australia, Japan, Korea, Great Britain, Scandinavia, Mexico, South Africa, and three hundred+ institutions across the U.S. Lou’s compositions are published by eJazzLines.

Educational textbooks include: Stylistic Etudes in the Jazz Idiom, (Hal Leonard); Jazz Solo’s for Bass Vol II (Kendor Music); and Rhythm Section Workshop for Jazz Band Directors (Alfred), which includes an Educator’s Manual,a dvd, 5 student workbooks, and a play-along cd co-authored with Shelly Berg, Fred Hamilton, and Steve Houghton.

Lou has directed All State Ensembles in Texas, Michigan, North Dakota, Illinois, Indiana, Oklahoma, Colorado, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Louisiana. In addition he has directed the MFA National Honors Jazz Band of America in 2010 and 2013.