Biography
When pianist/arranger/conductor Jeff Haskell sits down at the piano, something inventive and inspired happens. The word eclectic doesn't even begin to describe his amazing musical dexterity.
Haskell's professional credentials are as varied and vast as his musical talent.
He began his jazz career as a scat-singing boy soprano in Philadelphia. At age 12, he sang and played saxophone professionally, adding the organ a year later. Soon thereafter, Haskell immersed himself in jazz studies with pianist Ray Smythe and organist Jackie Davis, and at age 16, was jamming with saxophonist Lew Tabackin.
The first winner of the first east coast collegiate jazz festival (Villanova), Haskell soon went on to play in Europe with flute great Jeremy Steig and trumpet legend Chet Baker.
Haskell has won three Los Angeles Emmy Awards for his work on the much celebrated children's TV program, Dusty's Treehouse, and critics praised his theme and underscore for the IT show for ABC, for which he received a Los Angeles Emmy nomination. Some of his Hollywood music includes arrangements on two Linda Ronstadt albums, cues for "Dudley Do-Right" and "Fight Club". "Pastiche Americana", a composition written for chorus and orchestra, was performed by The Little Orchestra in Lincoln Center. His "Concerto for Jazz Band and Orchestra" debuted with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. And he conducted the world premiere of Billy Taylor's suite for jazz trio and big band, "Fiesta In Tucson".
He is also the orchestral conductor for the "Linda Ronstadt Sings Nelson Riddle" concerts, having conducted the Boston Pops, the Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Dallas and Baltimore Symphony Orchestras, among others. He’s the only person ever hired by the Tucson Symphony in the roles of pianist/conductor, arranger/orchestrator, and vocalist (tenor).
A veteran of hundreds of "jingles", he has recorded a legendary synthesizer album for Capitol Records, and served as music director, arranger and conductor on the Las Vegas/Reno circuit for country music legend Buck Owens.
Haskell received a B.A. in Music Education from West Chester University (PA) and a Masters in Theory from the University of Arizona. While studying for a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Composition from the University of Arizona, he served as the second Director of the Tucson Boys Chorus, which continues to perform extensively in the U.S. and abroad.
He has been honored by the Greater Oro Valley Arts Council as a
Legend of Jazz, and by the Tucson Jazz Society as the third recipient of their Lifetime Achievement Award. He also won the Lifetime Achievement honor from the Tucson/Pima Arts Council in May of 2007.
He is co-founder and musical director of the Tucson Jazz Orchestra and, as a senior faculty member in the School of Music & Dance at the University of Arizona, Haskell is the Area Coordinator of Jazz Studies and Director of the Recording Studio.
More:
Awards
- Faculty Mentoring Award
- Spring 1999
- Best Musical Arrangements of Season
- Fall 1997
- "Hey, Daddy!" One of the Top 25 Indie Releases of 2007.
- Fall 2007
- "Hey, Daddy!" The top jazz album of 2007
- Fall 2007
- Inductee- Tucson Musicians Museum
- Fall 2007
- Lifetime Achievement Award
- Spring 2007
- Artist of the Year Finalist
- Fall 2005
- Lifetime Achievement Award in Jazz
- Summer 2004
- Legend of Jazz Award
- Fall 2003
Interests
No activities entered.
Courses
2019-20 Courses
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Internship
MUS 493 (Spring 2020) -
Internship
MUS 693 (Spring 2020) -
Practicum
MUS 494 (Spring 2020) -
Recording Studio Prod
FTV 302 (Spring 2020) -
Recording Studio Prod
MUS 302 (Spring 2020) -
Recording Studio Prod
FTV 302 (Fall 2019) -
Recording Studio Prod
MUS 302 (Fall 2019)
2018-19 Courses
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Recording Studio Prod
FTV 302 (Spring 2019) -
Recording Studio Prod
MUS 302 (Spring 2019) -
Recording Studio Prod
FTV 302 (Fall 2018) -
Recording Studio Prod
MUS 302 (Fall 2018)
2017-18 Courses
-
Recording Studio Prod
FTV 302 (Spring 2018) -
Recording Studio Prod
MUS 302 (Spring 2018) -
Recording Studio Prod
FTV 302 (Fall 2017) -
Recording Studio Prod
MUS 302 (Fall 2017)
2016-17 Courses
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Independent Study
MUS 699 (Spring 2017) -
Recording Studio Prod
FTV 302 (Spring 2017) -
Recording Studio Prod
MUS 302 (Spring 2017) -
Recording Studio Prod
FTV 302 (Fall 2016) -
Recording Studio Prod
MUS 302 (Fall 2016)
2015-16 Courses
-
Recording Studio Prod
FTV 302 (Spring 2016) -
Recording Studio Prod
MUS 302 (Spring 2016)
Scholarly Contributions
Presentations
- Haskell, J. R. (2007, March 26, 2007). Song and Theme Writing. Writing class, Pima CC. Tucson, AZ.
- Haskell, J. R. (2005, 1/24/05). Rule-of-Thumbs and Ear Training. Tucson Music Teachers Monthly Meeting. Encore Piano Co., River Rd., Tucson.
- Haskell, J. R. (2004, 4/1/01). Lunch Club. A Men's luncheon club in Tucson.. Mountain View Restaurant, Tucson.
- Haskell, J. R. (2003, 1/22/03). "Inside the Session, Inside the Score". SOMAD Convocation. Crowder Hall.
- Haskell, J. R. (2003, 4/16/03). Jazz is like a Banana, Part II. Faculty Fellows Speaker Series. UA Student Union.
- Haskell, J. R. (2002, 10/24/02). Diane Reeves, a preperformance talk-. UA Presents. UA Social Sciences.
- Haskell, J. R. (2000, 2/1/00). "Jazz is like a banana- you eat it on the spot". Duval Aud., University Hospital.
- Haskell, J. R. (1999, 3/29/99-4/4/99). "Jazz- Our American Heritage". The Jazz Train. Mobile.
- Haskell, J. R. (1999, 9/22/99). "Do-wop to Hi-Lo's: The Beginnings". Invisible Theatre.
- Haskell, J. R. (1998, 3/13/98). Lecture- "The Music of Cleo Laine and John Dankworth". Pre-performance lecture. Douglas 101.
- Haskell, J. R. (1998, 4/23/98). "Jazz- An Active History". Mixed. Gallagher Theatre.
- Haskell, J. R. (1997, 12/9/96). "Exploring and Exploiting the Dominant Polychords". Harp Master Class. Mus 146.
- Haskell, J. R. (1997, 2/1/97). "The Future of the AAJE". AMEA State Convention. ASU.
- Haskell, J. R. (1997, 2/28/97). "The Music of Joshua Redman". UA Presents -Lecturer. Douglas 101.
- Haskell, J. R. (1997, 4/24/97). "Jazz is like a Banana-You eat it on the spot". Faculty Fellows Lecture Series. Gallagher Theatre.
- Haskell, J. R. (1997, 4/9/97). "Improvising on Strings". UA Pesents - Pre-concert lecture. Douglas 101.
- Haskell, J. R. (1997, Various). "Ear Training From Hell". Music Student Body. SOM classrooms.
Creative Works
- The Jack Neubeck Album Project; October; Acting as Co-producer, Music Director, Arranger, Pianist, Vocalist.
- "Flashback"; CD; October; Arranger/Pianist for Jazz themes by Phil Carlin; CD released by Sabino Music on 9/19/99.
- Park Avenue Records presents Martin Patfield; October; Co-producer of first recording.
- Bully!; October; Composing for the Bohemian Club Grove Play to be performed in the Bohemian Grove, Monte Rio, CA, in July of 2005. Writing for the Bohemian Orchestra, Chorus and soloists.
- Park Avenue Records presents Katherine Byrnes; Recording; October; Have completed all the arrangements and production for the following selections: Pretend, Blues in the Night, With the Wind and the Rain in your Hair, Willow Weep for Me, 'Deed I Do, Are You Lonesome Tonight, Dr. Jazz, Fever, How Insensitive. Recording to be released spring semester, 2004.
- Civano; October; On November 21, recorded the theme ID for Civano, the housing development.
- The "Bear Down" Project, Jazz Portion; October; Recorded by Kactus Kats, a combined group of faculty, students and alumni on September 5, '02 at Jim Brady Recording Studios. I organized group and arranged music.
- The Angel Ball Show; October; The show involved three singers, 10 dancers and a 6-piece band. Planning was started 8 months out and the writing 3 months out. This is a yearly benefit for Angel Charities for Children.
- "Expose Yourself"- Arts Oddysey Theme; October; This is an "everything" theme that covers Latin, Country, Jazz, Opera, Chant, Symphony, etc. It is currently running on various media.
- Byouba; October; This piece was arranged for big band and 5 trumpet soloists by Jeff Holmes and presented at the International Trumpet Guild's Carmine Caruso Jazz Competition on November 3rd.
- Arizona Illustrated Theme; October; This was music done for the KUAT television program, required 20 musicians, many from the School of Music.
- "Dixie Mass"; Dixie Band, Choir, Soloists.; October; This work will be presented 5/3/98 at St. Philips Episcopalian Church.
- Those Timeless Tunes; Caberet Theater; October; With Tom Ervin, Jack Neubeck, and Katherine Byrnes. 10/13/03, Crowder Hall.
- "Threnody"; October; Wrote piece for Park Avenue Records artist, Martin Patfield.
- Tyspomedia; Jazz; March; A two-movement work for trumpet soloist, ensemble and piano, completed for inclusion into the International Trumpet Guild Festival in Banff, Canada.
- "Hey, Daddy!"; CD Recording; March; Acted as Co-Producer, Music Director, Pianist, Arranger, Vocalist for this project for Julie Anne Boos.
- Variations on Jada; Full Orchestra; March; Commissioned for the Independence Jazz Reunion Concert with The Northern Ohio University Orchestra, 3/28-9/03.
- Grove Play; Musical; March; I am the Composer of next year's Grove Play.The musical is called "Bully!" It is a portrayal of Theodore Roosevelt during critical political years. It is the prime vehicle for hundreds of Bohemian Club cast and crew.
- "Arthur Diehl"; TV Documentary; March; Scored for piano, bass drums, clarinet, saxophone and trumpet.Documentary runs 28 minutes and will be shown on KUAT.Score recorded 3/3/05, mixed 4/22/05.
- "I Will Always Be With You"; Windam Hill Album Release; March; Song written by faculty associate Robin Horn, piece performed by Paul Horn. This will be a national release.
- Casino of the Sun- Musical Campaign; March; This big band composition/arrangement will run for about a year through radio/tv.
- "Missa Dixie"; March; This is scored for choir, soloists, dixie band. Premiered 5/3/98, St. Philips-in-the-Hills.
- "Planet of Oceans"; Television theme and underscore; March; This orchestral score aired on the Discovery channel in April, 2000 in several programs.
- "Bully!"- Bohemian Grove Play; June; Please see accompanying book.This work took a year to do.
- "Toot Suite"; June; Scored for 5 trumpets, 2 horns, 2 trombones, tuba, and piano.Presented at International Trumpet Guild Conference, Bangkok, Thailand on6/24/05.
- The Mastodon Episode; June; The original score for the Discovery Channel Show. The Discovery Channel is seen Internationally.
- Jazzing IT Up; Theater; June; Wrote a Two-character show, presented in The Invisible Theater Summer Program at the AZ Inn on July 13, '03. With Katherine Byrnes.
- Woolloomooloo Overserved; Triplo Press; December 2010; Music composition
