Bio
Jay Rees is an experienced and innovative musician with a varied background as a conductor, composer, arranger, and performer. Concert, jazz, and athletic bands perform his original compositions and arrangements. Warner Bros./C.P.P. Belwin, Pumpkin Monkey Music, and Musicexpresso.com, have published Rees' works. Major universities and high schools across the country commission his music annually.
An accomplished musician in jazz performance, Rees has appeared throughout the U.S., Canada and Japan. He toured with the international recording act The Lettermen as bassist and music director and is featured on their album release Now and Then. Rees currently performs as bassist, leader and composer of Sylvan Street, a progressive new ensemble fusing jazz, rock, latin and funk styles. Sylvan Street features a diverse collection of Rees' original works on their 2009 Summit Records CD release The Perfect Leaf. Rees also collaborates with the UA jazz faculty and performs at UA's annual AZ Jazz Concert Series.
Under his inspired direction, the University of Arizona marching and pep bands have attained national reputation with Rees' contemporary arrangements and inventive drill design. Rees' work is referenced extensively in the book "Marching Bands and Drumlines: Secrets of Success from the Best of the Best." In 2009, the prestigious College Band Directors National Association named The Pride of Arizona one of the top marching bands in the country The bands have released CD recordings, are heard as part of an Electronic Arts college basketball computer software program, and they have appeared in numerous television features including NBC-TV's Today Show and Fox Sports. Rees is also conductor of the UA Wind Symphony, teaches undergraduate music education courses, and travels as a clinician, guest speaker, and adjudicator for band programs nationwide.
Rees choreographed a live "human flag" for the Tucson community in response to the events of 9/11/01. His imaginative design incorporated 10,000 citizens and became a national symbol. The image appeared on CNN and was published in a special issue of Sports Illustrated.
Rees is listed in Who's Who In America for the 21st Century as well as Who's Who Among America's Teachers. A native of Detroit, he lived in Miami and Los Angeles before making his home in Tucson with his wife and two sons.
