Band Member Showcase
Mike Conrad
Founder, Artistic Director, Composer, Pianist
Mike Conrad is a composer and improviser currently serving as Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of Northern Iowa. His compositions have earned him four ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Awards, a SONIC Award from the International Society of Jazz Arrangers & Composers, the 2023 Sammy Nestico Award, and many other accolades. Conrad’s music has been performed all over the world, including a 2017 concert by the Metropole Orkest in the Netherlands, a 2014 Carnegie Hall Premiere, and a performance at the US Presidential Inauguration in 2013.
Mike Conrad’s wide-ranging creative projects include his unique 15-piece group, the All Angles Orchestra (New Angle, 2017), a reimagination of Beethoven’s 3rd symphony in collaboration with the Berlin-based Stegreif Orchester (2019), and a 2022 trio album release entitled Reconnect. He records and performs regionally on piano and trombone with groups like Christopher Merz’s “Shorter Stories,” the Jon Ailabouni Quintet, Bob Washut’s “Emeritet,” and the Max Wellman Big Band, and has also performed and recorded with musician such as Louis Hayes, Alexa Tarantino, and Greg Gisbert. His jazz festival appearances include the Umbria Jazz Festival, the Rochester International Jazz Festival, the Rockport Jazz Festival, the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, and the Iowa City Jazz Festival.
Dr. Conrad earned degrees from the University Northern Iowa (BM and BME), the Eastman School of Music (MM), and the University of Northern Colorado (DA). He is in high demand as a clinician and guest director for jazz ensembles, having directed the Iowa All-State Jazz Band (4A) in 2023. Mike lives in Cedar Falls, Iowa with his wife Ashley and their daughter Madeline.
Dave Rezek
Trumpet
Dave Rezek has been a vital part of the Des Moines jazz scene since his return to the area. Active as a leader, sideman, private teacher, clinician, festival adjudicator, and guest artist with colleges and high schools, he earned a Community Jazz Center Special Recognition Award for his contributions to the jazz tradition in Central Iowa. Dave is on the faculty of Susie Miget's Creative Music Studio, where he teaches trumpet and jazz improvisation. He took over as Artistic Director of the Des Moines Big Band in 2015, serves as arranger/musical director for Max Wellman’s ensembles, and has maintained an active performance schedule with Dave Rezek’s Alpha State Agents, the Bryan Schumacker Quintet, and the Tony Valdez Large Band. Prior to his return to Des Moines in 2007, Dave had spent 10 years playing on the East Coast in Boston and New York. He completed his MM degree in jazz performance at New England Conservatory and performed as a member of a handful of large groups led by Bob Brookmeyer’s top composition students, including the 2-time Grammy Award Nominated large ensemble Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society. He was also a designated sub for numerous Broadway shows, including the smash hit Jersey Boys, with whom he performed on stage at the 2006 Tony Awards Show, where they earned Best Musical.
Anthony Williams
Lead Trombone
Anthony Williams is Associate Professor of Trombone at the University of Northern Iowa. His previous teaching appointments include stints at the University of Mary (ND), University of Memphis, and Lemoyne-Owen College. He maintains a high frequency of performing in classical, jazz, and new music settings. He has performed with artists and ensembles such as the Memphis Symphony, Arkansas Symphony, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony, Orchestra Iowa, Dubuque Symphony, Memphis Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Orchestra of the Delta, Ray Charles Orchestra, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Natalie Cole, The "Ghost Bands" of Cab Calloway, Jimmy Dorsey and Benny Goodman, Slide Hampton, Peter Erskine, Natalie Cole, Rufus Reid, and Clark Terry. Williams recently released "SYNTHESIS," his first solo recording that features newly commissioned works for solo trombone that feature a confluence of jazz and classical style. Other recordings include performances as lead trombonist on the Mike Waldrop Big Band’s recent releases; "Origin Suite" and “Time Within Itself." Other recording projects include Grosso for Trombone and Electronics for Mexican born composer, Jorge Sosa’s album, “Plastic Time," albums by Ryan Middagh, the Dave Lisik Jazz Orchestra, University of Memphis “Southern Comfort" Jazz Ensemble, and The award-winning University of Northern Iowa Jazz Band One playing lead trombone.
Dr. Williams earned degrees from the University of Central Arkansas (BM), University of Northern Iowa (MM), and the University of Memphis (DMA).
He is a member of the International Trombone Association, National Association for Music Education, College Music Society, and the Jazz Education Network.