Saxophones

Patrick Langham, alto
Patrick Langham joined the University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music as Associate Professor and Director of Jazz Studies in the Fall of 2003. He holds both the Bachelor of Music with a concentration in jazz studies and the Master of Music with a concentration in jazz studies from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He has taught at the University of South Carolina - Upstate and Tusculum College in Knoxville, TN. As a saxophonist and director Professor Langham has performed with distinguished jazz artists and at numerous jazz festivals throughout the United States. His concert appearances have included performances with Donald Brown, Bob Hurst, Tom Harrell, Essiet Essiet, Billy Kilson, Lewis Nash, Joe Locke, and Jeff "Tain" Watts. He has developed and taught courses in jazz history, theory, improvisation, and performance. In 2006 & 2007, Patrick traveled to Barcelona Spain teaching and performing at Taller de Musicas, Escola Superior Music de Catalunya (ESMUC), and Jamboree Jazz Club. Professor Langham has recorded as a leader and created Roll Call Records an independent jazz label. The 2008 release is titled "Grown Up Listening" and features internationally recognized artists as supporting members. At Pacific Professor Langham directs the Pacific Jazz Ensemble, teaches courses in improvisation, jazz history, jazz theory, and works closely with the Brubeck Institute Jazz Camp and the Pacific Music Camps. For more information visit: www.patricklangham.com

Jeff Alkire, alto
Jeff Alkire has toured the world performing as a saxophonist with the likes of Ray Charles, John Lee Hooker, Terry Gibbs, Joe Farrell, Charlie Haden, Art Lande, Chuck Isreals, Eddie Marshall, Bobby Shew, John Patitucci and John Stowell. Jeff studied at Berklee College of Music and California Institute of the Arts where he earned Bachelors and Masters degrees in Jazz Performance. After graduating, he moved to Australia to join the Jazz Studies program as a full-time faculty member of Adelaide University. Now back in the States, Jeff teaches jazz courses at several colleges in California, repairs instruments and performs his music. His four independent CDs, One Summer in Winters, Some Byrd's Like to Fly,Tak'in Notes, and Another Day, are available on CDBaby.com. Visit Jeff's website at: http://jeffalkire.com

Mike McMullen, tenor
Mike McMullen has been a professionally working musician for 35 years. He has worked all over North America, Europe, and Scandinavia. Mike studied clarinet with CWO Ascercian at the NaviBase Music School in Little Creek, Virginia; jazz saxophone with Joe Henderson in San Francisco; and flute at the SF Conservatory with Mong Pil Kim. He was awarded a NARAS Scholarship in 1978 to study composition and arranging at the prestigious Dick Grove School in Los Angeles, and he continued woodwind studies there with Phil Sobel for seven years while working his way into the industry. As an educator, Mike spent three years on staff at the Dick Grove School in LA; initiated the Newpark Jazz Program in Dublin, Ireland; spent 12 years as director of jazz ensembles at UC Davis, and many years performing elementary school assembly programs in the greater Sacramento region. He has also been a guest artist/clinician, and adjudicator at many festivals, schools, and camps throughout Northern Europe, Scandinavia, and the Western US. Mike currently serves on the jazz faculty at Sacramento State University, where he teaches improvisation and theory, directs jazz combos, and provides private instruction in jazz saxophone. Mike worked for 25 years as a bandleader with a variety of jazz and world folk based jazz groups in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Europe, performing original music in clubs and small tours, and then in festival settings, television, and radio. Locally, he is a founding member of the Sacramento region's premier jazz group, the Capital Jazz Project. Since it's inception, CJP has produced dozens of thematic repertory concerts featuring numerous national and internationally known soloists, as well as new music presentations, jazz mentoring, and educational activities. Aside from his work as a leader, Mike has performed in concert, toured, or recorded with jazz artists Dave Liebman, Randy Brecker, Bobby Shew, Sonny Fortune, Richie Beirach, Pat LaBarbara, Pepper Adams, Moacir Santos, Kenny Wheeler, and Norma Winstone. Commercially, he has worked as an arranger, conductor, and performer with Radio Orchestras in Ireland, Denmark, and Belgium; Arab American Television in LA, Motown and Screen Gems Publishing, Hanna Barbera, and artists Natalie Cole, Ray Charles, Manhattan Transfer, Dianne Schuur, Doc Severinsen, Johnny Mathis, Olivia Newton-John, Tony Orlando, The Moody Blues, The Temptations, and television's Taxi.

Josh Murray, tenor
Josh Murray grew up in New York City where he studied saxophone under Daniel Wilensky and David Mann, playing with the likes of Gregory Hutchinson, and Walter Blanding. He attended the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, learning from Reggie Workman, Jimmy Cobb, Kenny Werner, Ira Gitler and Joanne Brackeen, among others. Josh's performing credits include shows with Phil Woods, Jimmy Smith, Peter Erskine and the Drifters. He has been a full-time teacher at Sacramento's Rio Americano High School since 1998. Rio Americano is a seven-time winner of the Monterey Jazz Festival, and has performed at the Essentially Ellington Festival in New York City four times. For more information on Rio Americano's award winning music program visit: http://rioband.net

John Doolittle, bari

John Doolittle was born in Seattle, Washington and grew up in Sacramento. He attended Riverside Elementary, California Junior High, C.K. McClatchy High School, Sacramento City College, Sacramento State College, Fresno State College and San Francisco State College. John attained a Bachelor of Art degree in Liberal Studies from California State University, Sacramento. Some of his first musical experiences include listening to his mother play the piano; listening to Gilbert and Sullivan on 78's; learning how to play the clarinet from Buddy Harpham at Riverside School; playing in Fred Christian's and Buddy Harphams's bands at Joaquin Miller and California Junior High Schools; touring with the DeMolay Band; playing in Bill Peron's band at McClatchy High School and playing in the 59th Army National Guard Band. He received formal music training from Freelon Bibbins, (Sacramento Symphony); Russell Howland, (Fresno state); Don Carroll, (San Francisco state); Bob Fylling and Jerry Murphy. His inspirations include: Bud Harpham, John Nelson, Boyd Phelps, Bill Darlow, and Fred Christian. He plays flute, piccolo, clarinet, bass clarinet, saxophones and piano. Current groups in which he plays are: Music Circus Orchestra, Sacramento Choral Society Orchestra and Sacramento Symphonic Winds. At present, John is a classroom music teacher at Sutterville Elementary School.

Back to the top of the page.