Background, professional training and performance history
Saxophonist Joe Manis released his first album "Evidence" in January 2009 on 8bells Records, and is currently an instructor at South Eugene High School and the Director of the Shedd Institute Jazz Academy. As both a leader and a sideman, Manis has presented performances and jazz master classes at Whitman College, Bates College, University of Oregon, and Columbia University Teachers College; South Eugene, Sisters, Klamath Union, and Pleasant Hill High Schools; and Spencer Butte Middle School. He received a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of Oregon in Eugene in 2005 and a Masters of Music in Jazz Studies-Performance with Academic Honor from the New England Conservatory in Boston, MA in 2007. He attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY in 2005. As a part of the Oregon Festival of American Music, Manis has played with Ken Peplowski, Byron Stripling, and Bucky Pizzarelli. Additionally, he has played with Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited and appears on their album "Rise Up!" on Real World Records. He currently shouts background vocals and plays alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, and tenor saxophone with the Cherry Poppin' Daddies and appears on their albums "Susquehanna" and "Skaboy JFK: The Skankin' Hits of...". Manis has also played with the Ken Schaphorst Big Band featuring trombonist Andre Hayward, The Temptations, and the many incarnations of the Joe Manis Trio. Manis has toured Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Slovenia, Switzerland, UK, & the US.
FACULTY PHILOSOPHY - Philosophy
Artist statement and teaching philosophy
“My teaching style is grounded in the fundamentals: I want to give all of my students a set of basic skills, but I also enjoy working with students on the specific questions and unique interests that they bring to their musical study. My vision of a successful student is one who has the information and resources to answer to his own questions: these are the tools I hope to provide. I think I am particularly good at providing a diverse array of musical experiences and influences to help capture each student's interest. I firmly believe it is possible to ensure that students cultivate an awareness of jazz history and the many musical traditions this history encompasses while still remaining open to challenging, contemporary music; I also believe that music should be fun, as well as hard work. As a teacher, I encourage my students to become better problem-solvers as they work to answer their own questions, and I hope that, as a result of their music study, my students gain a deep appreciation of live music and become life-long, educated listeners, even if they don't pursue music as a career. I look forward to sharing my love for jazz and improvisational music, and welcome students of all ages and abilities.”
Instruments & classes taught
Joe Manis teaches saxophone, clarinet and jazz.