Daniel Jonas

"Jonas is a perceptive soloist who knows his chord changes…" – Jack Bowers, AllAboutJazz.com

A trumpeter, composer, and educator, Dr. Daniel Jonas is a part-time instructor in music at Western Michigan University, in addition to working as an academic advisor for the College of Health and Human Services. His prior teaching experience includes Weber State University (as Music Program Director and Director of Jazz Studies), Sacramento State University, and Cosumnes River College.

A native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Jonas received a D.M.A. in jazz studies from the University of Colorado in 2013, a master’s in jazz studies from DePaul University in 2005, and a bachelor’s in trumpet performance from the University of New Mexico in 2003. His teachers include Brad Goode, John Davis, Robert Lark, Thomas Matta, Jeffrey Piper, and Glenn Kostur.

In addition to his educational pedigree, Jonas performs often in and around the Battle Creek/Kalamazoo area. He has also performed with and accompanied Maria Schneider, Dave Liebman, Jon Faddis, Nnenna Freelon, Bobby Shew, Butch Miles, Phil Woods, Slide Hampton, Jim McNeely, Denis DiBlasio, Steve Wiest, James Moody, Marvin Stamm, Randy Hamm, Ernie Watts, Dave Pietro, Jeff Jarvis, John Fedchock, Chris Vadala, The New York Voices, Soph, Maynard Ferguson, and Aretha Franklin, among others. He has performed at several festivals and conferences, including the Kinser Jazz Festival, New Mexico Music Educators Association All-State Conference, Midwest Clinic, Jazz Education Network Conference, Telluride Jazz Festival, Vail Jazz Festival, Moab Music Festival, and Guatemala Jazz Festival. His recording credits include his own releases Folks Songs and The Spirituality Suite, several albums by the SLC-based jazz group Hot House West, Ari’s Funhouse with the Ben Markley Big Band featuring Ari Hoenig, and many others.