UC Davis Music Department
Jazz Big Bands (at the Pitzer Center)
Otto Lee, director
UC Davis’s own Jazz Big Bands present songs from the Great American Songbook as well as a few contemporary works and sometimes feature student vocalists too. Tunes by Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, and many others are often presented.
This event takes place at the Ann E. Pitzer Center, not at the Mondavi Center.
Artist Bios
Otto Lee
Director
Otto Lee
California native Otto Lee is a saxophonist, educator, and composer. After completing a bachelor of arts degree in instrumental jazz performance (2010) and a master’s degree in music performance (2012) at California State University Fresno, he began his teaching career at CSU Fresno as well as Fresno Pacific University where he was in charge of the big band applied lessons. After spending a brief stint as the director of jazz studies at CSU Fresno, he decided to pursue a DMA in Jazz Studies from University of Colorado, Boulder (2017). Since returning home to California, Otto has maintained a successful private studio and works as a freelance musician throughout the Central Valley and Bay Area. He is director of jazz bands at UC Davis and at Fresno Pacific University.