[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 116 (Tuesday, July 15, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1470]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING NEIL SLATER, CHAIRMAN OF THE JAZZ STUDIES DIVISION AT 
        THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS, ON AN OUTSTANDING CAREER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 15, 2008

  Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding 
career of Neil Slater, chairman of the Jazz Studies Division at the 
University of North Texas and nationally recognized jazz composer. Mr. 
Slater has been an integral part of the UNT School of Music for 27 
years and plans to retire in August.
  Mr. Slater created the jazz masters program at the University of 
North Texas, and has been instrumental in making UNT one of our 
nation's outstanding colleges for jazz composition and performance. In 
addition to his role as chairman of the jazz department, Mr. Slater 
also leads the ``One O'Clock Lab Band,'' a jazz ensemble named after 
its traditional practice time. This Band has performed and recorded 
across the world, occasionally participating alongside jazz greats as 
Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, and Ron Carter.
  Slater was nominated for a Grammy award in 1993, and he received a 
1995 National Endowment for the Arts fellowship grant. He has composed 
over 60 pieces for jazz ensembles, in addition to writing pieces for 
symphony, mixed chamber groups, a cappella chorus, and theater. In 
recognition of his reputation as a jazz expert, the American Society of 
Composers, Authors and Publishers has bestowed its ``Standard Award'' 
upon Slater each year since 1987. Prior to educating musicians at UNT, 
Mr. Slater founded the Jazz Studies program at the University of 
Bridgeport in Connecticut.
  I commend Neil Slater for his outstanding career as an educator and 
composer. As an alumnus of the University of North Texas, I am 
especially proud of the work he has done to make the University a 
leader in jazz education. I am honored to represent Neil Slater and the 
University of North Texas in the 26th District of Texas.

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