UNLV Jazz Ensemble I and the Latin Jazz Ensemble will premiere new albums at Ham Hall this Sunday at 3 p.m., kicking off the 2026–27 season with a concert featuring top student and faculty musicians. Tickets start at $11.75 in person.
This Sunday at 3 p.m., UNLV Jazz Ensemble I and the Latin Jazz Ensemble will open the 2026–27 season with a joint album release concert at Ham Hall. The event, announced by UNLV, also features the Joe Williams Scholarship Jazz Quintet and marks the start of the university's new performance season.
UNLV’s jazz program has long supplied musicians to Las Vegas’s biggest stages. Alumni have played with Aretha Franklin, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Tony Bennett, and Adele, from Encore Theater to the Strip’s main showrooms. Still, as percussionist and instructor Pepe Jimenez notes, first-time concertgoers are often surprised by the level of musicianship. “Whenever somebody goes to one of our shows for the first time, they say, ‘I wasn’t expecting this,’” Jimenez says. “That is a good thing.”
What to expect at Ham Hall
This concert is not a student recital. It’s a two-hour performance that, according to faculty and past attendees, matches the polish of any Strip production. Jazz Ensemble I, led by Dave Loeb (whose credits include “Family Guy”), will present their new album, “My Favorite Things.” The Latin Jazz Ensemble, directed by Jimenez, will play selections from “Back Home.” Their set will also include music from the Joe Williams Scholarship Jazz Quintet’s latest release. Tickets are $14.25 online at UNLV.edu or $11.75 at the UNLV box office.
Trombonist Nathan Tanouye, known for his work with Celine Dion and Santa Fe & The Fat City Horns, will be performing with the Las Vegas Philharmonic’s Joe Hisaishi celebration that day, so Loeb will conduct the ensemble solo. Baritone saxophonist and faculty member Adam Schroeder returns from a performance at Adelaide University in Australia and will join the concert, adding an international note. The Joe Williams Scholarship Quintet and pianist Eduardo Montero, with his brother, drummer Andres Montero, are also on the program.
UNLV’s influence on Las Vegas entertainment
UNLV’s jazz program has earned 53 DownBeat Magazine awards, making its students some of the most recognized in the field. For these musicians, a DownBeat award is the jazz equivalent of a Grammy, and many alumni are regulars on Las Vegas stages and beyond. The Latin Jazz Ensemble recently played at the Adelaide University jazz festival in Australia, further extending UNLV’s reach. The university highlights its jazz program as a key source of talent for the Las Vegas entertainment industry, with alumni working alongside major performers.
Jimenez’s own career reflects the program’s impact. After studying at Escuela Libre De Musica in Puerto Rico, he moved to Las Vegas to join “Storm” at Mandalay Bay and has since played in “Lion King,” “Mama Mia,” “Zumanity,” and “Baz.” He’s performed with Carlos Santana, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, and Paul Shaffer & The Shaff-Shifters, while teaching at UNLV since 2018 and leading the Latin Jazz Ensemble since 2021.
Why this concert matters
UNLV’s faculty are active Strip musicians, giving students direct access to the professional world. As Loeb puts it, “We’re in the entertainment capital and there are many times for students to perform … We try to push (students) out into the professional world as soon as possible.” The program aims to match any major college in both training and real-world results. The concert is set for Sunday, September 13, 2026, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, as listed on the UNLV School of Music events calendar.
The show focuses on music, not spectacle. Jimenez hopes more young musicians and local audiences will attend and see that UNLV is a serious option for anyone considering a music career. For those interested in the Las Vegas live music scene, the city’s appetite for new performances remains strong, as seen with events like the Punk Rock Brunch at The Rio.
UNLV’s jazz ensembles are more than training grounds—they launch the musicians who will shape the city’s entertainment future. Anyone looking for the next wave of Las Vegas talent will find it on stage at Ham Hall this weekend, where the line between student and professional is nearly invisible.
