Ed Orgill

Biography

Saxophone, Jazz Studies
B.A., Eastern Washington University; M.M. University of Oregon; D.A., University of N. Colorado

Edward Orgill, D.A. is a music educator, composer and an award winning saxophonist who’s credits include: Lead Alto Saxophone, featured soloist and road manager with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra under the direction of Buddy Morrow; featured soloist and tenor saxophone for the Amherst Jazz Orchestra, The Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra of Denver, The New Repertoire Ensemble directed by Robert Curnow, and the Spokane Jazz Orchestra; performances with Dick Hyman, Karrin Allyson, Charro, Marion McPartland, Jim Neighbors, Bob Wilbur, Pete Barbutti, Michael Brecker, Bob Mintzer, Ernie Watts, John Abercrombie, and more; appearances at The North Sea and Montreaux Jazz Festivals, and The International Association for Jazz Education Convention; and bandleader, woodwind specialist and featured soloist on many cruise liners.  

Additionally in the classical style Orgill has performed graduate recitals at the University of Northern Colorado and the University of Oregon, and two post-doctoral recitals at Westfield State University.  Orgill’s dissertation Blue Hayes: An Analysis of the Performance Style of Jazz Saxophonist Tubby Hayes is a descriptive analysis based on four complete transcriptions of Hayes’s performance on the 1961 recording Tubby Hayes with Clark Terry: The New York Sessions.  Dr. Orgill is the coordinator of Jazz Studies at Westfield State University and has directed the WSU Big Band since 2007.