Gregory W. Yasinitsky

Gregory W. Yasinitsky, Regents Professor of Music and Coordinator of Jazz Studies at Washington State University, has a international reputation as a composer, arranger and saxophonist. A recipient of grants and awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, Meet the Composer West, The Commission Project, Artist Trust, Washington State Music Teachers Association (WSMTA) and ASCAP, Yasinitsky has performed with Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Louis Bellson, Stan Getz, Lionel Hampton, Manhattan Transfer, Mel Torme and many others. He also has written music especially for Clark Terry, Dave Liebman and the USAF "Airmen of Note" big band, with over 150 musical works published by Kendor Music, Belwin Jazz, Advance Music (Germany), Hal Leonard, Dorn, Walrus, UNC Jazz Press, Daniel Barry Publications, Sound Music Publications and Hoyt Editions which are performed in over 30 countries world-wide. His compositions and saxophone playing can be heard on recordings released by Soul Note, Palo Alto Records, the Musical Heritage Society, Vienna Modern Masters, Arizona University Recordings, Open Loop Recordings and his own label, Yazz Recordings. Under Yasinitsky's leadership, the Washington State University Jazz Studies Program has received widespread recognition including awards from Down Beat magazine, invitations to perform at prestigious conferences and top awards at major jazz festivals.