Neil Slater

Neil Slater, a renowned jazz educator, is a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship Grant recipient, and a National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Grammy Award nominee. In 2008, Slater retired from his position as Chair of the Division of Jazz Studies and Director of the internationally acclaimed UNT One O’ Clock Lab Band at the University of North Texas (UNT) in Denton, Texas. He holds the position of Professor Emeritus.

Slater, a pianist, has recorded/performed with name artists including, Mel Lewis, Joe Morello, Sal Salvador, Frank Strozier, Don Elliott, Bill Watrous, and Danny Stiles. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) bestowed its “Standard Award” upon Slater each year, 1987-2010. Prior to his association at UNT, he founded the jazz studies program and established MM and BM degree programs in jazz at the University of Bridgeport, CT