Murray Jazz Residency

Founded in 2009, the Murray Jazz Residency brings internationally acclaimed jazz and improvisation artists to the campus for a full week of engagement with the students of Towson University’s Department of Music.

These guest artists provide valuable models of the potential for creating a niche in today’s world of creative music making.

Featuring TU alumn Drew Gress as recurring biannual guest artists has proven to be a potent example that life in creative music is available through dedication and determination.

The Murray Jazz Residency continues to inspire future musical artists through the sustained generous gifts of Bill Murray, Vira J. Denney and the Murray Family. 

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About the Fall 2025 Artist: Drew Gress

Bassist/composer Drew Gress performs extensively with artists on the cutting edge of contemporary improvised music. Gress has maintains an extensive touring schedule, traveling to Europe, Asia, and South America, and has served as Artist-in-Residence at St. Petersburg Conservatory in Russia and at the Paris Conservatoire. He has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, Meet the Composer, and Chamber Music America, and currently resides in New York. To date, he has appeared on over 140 recordings, 4 of which have received Grammy nominations. Those with whom he has and continues to work include Tim Berne, Ravi Coltrane, Uri Caine, John Hollenbeck, Fred Hersch, Marc Copland, Don Byron, Steve Coleman, Dave Douglas, Jack DeJohnette, John Surman, Ray Anderson, Erik Friedlander, Kenny Werner, Bill Carrothers, Ralph Alessi, Tony Malaby, Steve Lehman, and Edsel Gomez.

Composition awards include an NEA grant (1990), funding from Meet the Composer (2003), a Chamber Music America New Works Grant (2005), a CMA French-American Exchange Grant (2007), and an Encore Grant from that same organization (2008). He continues to compose for larger groups and has begun experimenting with virtual synthesizers. Gress graduated from Towson University in 1980.

Additional Featured Artists

• Drew Gress (2009, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2024)
• Ellery Eskelin (2010, 2011, 2014, 2017)
• Tim Hagans (2009)
• John Hollenbeck (2009)
• Gerald Cleaver (2010)
• Craig Taborn (2012)
• Matt Wilson (2012)
• Ralph Alessi (2013)
• Mary Halvorson (2014)
• Tony Malaby (2015)
• Tim Berne (2016)
• Kris Davis (2017)
• William Parker (2018)
• Mark Guiliana (2019)
• Oliver Lake (2021)
• Angelica Sanchez (2022)
• Wadada Leo Smith (2023)
• Gretchen Parlato (2023)
• Joe Lovano (2024)
• Ingrid Laubrock (2025)
• Mike Holober (2025)