Brent Jensen

In 1986-87, Brent studied in New York City with jazz legend Lee Konitz on a grant from the Idaho Commission on the Arts. He was a featured winner of the Woodwinds on Fire international talent search conducted by Jazziz magazine (August 1996). Brent has performed with a wide variety of jazz artists including Gene Harris, Bobby Shew, Gary Foster, Dave Peck, Joe LaBarbera, John Clayton, Wycliffe Gordon, Warren Vache, Curtis Stigers, John Stowell, Kristin Korb, Jamie Findlay, Duck Baker, Dianne Schuur and many others.

His recording, The Sound of a Dry Martini: Remembering Paul Desmond on Origin Records, charted at the #1 position on jazz radio stations across the country. Dry Martini was also featured on JazzWeek's Top 100 and NPR's JazzWorks' Top 25 lists for the year 2002. Stay Cool, Brent's second release on Origin made Jim Wilke's (host of Jazz After Hours) “Favorite Jazz CDs of 2002” list. His fifth CD for Origin One More Mile with Seattle musicians Bill Anschell (piano), Jeff Johnson (bass) and John Bishop (drums) was one of Jim Wilke's (host of Jazz After Hours) “Favorite Jazz CDs of 2007”. Brent's 2009 release on Origin, We Couldn't Agree More is a collection of duets with Seattle pianist Bill Anschell. That disc was recently selected as a 2009 “Critic's Choice” by Jazziz magazine. His most recent release is Humble Origins (also on Origin) with the jazz quartet “Wellstone Conspiracy”. That disc was named a “Best Northwest Jazz CD of 2011” by Jim Wilke.

Brent Jensen is an Assistant Professor of Music at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls.