DeMarinis receives 2023 Clark Terry Jazz Ambassador Award

Director of Jazz Studies Paul DeMarinis has been selected as the recipient of the 2023 Clark Terry Jazz Ambassador Award, conducted by Jazz St. Louis. The award recognizes a person in the St. Louis region who embodies the spirit of St. Louis’ own jazz legend, Clark Terry, by inspiring and furthering a love of jazz in young people. DeMarinis was recognized at Jazz St. Louis's Swing for Scholars event on March 28.  

DeMarinis received his bachelor's and master's degrees in jazz studies from Webster University in 1982 and 1987, respectively. He began teaching as an adjunct faculty member at Webster in 1980 and was the full-time Director of the Jazz Studies Program by 1988. At Webster, he has taught saxophone, jazz improvisation and theory, jazz history, and jazz education methods. DeMarinis also coordinates the Webster Faculty Jazz Ensemble, leads the Summer Jazz Camp, and directs the Jazz @ Webster Concert Series. 

DeMarinis cofounded the original music cooperative Brilliant Corners which recorded for the MAX JAZZ label in 1997, and has written extensively for his own trio, quartet, and sextet. He has enjoyed extended musical relationships with the Kim Portnoy Jazz Orchestra, The Jim Widner Big Band, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, and the St. Louis Jazz Orchestra, and was a faculty member of Jamey Aebersold’s Summer Jazz Workshops from 1996-2008. He has also been a faculty member of the International Summer Jazz Academy in Poland. He has performed with many notable musicians/bands, including Dave Liebman, Louie Bellson, Gary Foster, Bobby Shew, Paul Wertico, the Count Basie Orchestra, Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Nancy Wilson, Doc Severinson, Johnny Mathis, Sammy Davis Jr., Lou Rawls, Gladys Knight, the Temptations, and the Four Tops. 

For nearly three decades, Jazz St. Louis has been the foremost jazz presenter in St. Louis and throughout the region dedicated to preserving the legacy of this musical genre. Learn more at jazzstl.org.