Gunnar Mossblad is active as a saxophonist, composer/arranger, and educator in both the European classical and American jazz idioms. He earned a B.M. in Jazz Studies and an M.M. in Saxophone Performance from the University of North Texas. He is presently the Director of Jazz Studies at The University of Toledo and serves as the Professor of Saxophone. He was formerly the Professor of Saxophone and Coordinator of Jazz Studies at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, from 1982-1999, and West Chester University of Pennsylvania 1999-2002. Gunnar currently travels throughout the world performing concerts and clinics. He has numerous world premieres including works by Gunther Schuller and John Harbison, and most recently, Larry Nelson and Libby Larsen. He has collaborated with numerous jazz and classical artists including David Liebman, Marv Stamm, Royce Campbell, John D’earth, Hod O’brien, Mel Tormé, John Coates, Jr., and many others. He is the founder of Visions, a contemporary jazz quintet, and The Manhattan Saxophone Ensemble. He has recently been appointed the Musical Director for the newly formed David Liebman Big Band, and has just finished recording their first release.
When Gunnar is not performing or teaching he composes music for a wide variety of musical situations. To date he has composed over 75 original jazz compositions in addition to numerous classical pieces and arrangements for various solo, chamber, and large ensembles. His pedagogical materials for saxophone and jazz are published by Houston Publishing, Le Moine Music, and most recently the FJH Music Company.
His compositions as well as performing can be heard on the Four Leaf Clover Records release, Visions (FLC-4098), with the Manhattan Saxophone Ensemble on David Liebman’s Classique (OWL-066CD), and with Liebman on Joy: The Music of John Coltrane (Candid Records CCD79531). His most recent release entitled Convergence (MM-CD2002) has received critical acclaim and features both his performing and his compositions and is available through North Country Distributors. Gunnar is also a saxophone clinician for the SELMER Company, Elkhart, Indiana.