Southeastern’s long and distinguished jazz history includes being the alma mater of pianist Bill Evans (1950 BM), the recipient of seven Grammy Awards including the Lifetime Achievement Award by The Recording Academy. Other notable jazz alumni include Craig Klein (2021 Grammy Award Winner), Durand Jones and Zakk Garner. The Department of Music and Performing Arts offers the Bachelor of Music, Concentration in Jazz Studies.
The Bill Evans Jazz Festival, presented every April, includes four days of concerts featuring a nationally known guest artist with the Southeastern Faculty Jazz Quartet and University Jazz Ensemble. The festival also presents the Louisiana Association for Jazz Education State Jazz Festival, hosting over 40 jazz ensembles from throughout the region ranging from junior high to university level, making it one of the largest collegiate jazz festivals on the gulf coast.
The Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies in Sims Memorial Library is home to the Bill Evans Archive which houses interviews, letters, manuscripts, recordings and other items related to Bill Evans career and time at Southeastern.
