Jazz at Northeastern State University began in the 1960’s, when Dr. Lowell Lehman started the university’s first jazz band. Now a professor emeritus of music at NSU, Lehman founded the Green Country Jazz Festival in the 1970’s, which has brought internationally renowned jazz artists to the region for over four decades. On November 16, 2010, Dr. Lehman was inducted into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame for his service in jazz education.
In 1992, former NSU President Roger Webb approached the university's instructor of jazz, Joe Davis, to inquire about finding a place where jazz students could practice their craft and other NSU students could come together in an informal atmosphere to enjoy live jazz. Over the next several months, Webb and his staff developed a plan of action that led to the design and construction of the NSU Jazz Lab in 1993. At this time, Webb also appointed Brad Henderson to manage the daily operations of the facility. From student and faculty performances, to touring professionals, some tremendous music has passed through the NSU Jazz Lab since its inception.
Currently, the Jazz Lab is under the management of bassist, Mikel Combs. The building continues to provide a unique classroom and performance facility for the NSU jazz program and provides the community with a great space for their myriad activities.
Tragically, Joe Davis died of colon cancer in 1995. In his honor, Webb placed a neon sign over the stage door. It simply read "Joe's Place". The memories of Joe and his students Jacob Farinelli and Mike Antle are secure with those who follow jazz in Oklahoma and the region. Their contributions to jazz and life in general in this area of the country were enormous and they are sorely missed.
In the spring of 1996, NSU hired a saxophonist from the University of North Texas to lead the NSU Jazz Studies program. Under the inspiring leadership and talent of Will Campbell, the NSU Jazz Band received superior ratings at the highly competitive Wichita Jazz Festival for three straight years. Campbell was also instrumental in creating Oklahoma's only undergraduate jazz degree program.
In the fall of 2004, another saxophonist, Arthur White, became NSU's third full-time director of jazz studies. White has expanded the program to include a second large jazz ensemble, numerous jazz combos, and added a course in jazz education and pedagogy. White also produced Oklahoma's first internationally-released and critically acclaimed university jazz CDs: Hour of the Pearl with guest artist Scott Wendholt, Appointment in Milano with jazz legend Bobby Watson, and The Point with guitarist Henry Johnson.
Dr. Tommy Poole became the NSU Director of Jazz Studies in the fall of 2009. Since Poole’s appointment, the jazz curriculum has expanded to include Jazz Theory I and Jazz Theory II. Under Poole’s leadership, the NSU Jazz Ensemble, for the first time, was invited to perform at one of the region’s premiere jazz venues, the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame.