Troy Conn
Troy Conn ’02 is a professional jazz, classical, and rock guitarist who has been performing and instructing jazz for over two decades. His Charlotte-based jazz bands include the Conn/Davis Duo, Ron Brendle Quartet, Al Sergel IVtet, and Jazz Is Led. He also plays with numerous touring artists, and most recently played with The Platters. Conn is a frequent performer at Middle C Jazz in Charlotte, where he has featured the music of George Benson and Jeff Beck. He also works with Jazz Arts Charlotte as an instructor and a performer.
At UNC Charlotte, Conn studied classical guitar with Michael Mosley. After graduating, he was invited to study at the Berklee Guitar Sessions under a full scholarship. Since then, he has led workshops, sessions, and numerous camps and courses. He currently teaches Applied Jazz Guitar and Jazz Combo at UNC Charlotte and Queens University of Charlotte.
In 2012, Conn played the Eclats d’Email Jazz Festival in Limoges, France. He later toured through the UK with Fat Face Band in 2014. He has been a repeat performer at the Kinser Jazz Festival, performing with the Metroplexity Big Band, backing Randy Brecker and Eric Marienthal. He has also performed in various venues in New Orleans, including Snug Harbor with the Ocie Davis Quartet.
Pulling from his classical guitar training, Conn often guest performs with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and numerous pit orchestras. His versatility extends to rock as well, with the prog-rock trio, Bunky Moon and the Mike Stauss Band, to name a few. Conn has played on numerous recordings, including Ron Brendle’s A Tribute to the Bassists In Jazz Vol. 1, Alfred Sergel IVtet EP, and Escalating Blues by Mike Strauss. In 2018, he released his album of original compositions, Old and New.