KEVIN RAVELLETTE
BIOGRAPHY
After completing high school in 2020, Kevin chose to remain in his hometown of Tucson, where he could be an active part of the thriving jazz community in Southern Arizona while continuing to pursue his studies in saxophone jazz performance at the University of Arizona Fred Fox School of Music. Kevin studied under various renowned jazz and classical musicians including Brice Winston, Dr. Edward Goodman, Dr. Angelo Versace, Jason Carder, and Arthur Vint. Kevin was the lead tenor saxophonist in the Fred Fox Jazz Ensemble that won the 2022 DownBeat magazine award for the most “Outstanding Undergraduate Small Ensemble” in the country, and he was recognized as a finalist in the 2024 North American Saxophone Alliance Jazz Performance Competition. During his undergraduate years, Kevin was a resident member and 1st/2nd tenor saxophonist and clarinetist in the Century Room Jazz Orchestra, which performs every Monday night at Tucson’s Century Room Jazz club. Kevin was also the lead saxophonist and clarinetist for the Mysterious Babies Traditional Jazz Band, which performed regularly at the Century Room and throughout Southern Arizona. Kevin has performed alongside numerous nationally recognized musicians, including Benny Benack III, Pat Bianchi, Joe Bourne, Mike Davis, Armen Donelian, Joel Frahm, Gerry Gibbs, Jay Jennings, Danny Jnokuchi, Chuck Redd, Arcoiris Sandoval, Dave Stryker, Marcos Varela, Christian Wiggs, and James Williams. Kevin completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Studies in 2025 and is now embarking on a master’s degree in jazz performance at Texas State University, where he is studying under the tutelage of virtuosic saxophonist, Joel Frahm, and other accomplished musicians such as Dr. Utah Hamrick, Carter Arrington, Teofilo Carrillo, and Hank Hehmsoth.
YOUNGER YEARS
Kevin began his jazz career at the early age of 14 when he joined the world-renowned Tucson Jazz Institute (TJI) as a saxophonist and clarinetist. While at TJI, Kevin was mentored by Brice Winston, Doug Tidaback, and Scott Black, and was the lead tenor saxophonist in the acclaimed TJI Ellington Big Band. While at TJI, Kevin performed at prestigious festivals across the United States, including the Monterey Jazz Festival, Arizona Jazz Festival, Tucson Jazz Festival, Jazz Education Network Festival, and the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Competition held at the Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. During his tenure at the institute, Kevin won numerous awards for his musicianship on saxophone and clarinet and had numerous opportunities to perform with renowned artists such as Terell Stanford, Christian McBride, Joe Lovano, Chris Crenshaw, Carlos Henriquez, Sherman Irby, Marcus Printup, and Dennis Rowland.