Professor Fred Irby III: A Golden Commitment to Howard University’s Jazz Program

When I walked into the band room at Howard University in the summer of 1983 for my Jazz Ensemble audition, I had no idea who Fred Irby III was. I knew that he played trumpet and worked at the Kennedy Center. But I didn’t know that he was the founder of the very band for which I was auditioning — and I really had no idea how much he would teach me.

One year after starting the Howard University Jazz Ensemble (HUJE) in 1975, Irby started recording the band every year. It was one of those recordings – the 1981/82 LP – that had made me want to be a part of that atmosphere.

As for my audition, Professor Irby conducted himself very professionally and really didn’t say a whole lot. But I could feel I was in the presence of greatness, and I was intimidated. Prof placed some music on the music stand that was very challenging to me. At that time, I was transferring from Texas Southern University and had never had to audition before, and I certainly did not know how to prepare for one. During the audition, Prof’s demeanor never changed, even as I struggled with some of the passages. Afterward, with me thinking I’d just crashed and burned, he said: “I think I have a place for you in the band.” I was so happy, I wanted to jump up and down.

That very statement changed my life, just like it has changed the lives of countless students before and after me.

What I noticed after being in the band for only a few rehearsals was how prepared Prof. Irby was and how efficiently he ran the rehearsals. There was rarely wasted time in rehearsals, unless some misguided student wanted to challenge Prof on something — and that was really fun. Prof. Irby had a way of using analogies and metaphors to make the person that challenged him feel a little silly. It usually ended with the whole band laughing along with the person. It was never done in an off-putting or demeaning way; it was done in an educational way. 

Above all, the importance of preparation and efficiency were my two big takeaways from his teaching and mentorship. They have served me well throughout my career. I graduated from Howard in 1985, Prof. Irby’s 11th year of what has now become an amazing, historic 51-year career.

This will be Professor Irby’s last year at Howard University, and I recently caught up with him at a coffeeshop in Silver Spring, Md., to talk about his many decades in service to the music.

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Article Written By Paul Carr
Photo by Keith Butler/CapitalBop