Oklahoma-based saxophonist and composer Jordan VanHemert is captivating audiences
around the world with his style of modern melodicism. Heralded by critics and audiences alike
for his "adept and purposeful" solos that "swing surely and easily in the manner of Sonny
Rollins" (Jack Bowers, All About Jazz), VanHemert has gained international recognition from his
five releases as a leader, the most recent of which, Survival of the Fittest (Origin Records), has
leapt to the JazzWeek Top 50 radio charts. Critics have praised the album as "well-balanced
and superbly executed...a cathartic release of the highest order." (Jim Hynes, Making a Scene)

VanHemert has performed at iconic venues throughout Europe, the United States, and Asia,
including ShapeShifter Lab, The Painted Bride, The Blue Llama, Prugio Art Hall (Seoul), The
Muse, Cliff Bell’s, Edgefest, Elkhart Jazz Festival, SoundDog, (Seoul), the Korean Cultural
Foundation of Philadelphia, Cafe El Despertar (Madrid), FlatNine Jazz Club (Seoul), Club
Matador (Madrid), Binh Minh Jazz Club (Hanoi), Club Evans (Seoul), and the Nha Trang
International Jazz Festival. VanHemert has performed or recorded with some of the most
celebrated artists in jazz, including Rodney Whitaker, John Webber, Dmitri Matheny, Chris
Vadala, Vince DiMartino, Terell Stafford, and more.

Passionate about empowering the next generation of musicians, Dr. VanHemert currently
teaches at Northeastern State University where he leads the Jazz Studies program. Previously,
he has taught at the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University and Hope College,
earning awards for exemplary teaching and his commitment to students in and outside the
classroom.

Jordan Vanhemert is a Vandoren Artist-Clinician, Henri Selmer Paris Saxophones Artist
Ambassador, and KeyLeaves endorsing artist. He performs exclusively on Vandoren reeds and
mouthpieces and Selmer Paris saxophones, and he uses KeyLeaves products on all of his
saxophones. He holds degrees from Central Michigan University, the University of Michigan,
and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.