11/02/2025
✨ The rhythm of Austin gets a little brighter tonight. Celebrate Ephraim Owens as he’s officially inducted into the Austin Jazz Hall of Fame — a true icon of the scene. 🎷🎵
Come join Austin Jazz Society in their most celebrated event on the Austin Jazz calendar. The JAZZ HALL of FAME AWARDS honors accomplished Austin born or based music professionals. Its inductees are testament to the depth of talent this city has cultivated through the years.
These 2026 year honorees continue the stellar legacy.
The JAZZ HALL of FAME AWARDS honors accomplished Austin born or based music professionals. Its inductees are testament to the depth of talent this city has cultivated through the years. This year’s honorees continue the stellar legacy.
EPHRAIM OWENS - Regarded as “Mister Jazz” in Austin, Ephraim is a multi award winning trumpet player and bandleader who studied with Dr. James Polk at Texas State University. He has toured internationally with Mumford & Sons and Tedeschi Trucks Band. Recovering from a recent health scare, Ephraim has begun his return to the stage.
STEPHEN ZIRKEL - A natural talent on trumpet, bass and piano, Steve represents the spirit of the true Austin musician. He grew up in a musical family and his father, Clifford Zirkel was inducted into the Austin jazz Hall of Fame in 2011 making this the first father-son duo to be honored. Inspired by Austin High jazz band director LaFalco “Corky” Robinson, he began his professional career playing with local Austin acts ranging from rock to Latin bands performing with the Nash Hernandez Orchestra and was a founding member of Beto y los Fairlanes. He toured internationally with the legendary Leonard Cohen and upon his return to Austin became a key component in Will Taylor’s Strings Attached.
GREG WILSON - As the consummate sideman, Greg fits the mold of the “invisible soldier”. A fabulous musician across multiple genres, he played sax & woodwind for pit orchestras, concerts with the Austin Symphony, horn sections from rock to funk to Latin jazz, and just about every big band that performed in Austin from 1980-2025.
WALTER HUTCHERSON receives the industry award in acknowledgement of his 50+ years of service to the Austin music community as music store owner and instrument repair technician. He was also a musician and multi-instrumentalist who performed with many Austin legends such as Jimmy Grove, Corky Robinson and Nash Hernandez. To jazz musicians in particular, Walter provided a specialized service as he was the sole contact in the city for copies of the Real Book.
DR. JIM ROSE will be presented the Lifetime Achievement Award honoring his amazing life from a trapeze artist with a traveling circus to Air Force helicopter pilot to brain surgeon to jazz trumpet player. Truly a renaissance man who led a remarkable life!
Hosted by RABBI NEIL BLUMOFE, the evening will feature performances by Elias Haslanger, Mike Sailors, Andre Hayward and the Ephraim Owens Sextet.
https://my.thelongcenter.org/4176/4178
