• Associate Professor of Music/Teacher in Jazz Trombone
• Music & Africana Studies
• Email: emmettgoods@uri.edu
• Office Location: Fine Arts Center, E205
• Website
• Accepting Students: Yes

Biography

Emmett Goods is a Pittsburgh native who comes from a very rich musical background. He is an alumnus of the Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts where under the tutelage of legendary drummer Roger Humphries he began to flourish as a young artist. After a short stint at the Berklee College of Music, it was under the direction of the legendary trombonist Steve Davis that Emmett earned a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies from the Hartt School of Music. He earned his Masters of Music degree, also in Jazz studies, from Georgia State University and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Trombone Performance at West Virginia University.

As a performer, Emmett has shared the stage with a wide variety of artists crossing over multiple genres. In the jazz arena he has performed with Dr. Billy Taylor, Eddie Harris, Louie Bellson, Avery Sharpe, Wycliffe Gordon, and Roger Humphries among others. In the area of pop music he has performed with the Four Tops, Aretha Franklin, and Gladys Knight. Latin music is a specialty and as such he has performed with the likes of Ismael Miranda, Kevin Caballo, Domingo Quinnones, Tony Vega and Yomo Torro. In addition, Emmett has also played with orchestras and chamber ensembles in the classical arena. Emmett also leads his own jazz groups.

Emmett has recorded with artists such as Jennifer Holliday, The Song is You (2014,
Shanicie). Kevin Lemons & Higher Calling, Destined for Greatness (2009). Mausiki
Scales & the Common Ground Collective, The Water Brought Us, (2008). Donnie
McClurkin, Demo (2007). These just highlight some of the great studio work Emmett
has done, not to mention TV appearances with such artists as gospel artist Byron Cage and salsa singer Charlie Cruz. Most recently he can be heard on The Latin Heartbeat’s 2021 recording, El Camino. His own 2023 recording Another Level.

As an educator, Emmett began his successful teaching career as a private instructor
teaching trombone and piano in the greater Hartford, CT and Springfield, MA area
where he taught low brass and piano. After completing his undergraduate work he
added classroom teaching and tutoring for the East Hartford Public Schools, the Carver School for the arts in Atlanta, GA and at Miller Magnet School for the Arts in Macon, GA. From 2009-2011 Emmett was the Assistant Director of Bands and Brass Instructor at Benedict College in Columbia, SC. He has served as the assistant band director at the Urban Pathways Charter School 6-12 and as the music teacher at the Urban Pathways K-5 school, holding these positions for 4 years. He was an adjunct professor at Goodwin College from 2014-2017 and served as a visiting professor at Springfield College for the academic year 2016-2017. Currently he is an Associate Professor of Music, Associate Professor of Africana Studies and Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Rhode Island.

Emmett’s trombone teachers include Prof. Jay Ashby, Murray Crewe, Dr. Thomas
Gibson, Calvin “Carl” Jackson, Dr. Keith Jackson, Prof. Matty Shiner, and Mr. Harry
Stephens.