09/08/2026
Next in our Sailor Spotlight series is our new saxophonist, Musician 1st Class Eric Vazquez. In 2025, Vazquez auditioned and was selected for assignment to the U.S. Naval Academy Band. He reported to Annapolis in July 2026 for duty as saxophone instrumentalist with the marching band, ceremonial units, Superintendent’s Combo and the Bravo Zulu Brass Band.
1. Where are you from and what is something you miss about your home state?
I am from Denton, Texas. I really miss the diversity of music that you could find throughout the DFW Metroplex and, most importantly, the BBQ!
2. Where did you go to school?
I went to Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas, Texas, and the University of North Texas, where I studied Classical Saxophone Performance and Music Composition.
3. Who were your most influential teachers?
Angie Adams was one of my most influential teachers. She was the first music teacher to teach me how to play music by ear, and ever since then, I have attributed much of my aural skills to her. On the jazz side of things, Kent Ellingson was extremely influential in opening up the world of jazz to me. Without him, I don't think I would have the same love for the music that I do today.
4. What is the best advice given to you by a teacher or other professional?
Kent Ellingson would always tell me to never stop learning something new. Since then, I have taken those words to heart, whether it be memorizing a new or old concerto to dig deeper into the music or transcribing a new solo from an artist I have never heard before. I find that it pushes me to constantly learn something new in music and makes the journey so exciting!
5. Why did you want to play the saxophone? Do you have a favorite artist on your instrument?
I always found the saxophone to be such a cool instrument because of the way it looked. Growing up, my parents would listen to Boots Randolph's "Yakety Sax" because they were big fans of The Benny Hill Show. Since then, I would say that, with my love for jazz, I have really grown to be a big fan of Stan Getz's sound and phrasing, and I find myself always going back to his records
6. Can you talk about your experiences with learning jazz?
My experience with jazz saxophone in particular is an interesting one, as I started taking it seriously a bit later in my saxophone career. I started learning jazz piano first with Mariah Picot and Kent Ellingson when I was in high school, and that really helped me understand the ins and outs of jazz harmony and how to navigate it effectively.
Around the end of high school, I was playing more classical saxophone and didn't really pick up jazz again until I joined the Navy Fleet Band Program in 2020. Once I was stationed in Japan from 2021–2024, I made an effort to take jazz saxophone lessons and started regularly attending a weekly jam session at a club in Tokyo called Jazz Spot Intro. In my opinion, going to jam sessions really launched my playing to where it is now. I used them as a workshop to learn as many tunes as I could and meet new people in the community.
7. Do you play any other instruments?
I play jazz piano!
8. What are your hobbies/interests outside of music?
I am a really big gamer. Specifically, I am really into retro video games. I have taken an interest in modifying and repairing old Nintendo DSi and 3DS systems, as well as tinkering around with emulation handhelds. Modern gaming can get a bit overwhelming for me at times, so I would rather chill and play some Pokémon Platinum on my 3DS!
9. What accomplishment are you most proud of in your life so far?
Musically, I would say playing in the winners concert of the 2019 UNT Concerto Competition was a big highlight for me classically. On the jazz side of things, running my own jazz quintet in Japan was such a great experience and has inspired me to continue trying to grow that community in Annapolis. Finally, I would say winning this job is my biggest accomplishment. Even to this day, it is hard for me to believe that I get to play with such amazing musicians every day.
10. If you were not a professional musician, what would you do for a living?
Since I have really gotten into electronics, technology, and tinkering over the last couple of years, I think I might do something in the tech industry.
11. What is an interesting little-known fact about yourself?
I have a pet rabbit named Tessa!
12. What is your all-time favorite movie and/or movie soundtrack?
La La Land for both the story and the soundtrack. I have never really been a big fan of musicals, but I found the blend of jazz and classical orchestration that Justin Hurwitz created for this movie to be amazing.
13. What is your favorite book?
I am not really a big reader, but I really enjoyed Miles Davis's autobiography.
14. What has been your favorite performance as a Navy musician?
Getting to play in the Sydney Opera House during a reception for the 2023 commissioning of the USS Canberra (LCS-30) was definitely a career highlight. We played alongside some of the Royal Australian Navy Band musicians, and they were wonderful to be around.
15. Do you have any advice for musicians wanting to audition for military bands?
Never stop taking auditions. Even if one doesn't work out, take what went wrong from that audition and work on it for the next one. For saxophonists in particular, do not just limit yourself to jazz or classical. I find that taking auditions in both styles is extremely important to your development as a professional saxophonist.
My last piece of advice would be to make sure you play for other people. It's tough to take hard criticism from other musicians, but I found that I would make the most progress on a packet right after playing a mock audition and getting notes from my friends. Regardless of whether it's just one person or a panel of twenty people, playing for others is one of the best ways to prepare yourself.
