Greg Carroll brings an extensive background as an experienced arts executive, performer, and educator to TeamSmile. He serves as lead clinician and development consultant with Kansas City Area Youth Jazz (youthjazz.us); founded and operates Midnight Blue Jazz, LLC – A global jazz & executive consultancy. As a development professional, Mr. Carroll has raised more than $22.5M in funds to support education and arts programs and is co-founder and past board chair of the 501c3 nonprofit Kansas City Jazz ALIVE. Previous positions of note include Chief Executive Officer of the American Jazz Museum; Director of Education with the International Association for Jazz Education; and Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Selected past honors include: 2024 Kansas City Jazz Catalyst; listing among the 100 Most Influential African Americans in Kansas City; the Presser Scholar for the University of Northern Colorado School of Music; and Colorado Jazz Educator of the Year. His high school and college groups have consistently earned superior performance ratings and have earned seven DownBeat Student Music Awards for best and outstanding performances in the U.S. jazz category.
Mr. Carroll can be heard on twenty-five professional recording projects including his most recent release Greg Carroll & Michael Pagan 2+2. As an accompanying musician, Greg has performed with many celebrated jazz artists including George Garzone, Clark Terry, George Benson, Dave Grusin, Diana Reeves, Louie Bellson, Kenny Werner, Kenny Baron, Dr. Billy Taylor, Bobby Watson, and many others.
Mr. Carroll sits on the board of directors with the Jaris Foundation (NYC) and has previous appointments with Kansas City Jazz ALIVE; Kansas State University Foundation Board of Trustees; the Kansas City Convention and Visitors Association; Mayor’s Task Force for the Arts; and the City of Kansas City, MO – Arts Commission.
His passion for championing student-centered initiatives brought him to volunteer as a local coordinator for American Councils – helping to place international exchange students with host families and schools. Mr. Carroll holds degrees from the University of Northern Colorado and the University of Colorado at Boulder. As a true “Northlander” he resides in Kansas City, MO with his wife Dr. Doris Carroll.