Don Latarski is an adjunct professor of jazz guitar. He has been on the UO music faculty since 1983.

Latarski received bachelor's degrees in both music and political science from the University of Oregon. His versatile background as a composer, performer, and author have made him one of the premier jazz guitar educators in the Northwest.

As leader of the Don Latarski Group, he has performed at the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival, Salem Arts Festival, Portland Art Museum, Oregon Bach Festival, University of Idaho, and with Mason Williams and the Eugene Symphony Orchestra. He has been a featured artist at the Hinman Winery Jazz Festival, the Zoo Jazz Series, Art in the Vineyard, Hult Center for the Performing Arts, and at various community colleges and jazz festivals throughout the West.

As a session musician, Latarski has recorded with Mason Williams, Dan Siegel, Gary Parks, Mark Alan, and others. His own recordings include Haven for Inner City Records, Private Affair for DoLa Disques, Lifeline, How Many Ways, and his most recent CD, Deep Play, all for Crescent Records—an independent record label which he owns and operates.

Latarski's commercial compositions include the soundtrack for I Dream a World, a video documentary on the making of the book by the same name; commissioned dance and theater pieces, including "Guitar Man" (musical), "The Ogre and the Five Gold Coins" (children's musical), and "Spirits Rising" (dance piece). He has also composed music for the video games "Heart of China," "Stellar Seven," "The Adventures of Willy Beamish," and "Rise of the Dragon." Other commercial projects include radio and television commercials and pieces for sports and nature video productions.

Latarski has published numerous books on guitar technique, including Introduction to Chord Theory, Scale Patterns for Guitar, Moveable Guitar Chords, Arpeggios for Guitar, Chord Orbits, Applied Theory for Guitar, and Chord Embellishments. He also has a 72-minute video, Guitar Theory Basics (REH video/Warner Bros. Publishing) and a new chord encyclopedia reference book called Big Chords for a Small Planet.

Marilyn brings a special magic to the stage with her charming presence and flawless vocal stylings. Her musical roots are diverse. She joined Black Swan in 1997 and quickly establishing a loyal following in the Dixieland and Ragtime scene. She has also remained active in a wide variety of other performance ensembles and styles: The Don Latarski Group, Darrell Grant, Thara Memory, Tall Jazz, Tom Grant, Michael Allen Harrison, Disciples in Song, and the Augustana Jazz Quartet to name a few.

Marilyn's formative jazz training was as a member of the Mt. Hood Community College Vocal Jazz Ensemble and as the vocalist fronting the award-winning MHCC Jazz Lab Band. She is featured at the Jazz Worship Service at Augustana Lutheran Church every Sunday and can be seen frequently at restaurants, clubs, festivals and holiday events throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Marilyn's versatility extends to the recording studio and she has contributed her talents to various original CD's, albums, demos and commercials. 

Her current discography includes: a solo release “At Last;” How Many Ways with Don Latarski and Chris Stevens; How 'Bout Now and Once in a Blue Moon with Tall Jazz; Promise with Jeff Ibach & Promise; Deep Play, Rue II and Live from Eden Hall with Don Latarski and Rue de Blues; and My Gratitude with the Disciples in Song. Marilyn is also featured on the following Black Swan recordings: Ragtime Revelry; A Joyful Noise; Mama's Gone Goodbye;How You Gonna Keep 'em Down on the Farm?