For a jazz student, there might be no better place for a study trip than Kentucky in the US.

That's according to CQUniversity Bachelor of Jazz Studies student (from Mackay) Luke McIntosh who has just returned home to Central Queensland after spending 4 months at the University of Louisville, thanks to a CQUniversity study exchange program.

Luke McIntosh (left) entertains on campus in Rockhampton.As a bass player, learning from 2 different bass teachers of immense talent and experience was fantastic.

"Both had a different outlook and approach to the music ... one of the bass teachers let me use one of his basses for the time I was there. It was one of the nicest I've ever played.

"It was surreal studying under Tyrone Wheeler as I had been studying his work since my first year of university. He was a great teacher and mentor."

During his stay in the US, Luke became a member of a university Jazz Combo and a big band, a first for the music student.

"The experience of playing with some great musicians was fantastic. I learned so much just from playing with musicians that were better than I was," he said.

"I also had the opportunity to gig while I was there and to watch a lot of live music."

Just one of the highlights was seeing Tommy Emmanuel in Cincinnati.

"Pretty ironic - I came from Australia to America to see a famous Australian. I also got the chance to meet Tommy backstage afterwards. We had a grand old chat about being Australian and the times when he played in Mackay where I grew up."

Luke also saw The Blue Wisp Big Band, Jim Snidero, Kenny Barron and Scott Wendholt perform live - all pretty big names in the jazz world.

He also sat next to Guy Sebastian on a flight from LA to Atlanta and met Bootsy Collins of James Brown fame while he was shooting a video clip for the Cincinnati Bearcats.

"I would definitely recommend this kind of exchange program to others. It's a great opportunity to expand your horizons, meet new people and forward your career."