Jazz Ensemble
Descriptions

AFRO-LATIN with MARK WALKER | Wednesday 10:00-11:50a | JH 340

This ensemble will explore two facets of modern jazz: the authentic use of world rhythms of South America and the Caribbean and the works of high-level jazz composers such as Ralph Towner, Lyle Mays and Paquito D’Rivera, all of whom Walker has worked with and who have utilized these rhythms in ground-breaking compositions

JERRY BERGONZI 1 | Monday 10:00-11:50a | JH 358
JERRY BERGONZI 2 | Wednesdsay 10:00-11:50a | JH 358

The ensembles repertoire varies from year to year depending on the interests of the students. The ensembles perform a diverse amount of music ranging from standards to Bergonzi arrangements and originals. Students are also encouraged to bring in their own music.

BRAZILIAN with CAIO AFIUNE | Wednesday 10:00-11:50a | 33G 710

This ensemble aims to explore Brazilian music, from the early choros of the 19th century to the music of Tom Jobim, Hermeto Pascoal and Guinga. Several different styles will be approached, including frevo, samba, maracatu, baião, together with the social-historical understanding of the contexts in which these styles were created.

FRANK CARLBERG 1 | Monday 10:00-11:50a | Eben Jordan
FRANK CARLBERG 2 | Tuesday 10:00-11:50a | JH 358
In this ensemble the students are encouraged to bring in original compositions to be workshopped in the rehearsals. The group will also play music from a wide variety of sources including classic works and pieces by contemporary masters.

EARLY JAZZ with ANTHONY COLEMAN | Wednesday 10:00-11:50a | SB G01

Exploring the period of 1923 - 1935, beginning w/ the Oliver Creole Jazz Band, ending with the first recordings of Count Basie w/ Lester Young. We will define this in relation to 1) Iconic Recordings: King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band, Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers, Early Ellington, etc; and to 2) Iconic Players: Louis Armstrong, Bix Beiderbecke, Sidney Bechet, Johnny Dodds, Johnny St. Cyr, Pops Foster, Zutty Singleton, Baby Dodds, etc. We will listen to recordings, and "transcribe" solos (by ear, of course!). We will learn to hear the nuances of the rhythm section, despite the limitations of early recordings and additionally, analyze elements of pitch, scale, timbre, rhythm and phrase - and we will put our work into practice. Brass players, invest in lots of mutes!

GOSPEL with JOSEPH COPELAND | Friday 10:00-11:50a | Eben Jordan

The Gospel Ensemble will explore contemporary gospel music as it is currently being created and performed. This ensemble will work with repertoire composed within the last 20 years of contemporary gospel music and highlight key composers and choir leaders. All music will be taught/learned through oral tradition with a focus on the importance and role of music in African American social and spiritual settings.

CECIL MCBEE | Monday 6:00-7:50p | SB 320

This ensemble plays a variety of music including student originals and arrangements, as well as McBee's originals and arrangements. He also stresses the importance of standard repertoire and traditional playing.

JASON MORAN 1 | Monday 5-8p & Wednesday 9a-12p | JH 342
JASON MORAN 2 | Tuesday & Thursday 9a-12p | JH 340

The ensemble will work on improvisational and compositional techniques. The repertoire consists of student compositions and compositions Moran has composed/performed.

JAZZ COMPOSERS WORKSHOP ORCHESTRA with FRANK CARLBERG | Monday 6:00-9:00p | Eben Jordan

JAZZ COMPOSITION with JORRIT DIJKSTRA | Thursday 10:00-11:50a | SB 315

The Jazz Composers Ensemble is a workshop-style ensemble, where students are invited to write for each other. Attention towards the group sound, the improvisational concepts, the rehearsal process, and the feedback from the ensemble members are as important as the compositions and sketches themselves. Assignments focus around themes such as through-composed charts, one-page tunes, graphic scores, solo or duo pieces, and open-form compositions.

JAZZ FOR NON-MAJORS with MARK TIPTON | Tuesday 6:00-7:50a | JH 367

JAZZ ORCHESTRA with KEN SCHAPHORST | Tuesday & Thursday 4:10p | Eben Jordan

JAZZ VOCAL 1 with DOMINIQUE EADE | Tuesday 10:00-11:50a | SB 320
JAZZ VOCAL 2 with DOMINIQUE EADE | Thursday 10:00-11:50a | SB 320

Dominique Eade emphasizes a group sound rather than a rhythm section playing for singers. The student vocalists select and arrange much of the repertoire, and learn to lead the ensemble in rehearsal and performance. Vocal improvisation is emphasized as well. Rhythm section players have considerable opportunity to play improvised solos and to learn the art of complementing a vocalist in a variety of styles.

JOHN LOCKWOOD | Friday 10:00-11:50a | JH 358

This ensemble performs arrangements and composition's in a wide range of styles and genres. The main emphasis is on striving for a strong “group” sound. Students are also encouraged to voice and suggest ideas and concepts about existing material, and also bring in arrangements and compositions to further achieve this goal.

JOE MORRIS 1 | Monday 10:00-11:50a | SB G01
JOE MORRIS 2 | Monday 6:00-7:50p | JH 340
These ensembles focus on understanding the methodologies of the music known as "Free Jazz" and "Free Improvisation" using compositions and ideas by Ornette Coleman, Cecil Taylor, Anthony Braxton, Albert Ayler, Henry Threadgill, Julius Hemphill, Sun Ra, Steve Lacy, Eric Dolphy, Derek Bailey, Evan Parker and others.

BOB NIESKE 1 | Monday 10:00-11:50a | SB 320
BOB NIESKE 2 | Friday 10:00-11:50a | SB 320
Bob Nieske’s groups focus on valuing your own voice while supporting the group. Playing responsibly, meaning developing the ability to respond to different situations. Music ranges from fully arranged pieces to completely free. [Raymond Scott, Mingus, Sun Ra, Ellington, Originals] Performers are encouraged to use the group as a writing workshop for original pieces or arrangements of favorites. Bob usually writes at least one arrangement a term for a vocalist if there is one in the group. Vocalists will also sing lines with horns.

JASON PALMER | Tuesday 10:00-11:50a | SB 315

This ensemble will have a primary focus on workshopping originals from members of the ensemble as well as by Jason. 1/2 of the semester will focus on workshopping as many works as possible from the ensemble/Jason as well as a works by artists who are currently active on the scene (i.e. Kurt Rosenwinkel, Mark Turner, Nicholas Payton, etc). The 2nd half of the semester will focus on curating a set of music selected from the list of songs workshopped in the first half for a culminating recital. We focus on aspects of creative music making including but not limited to swinging/grooving, free interpretation, odd-time signatures/mixed meter, duo/trio/full ensemble development within a composition, and metric modulation.

TED REICHMAN | Tuesday 10:00-11:50a | 33G 710

Student compositions and interpretations of diverse material with an emphasis on non-traditional forms and flexible approaches to ensemble playing, improvisation and rhythm.

TED REICHMAN RECORDING | Wednesday 10:00-11:50a | Eben Jordan

This ensemble will explore the recording studio as a platform for jazz composition and performance. We will experiment with studio techniques like overdubbing, editing and mixing both inside and outside rehearsal time (there will be homework) to transform and expand our musical resources. Previous experience with DAW technique is encouraged but not required.

SONGWRITING with DOMINIQUE EADE | Wednesday 10:00-11:50a | SB 320

This ensemble will give you a chance to explore using writing prompts, learning and analyzing existing repertoire and workshopping your works -in-progress. For singers and instrumentalists.

ANNA WEBBER | Tuedsay 10:00-11:50a | JH 342

This ensemble will focus on rhythm, and look at it from a variety of perspectives: mixed meters, polyrhythms, irrational meters, etc. We will work on compositions from a variety of sources that include these elements. Students will also be encouraged to bring in their own compositions.

WEST AFRICAN DRUMMING with JERRY LEAKE | Thursday 10:00-11:50a | Spring Semester Only

In this ensemble, students will learn to play traditional instruments for two popular rhythms from the Ewe people of Southern Ghana: Gahu (a funky groove in 2/4) and Agbekor (a warrior dance in 12/8). We will also create new arrangements using traditional songs adapted to the student’s primary instruments. The class incorporates Leake’s Harmonic Time method that comprises stepping to the beat (ankle bells), bell patterns (sticks), and the voice to internalize musical time, groove and mathematics. (Required for undergrad and grad percussionists.)

Mark Zaleski | Tuesday 10:00-11:50a | SB G01

The Mark Zaleski ensemble will focus on developing collaboration skills of its members through study and performance of a combination of original repertoire and music of different eras of the jazz and contemporary music canon. Development of an original style and sound is the ensemble’s primary objective, from a group and individual standpoint. The ensemble will have one recording per semester that will be required listening and will be analyzed in depth to determine the characteristics contribute to their unique sound. In the past, these recordings have included Sam Rivers’ Fuchsia Swing Song, Horace Silver’s Horace-Scope, Hank Mobley’s Soul Station, Mark Turner’s Dharma Days, and Aaron Parks’ Invisible Cinema.

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Jazz EnsembleDescriptions