Jazz Ensembles

Rehearsal Schedule: Mon & Wed, 6:15 pm to 8:00 pm; Room 1321
Course Number: 660-262 (for undergraduate credit) 660-562 (for graduate credit); 1 credit
Director: Johannes Wallmann
Prerequisites: Audition (see info here): 5 saxes (2 alto, 2 tenor, 1 bari; flute and/or clarinet doubling experience preferred, but not required); 4 to 5 trumpets; 4 to 5 trombones; piano, guitar, bass, drums
Description: The UWJO workshops and performs music ranging from the classic big band repertoire to contemporary and cutting-edge concert jazz music by today’s leading jazz composers. Twice-weekly rehearsals, plus on-campus and off-campus performances.

Rehearsal Schedule: Mon 8:15 pm to 10:00 pm; Room 1321
Course Number: 660-262 (for undergraduate credit) 660-562 (for graduate credit); 1 credit
Director: Johannes Wallmann
Prerequisites: Audition (see info here): 2 to 3 frontline instruments (trumpets, trombones, saxes, other woodwinds or high strings), 1 to 2 comping instruments (piano, guitar, vibraphone), bass, drums
Description: A small jazz ensemble performing music from the post-bop jazz period of the 1950s and 1960s (such as the music of Horace Silver, Hank Mobley, Lee Morgan, Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson or Art Blakey). Each semester focuses primarily on the music of a single jazz artist.

Rehearsal Schedule: Thu 6:15 pm to 8:00 pm, Room 1321
Course Number: 660-262 (for undergraduate credit) 660-562 (for graduate credit); 1 credit
Director: Jonathan Greenstein
Prerequisites: Audition (see info here): 2 to 3 frontline instruments (trumpets, trombones, saxes, other woodwinds or high strings), 1 to 2 comping instruments (piano, guitar, vibraphone), bass, drums
Description: A small jazz ensemble performing contemporary mainstream jazz repertoire from the last two decades (such as compositions by Dave Douglas, Terence Blanchard, Kenny Wheeler, Chris Potter, David Binney, Dave Holland, and Brian Blade), as well as student compositions.

Rehearsal Schedule: Tue, 6:15 pm to 8:00 pm
Course Number: 660-004; 1 credit
Director: Les Thimmig
Prerequisites: Audition (see info here): trumpet, alto sax, tenor sax with woodwind doubles, trombone, piano, bass, guitar
Description: A small jazz ensemble focused primarily on student compositions.

Rehearsal Schedule: Wed 1:20 pm to 3:00 pm

Description: Black Music Ensemble is a small collection of both vocalists and instrumentalists devoted to studying the music of black composers; namely, jazz composers. Following the 2016 retirement of Professor Richard Davis, this ensemble now continues as a student-run organization (not available as a for-credit course). For information about the ensemble, including audition info, please contact uwmadisonbme@gmail.com.

Rehearsal Schedule: Wed, 8:15 pm to 10:00 pm; Room 1321
Course Number: 660-262 (for undergraduate credit) 660-562 (for graduate credit); 1 credit
Director: Nick Moran
Prerequisites: Audition (see info here): 2 to 4 frontline instruments (brass, woodwind, or strings), 1 to 2 comping instruments (piano, guitar, vibraphone), bass, drums, percussion
Description: A small jazz ensemble that covers a wide range of Afro Cuban music including Son, Son-Montuno, Guaracha, Mambo, Bembe, Danzón, Guaguanco, Cha-cha-chá, Mozambique, Rumba, and Bolero. Students in the Afro Cuban Jazz Ensemble work with the rhythmic concepts of clave in practical application including improvisation and theoretical knowledge.

Rehearsal Schedule: Tue 8:15 pm to 10:00 pm; Room 1321
Course Number: 660-262 (for undergraduate credit) 660-562 (for graduate credit); 1 credit
Director: John Wm. Schaffer
Prerequisites: Audition (see info here): 2 to 3 frontline instruments (trumpets, trombones, saxes, other woodwinds or high strings), 1 to 2 comping instruments (piano, guitar, vibraphone), bass, drums
Description: Small jazz ensemble performing music from the standard jazz repertoire.