Jazz Ensembles
Big Band Jazz and Jazz Combos
Audition Information
Room 3 Ferguson Hall
- BRASS: Tuesday, September 2: 3–5 pm and 6–8 pm
- SAXOPHONE: Wednesday, September 3: 3–5 pm and 6–8 pm
- RHYTHM: Thursday, September 4: 3–5 pm and 6–8 pm
Auditions are 10 minutes in length consisting of selected materials (see below), plus sight reading. Improvisation is optional, but required for Jazz Combo participation. Please consult the information below to determine what you will be asked to perform.
For more information visit 2008-2009 Ensemble Audition Information.
BRASS and WOODWIND PLAYERS
Trumpets, Trombones, Bass Trombones, and all Saxes. Also includes instruments not traditionally part of the jazz ensemble, such as clarinet or strings.
- Major scales in the concert keys of Bb, Eb, and F and a chromatic scale across the range of the instrument. This is to assess basic tone quality and instrumental proficiency.
- A short prepared piece, that is your responsibility to provide. It should be no more than 50 bars in length and should ideally be something in a jazz style. Some examples of this would include a solo transcription, an excerpt of a big band chart, a jazz etude, or the melody to a jazz standard. It should be something that you are comfortable playing, that you believe shows off your playing to the best of your ability.
- A short sight-reading example that will be provided at the audition. Special sight reading may be asked for players with an interest and/or ability to play lead trumpet, lead trombone, or bass trombone.
- A short improvised solo. Improvisation is REQUIRED for jazz combo participation. It is OPTIONAL for big band participation. You will be asked to improvise either to a blues in the key of concert F or Bb. A recorded accompaniment will be provided at the audition. You may also bring in your own accompaniment CD if you choose.
GUITAR PLAYERS
- A short prepared piece that is your responsibility to provide. It should demonstrate your skills with chords as well as your ability to play single line melodies. An example of this may be a tune on which you play the melody one time through, then comp one time through.
- A short sight reading example that will include chord symbol reading as well as note reading.
- A short improvised solo. Improvisation is REQUIRED for jazz combo participation. It is OPTIONAL for big band participation. You will be asked to improvise either to a blues in the key of concert F or Bb. A recorded accompaniment will be provided at the audition. You may also bring in your own accompaniment CD if you choose.
- Guitar players should have some basic knowledge of chord construction and comping. This is essential for combo participation.
PIANO PLAYERS
- A short prepared piece that is your responsibility to provide. It should demonstrate your skills with chords as well as your ability to play single line melodies. An example of this may be a tune on which you play the melody in your right hand, accompanying yourself with your left hand.
- A short sight reading example that will include chord symbol reading as well as single line reading.
- A short improvised solo. Improvisation is REQUIRED for jazz combo participation. It is OPTIONAL for big band participation. You will be asked to improvise either to a blues in the key of concert F or Bb. A recorded accompaniment will be provided at the audition. You may also bring in your own accompaniment CD if you choose.
- Piano players should have some basic knowledge of chord construction and comping. This is essential for combo participation.
BASS PLAYERS
- A short prepared piece that is your responsibility to provide. It should demonstrate your skills as an accompanist (by playing a bass line) as well as your skills as a melodic player (by playing a short melody or transcription). You may bring in two separate short examples if you wish.
- A short sight reading example that will include chord symbol reading as well as single line reading.
- A short improvised solo. Improvisation is REQUIRED for jazz combo participation. It is OPTIONAL for big band participation. You will be asked to improvise either to a blues in the key of concert F or Bb. A recorded accompaniment will be provided at the audition. You may also bring in your own accompaniment CD if you choose.
- Bass players should have some basic knowledge of bass line construction and interpreting chord symbols. This is essential for combo participation.
DRUMSET PLAYERS
- Play several different grooves in various tempos. Styles will include (but will not necessarily be limited to) swing, bossa, samba, funk, and different brush techniques.
- Sight-read an excerpt of a big band drum part that includes fills and setups.
VIBES PLAYERS
- A short prepared piece that is your responsibility to provide. It should demonstrate your skills as a melodic player. If you are able to play chords, please demonstrate that as well.
- A short sight reading example that will be single line reading (no chords).
- A short improvised solo. Improvisation is REQUIRED for jazz combo participation. It is OPTIONAL for big band participation. You will be asked to improvise either to a blues in the key of concert F or Bb. A recorded accompaniment will be provided at the audition. You may also bring in your own accompaniment CD if you choose.
WHAT IF I DON’T PLAY TRUMPET, TROMBONE, SAXOPHONE, OR A RHYTHM SECTION INSTRUMENT?
We work very hard to find playing opportunities for all players that are interested. Instruments that are not a part of the traditional big band instrumentation (saxes, trombones, trumpets, and rhythm section) are severely limited in their big band performance opportunities except in cases where special instrumentation is called for. In these cases, players will often be asked to “sit in” with the band on a given performance rather then become a regular member of the ensemble.
The combos are one area where the instrumentation is not as structured (except in the rhythm section). Non-traditional jazz instruments have played in the combos before, but be aware that combo performance requires the ability to improvise and to read and interpret lead sheets. Front line combo players are generally have more experience playing jazz.
WHAT IF I AM A VOCALIST?
Singers are sometimes included as regular members of the jazz ensembles, provided they have commensurate experience to allow them to be regular contributing members of the ensemble. If you are a singer interested in auditioning, please contact Dean Sorenson at soren048@umn.edu to discuss this possibility.
The following items will be provided for you at the audition:
- Drum set including cymbals
- Bass amp (PLEASE bring a cord!)
- Guitar amp (PLEASE bring a cord!)
- Piano
- Music stand
- Stereo for CD based accompaniment
Please bring the following items WITH YOU to the audition:
- YOUR CLASS SCHEDULE. This is very important. If it is not finalized yet that is OK, but please bring a schedule that is as complete as possible.
- Bass and Guitar players MUST HAVE CORDS
- Your student ID number
- Your email address and telephone number
About the Jazz Ensembles
BIG BAND JAZZ
The University Jazz Ensembles play a wide variety of big band repertoire
and perform for many events both on and off campus. Entrance is limited
to traditional big band instruments: trumpet, trombone, saxophone, piano,
guitar, bass, drums, and percussion. Big Band Jazz ensembles meet on the following days:
- Jazz I / T Th / 3:30-5:00pm
- Jazz II / M W F / 11:15am-12:05pm
- Jazz III / T Th / 6:30-8:00pm
JAZZ COMBOS
Jazz combos—dedicated to playing small group jazz—consist of a rhythm section
(bass, drums, piano or guitar) and one to four other instruments, depending
on balance and ability level. Combos are open to players of all instruments,
as well as vocalists. Combos meet twice per week and perform several times throughout the semester. The experience level in combos varies
widely, and every effort is made to match players of similar ability levels. Jazz Combo ensembles meet on the following days:
- Combo I / M W / 10:10-11:00am
- Combo II / M W / 12:20-1:10pm
- Combo III / M W / 1:25-2:15pm
Please contact the following if you have any questions:
Dean Sorenson, Director of Jazz Studies soren048@umn.edu
Ensemble Library: enslib@umn.edu
Last modified on July 2, 2007