Jazz Ensembles

Christian McBride on stage with Cali bass students in masterclass

Jazz at Montclair State brings together instrumentalists and vocalists in a dynamic, performance-focused environment rooted in tradition and open to new creative directions. Students explore classic standards, large ensemble repertoire, contemporary works, improvisation, arranging, vocal jazz, and collaborative musicianship under the guidance of experienced jazz faculty. Through regular rehearsals, campus performances, recordings, guest artist collaborations, and appearances at festivals and conferences, the jazz ensembles give students the opportunity to grow as confident, versatile, and expressive performers.

Jazzmeia Horn performing with the University Jazz Ensemble

 

Montclair State University Jazz Ensemble on stage with Paquito D'Rivera at Merking Concert Hall

University Jazz Ensemble

The Montclair State University Jazz Ensemble, directed by Dr. Oscar Perez, performs classic jazz standards and contemporary works for large jazz ensemble. Comprised primarily of jazz studies majors and other music majors, the group studies originals and arrangements by such classic artists as Thad Jones, Duke Ellington and Count Basie, and contemporary writers such as Alan Ferber, Maria Schneider and Rob McConnell.  The band performs regularly on campus, and occasionally at local jazz venues, as well as at a variety of festivals and educational conferences. Along with having the opportunity to collaborate with our talented jazz faculty, recent guest artists have included John Daversa (trumpet, composer), Mario Adnet (Brazilian composer, arranger, and Grammy winner), Ingrid Jensen (trumpet), Ed Palermo (arranger of Frank Zappa’s music for big band), Tom “Bones” Malone (trombone), Terrell Stafford (trumpet), Hendrik Meurkens (harmonica, vibes) Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar) and Michael Philip Mossman (composer, arranger, trumpet).

Red Hawk Big Band on stage

Redhawk Jazz Band

The Redhawk Jazz Band, directed by jazz bassist Bill Moring, develops skills in improvisation and performance of a wide variety of classic jazz standards and contemporary works for large jazz ensemble. The Redhawk band is designed to serve as a training ground for participation in the University Jazz Ensemble, while still retaining its own strong identity. It is open, by audition, to anyone on campus but is comprised primarily of music majors.

Vocamotion Singers on stage at Kasser Theater

Vocamotion Singers

Vocamotion vocal jazz ensemble, directed by Aubrey Johnson, focuses on rehearsing and recording traditional and modern vocal jazz repertoire. Artists covered may include Take 6, Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, The Manhattan Transfer, Singers Unlimited, Moss, as well as music composed and arranged by modern jazz vocalists Theo Bleckmann, Sara Serpa, Dominique Eade, and Aubrey Johnson, and others.

In addition to learning repertoire, solo singing, and improvisation, the main focuses of this ensemble are: vocal technique, blend, vowel formation, tuning, ear-training, sight-reading, and singing in jazz/popular styles.

Opportunities for solos and vocal improvisation within the group will be offered, an end of semester online broadcast of recordings/videos created throughout the semester.

Questions?