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Jazz: America's music. Of the many contributions this country has made to the musical traditions of the world, we are known best for jazz. At the University of Puget Sound, jazz appears in many guises, including ensembles directed by School of Music Faculty, guest artists, master classes, and academic courses.

Jazz Orchestra

Director: Jeff Chang

A fully instrumented “big band,” the Jazz Orchestra performs music from all eras in formal and informal settings. In addition to frequent campus concerts, the group has appeared at the Seattle Opera House Annual Kent-Meridian Jazz Festival and the Western International Band Clinic. Guest artists are featured regularly with the Jazz Orchestra and have included:

Toshiko Akiyoshi 
Ernestine Anderson
Louis Bellson
David Benoit
Terence Blanchard
Ray Brown Trio
Johnny Dankworth
Paquito D'Rivera
Jon Faddis
Nnenna Freelon
Fred Hersch
Janis Ian
Ingrid Jensen
Cleo Laine
Howard Levy
The Ramsey Lewis Trio
Delfeayo Marsalis
Ellis Marsalis
Keiko Matsui
T.S. Monk
Eddie Palmieri
Danilo Pérez
Marcus Roberts
Poncho Sanchez
Arturo Sandoval
Ed Shaughnessy
Lew Tabackin
Mads Tolling
Stanley Turrentine
Victor Wooten
Max Weinberg
 

Jazz Combos

Performance in jazz combos offers students an essential opportunity to develop skills in improvisation and the split-second musical communication inherent in such an experience. Students wishing to perform in jazz combos must audition during the jazz ensemble auditions at the beginning of the year for placement in a group. Those who have auditioned may form their own groups or ask to be placed in one. Jazz combos are open to all students regardless of major.

University Courses

An introduction to jazz theory and improvisation through the study of selected compositions with emphasis on musical analysis, transcription, and performance. Laboratory required.

Code
Artistic and Humanistic Perspectives
Prerequisites
MUS 202 and 204 or permission of the instructor.

Prepares and performs music of many jazz styles for both large bands and small combos. The jazz band plays concerts throughout the year, both on and off campus.

A historical survey that focuses on the principal elements and styles of jazz, its trends and innovators, and its sociology. The course is designed to develop a critical awareness, understanding, and appreciation of jazz.

Code
Artistic and Humanistic PerspectivesKnowledge, Identity, and Power

Music for small vocal and instrumental ensembles.

This is a semester-long (15 weeks) undergraduate course. The central focus of this class is the study and practice of the fundamentals of jazz. In addition to the study of jazz curriculum and instruction in K-12 public schools, this course includes a lab portion in which students will practice jazz performance skills on their main and secondary instruments, study form and score analysis, arrange beginning level jazz tunes, observe public school jazz classes, and read and discuss issues in jazz education related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the jazz classroom. All music majors and minors who play an instrument or sing are welcome; alternate assignments will be given to non-music education majors.

Prerequisites
MUS 101 and 103.