Jazz Combos • Southern Jazz Orchestra
The great music of the Count Basie Band, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Woody Herman Herds, Buddy Rich Band and Stan Kenton Orchestra constitute the basis of literature. However, the ensemble also performs new, progressive, and contemporary literature.
The Jazz Studies program offers numerous configurations of combos from trios to nonets. Each ensemble focuses on the study of jazz improvisation and jazz theory/harmony. There are currently three jazz combos and each performs numerous times each semester throughout the community.
“There was an interest in putting together a compilation CD of the various ensembles on campus,” said Wise. “All of the ensemble directors were invited to record if we’d like, to create a CD for promotional and recruiting purposes.” In December 2017, four of the university’s jazz combos came together to record tracks at Winterwood Recording Studios in Eureka Springs, Ark. “The intent was to record three or four pieces, but we had 13 prepared,” said Wise. “We recorded all of them in just six hours. I spoke to Dr. Keith Talley, chair of the Music Department, and asked if we could expand the project into a CD of just the jazz collective, and he agreed.” Titled “The Jazz Collective,” the CD features the students performing a variety of jazz standards. Wise himself sat in on one track on trombone, and senior Bailey Roach lent her vocal talents.
