Jazz Ensembles

Fall 2026 Jazz Ensemble Audition Requirements

Monday, August 17: 12:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. — JJ 210

1. Please sign up for an audition time online at: https://forms.gle/5KwvU44BjRhskPt5A   (please choose the earliest available time)
2. Required excerpts can be found here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/p541dx0vormgybxkw77rf/ACx3zGxhiPY0MABSlPbKK2c?rlkey=6kk1tni3f3o1z44wumwf2vhaz&dl=0 

1. Required Excerpts “Back Bone” – Thad Jones: Recording: https://youtu.be/MHMQinrNmhs?si=zmaedjoQ730jryo-  Excerpts start here: https://youtu.be/MHMQinrNmhs?si=zmaedjoQ730jryo-&t=555 
   • Tempo/Feel: Medium Up Swing, Quarter Note = 190

• Pay special attention to all of the articulations, inflections, phrasing, dynamics, feel, and nuance. Not all of these are marked…LISTEN!

• • Reeds (Please indicate at the time of your audition which woodwind doubles you are able to play). You may play along with the original recording.
    • Alto:  Letter “H” to “J” 
    • Tenor: Letter “H” to “J”
    • Bari: Letter “H” to “J”

• • Brass You may play along with the original recording.
    • Lead Trumpet: Fourth bar after letter “I” to “L”
    • Section Trumpet: Fourth bar after letter “I” to “L”
    • Trombone: Fourth bar after letter “I” to “L”
    • Bass Trombone: Fourth bar after letter “I” to “L”

• • Rhythm Section You may play along with the original recording.
    • Guitar: Letter “J” to letter “M” 
    • Piano: Letter “J” to letter “M” 
    • Bass: Letter “J” to letter “M” 
    • Drums: Letter “J” to the end (play solo at end as written)
      • All rhythm section players may be asked to demonstrate various styles and feels (i.e. swing, Bossa Nova, Samba, funk, brush playing, Basie-style, etc.)
  • Vocalists
    • Prepare two tunes in contrasting styles from the “Great American Songbook” (Cole Porter, Jule Styne, Harold Arlen, Sammy Cahn, George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, etc.) in contrasting styles. Consider songs like “All the Things You Are,” “What is this Thing Called Love,” “Misty,” “September in the Rain,” “Girl From Ipanema,” “Have You Met Miss Jones,” “Night and Day,” “All of Me,” All of You,” etc. You may use backing tracks or sing a cappella. 
    • Improvise (“scat singing”) over the chord changes to a blues in concert “Bb” utilizing the following backing track: https://youtu.be/M46i3p5xBy8?si=QfaI8bVjj10TWvCV 

2. Improvisation for Instrumentalists: (Optional, but if you would like to be considered for a solo position in the ensemble, you must demonstrate your skills as an improviser during your audition).

• • • Improvise over the chord changes to a blues in concert “C” utilizing the following backing track: https://youtu.be/zliRpt00cuA?si=ifALRZ4d407suWLA 
    • Drummers, be prepared to “trade 4’s” with yourself (in lieu of improvising over a tune)

3. Sight reading of a typical big band chart

**If you have any questions about the audition requirements or trouble accessing the materials, please contact Prof. Jeff Wolfe at wolfe9@marshall.edu**

Jazz Ensemble I

The MU Jazz Ensemble I is the premier large jazz ensemble in the Jazz Studies Program. Under the direction of Prof. Jeff Wolfe, this group maintains an extremely active performing schedule throughout the year, including local, regional, and international performances, highlighted by an appearance at the Montreux Jazz Festival. The band explores a variety of large jazz ensemble literature including canonic compositions from such luminaries as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Mary Lou Williams, and Thad Jones, to modern works for the large jazz ensemble by Maria Schneider, Darcy James Argue, Chuck Owen, Javier Nero, Steven Feifke, and Earl MacDonald.  Admittance into Jazz Ensemble I is by audition only.

Jazz Ensemble II

The MU Jazz Ensemble II is the second large jazz ensemble in the Jazz Studies Program and is directed by Dr. Andrew Stonerock. Focusing primarily on important, influential, and historic jazz literature, Jazz Ensemble II performs works from across the spectrum of big band jazz music and surveys many different styles and time periods. Jazz Ensemble II performs several on- campus concerts per year. This group is open to anyone interested in studying jazz literature and pedagogy and does not require an audition.

Jazz Combos

There are multiple jazz combo in the Jazz Studies program. Coached by various jazz studies faculty members, the combos are primarily student led and emphasize improvisation and the performance of small group jazz literature, as well as original compositions and arrangements. Each combo performs several times per year in the Jomie Jazz Forum, as well as at numerous university functions, community events, regional jazz festivals, and national conferences.