Jazz Ensemble

The Williams Jazz program, directed by Andy Jaffe (see also http://www.AndyJaffe.com), includes academic courses (see below*), ensembles (both traditional big band, by audition, and several small ensembles), and applied lessons on primary jazz instruments.
Our jazz applied faculty, some of whom appear in the quicktime video link at the very bottom of this page in a faculty recital, include Conor Meehan, drums; Avery Sharpe, bass; John Nazarenko, piano; Michael Kolodny, Saxophone; Nathan Botts, Trumpet; and John Wheeler, Trombone. All are active professionals playing with such luminaries as David "Fathead" Newman, The Mingus Big Band, Joe Lovano, Paul Winter, and others. Every year the jazz program brings guest artists and clinicians to campus for performances and to work with students. Recent visitors have included the Branford Marsalis Quartet, The David Sanchez Quintet, Winard Harper, The Marcus Roberts Trio, Ellingtonian John Lamb, and Saxophonist Claire Daly, among others. Guest lecturers have included Dr. Yusef Lateef, Ravi Coltrane, Dan Morgenstern, Don Sickler, Dr. Lewis Porter, and many others. The flagship Williams Jazz Ensemble (big band) plays formal concerts on campus, and also travels each year, with performances ranging from the Boston area to New York as well as throughout the Western Mass. region. In January of '08 the Ensemble was in residence at the University of the Americas in Puebla, Mexico.

2012 Auditions: Sept. 5, 2012

12/13 Performances:

Oct. 26, 8pm - Jazz Ensemble
Dec. 5, 7pm - Small Jazz Ensembles
April 26, 8pm - Jazz Ensemble with guest
May 8, 7pm - Small Jazz Ensembles

11/12 Performances:

Oct. 29, 8pm @ '62 Center
Dec. 7, 7pm - Jazz Improvisation
Dec. 8, 7pm - Small Jazz Ensembles
April 27, 8pm - Jazz Ensemble with guest Sean Jones, trumpet
May 9, 7pm - Small Jazz Ensembles

In addition to jazz applied lessons, the curriculum includes the following academic courses:

*
NOTE: Andy Jaffe will be offering a new Jazz Composition Survey course in the Fall of 2012
Mu 212 Jazz Theory and Improvisation (Jaffe)
Mu 213 Jazz Theory and Improvisation II (Jaffe)
Mu 217 Jazz Arranging and Composition (Jaffe)
Mu 221T Jazz Ear Training (Jaffe)
Mu 240 Intro to the Music of Ellington (Jaffe)
Mu 241 Intro to the Music of Coltrane (Jaffe)

Core Jazz faculty Jaffe is also affiliated with Africana Studies, where other related courses are cross-listed.
For more information or if you have questions, please feel free to contact Andy Jaffe.View our short video of the Jazz Ensemble by clicking here.

To see photos of the rehearsal for the March 7, 2008 Concert, click here.

For photos of 2010 Eph-Palooza: click here.

To view Youtube links of our concert on March 6 2010, featuring guest artist Don Braden, click on the following links:

Swingin at the Haven

Blues for Baltimore

Boogie Stop Shuffle

The Vail Jumpers

Close Your Eyes

Daahoud

The Landing Zone

Winelight

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

The Boiling Point