Jazz Ensembles

The Jazz Ensemble Program is directed by Artist-In-Residence Kris Allen , and features a large ensemble (Williams Jazz Orchestra) and several small jazz ensembles, providing numerous opportunities and a supportive community for students of this great Black American art form to grow and learn with and from one another. Ensembles are directed by Professor Allen or Artist Associate Gregg August

Membership Information:
Audition information for fall 2023 will be available starting in the spring and  made available on the 2023 OPEN HOUSE event page.

Performances

  • 9:44

    "When You Go" - Williams Jazz Orchestra

    "When You Go" - Williams Jazz Orchestra

    Williams Jazz Orchestra featuring guest artist Sara Hanahan, alto saxophone Kris Allen, director When You Go – Ray Brown, arr. Geoff Keezer Saxophones Kris Allen Adithya Vaidhyan '24 Elena Lowe '25 Matt Wisotsky '23 Trumpets Presley Smith '26 Joel Bishop '25 Paul Kim '24 Grace Kaercher '25 Nico Cavaluzzi '23 Trombones Gwyn Chilcoat '24 Jack Murphy '23 Peri Cannavo '24 Brennan Halcomb '26 Leo Marburg '24 Rhythm Anuvind Iyer '23, piano Curren Flaherty '23, bass Rein Vaska '24, drums Cole Whitten '26, drums Josh Lipp '24, guitar Chapin Hall Williams College Department of Music November 5, 2022 F110522
    Williams Jazz Orchestra featuring guest artist Sara Hanahan, alto saxophone Kris Allen, director When You Go – Ray Brown, arr. Geoff Keezer Saxophones Kris Allen Adithya Vaidhyan '24 Elena Lowe '25 Matt Wisotsky '23 Trumpets Presley Smith '26 Joel Bishop '25 Paul Kim '24 Grace Kaercher '25 Nico Cavaluzzi '23 Trombones Gwyn Chilcoat '24 Jack Murphy '23 Peri Cannavo '24 Brennan Halcomb '26 Leo Marburg '24 Rhythm Anuvind Iyer '23, piano Curren Flaherty '23, bass Rein Vaska '24, drums Cole Whitten '26, drums Josh Lipp '24, guitar Chapin Hall Williams College Department of Music November 5, 2022 F110522
  • 6:02

    "Tomorrow’s Destiny" Bop Biscuit - Williams Small Jazz Combo

    "Tomorrow’s Destiny" Bop Biscuit - Williams Small Jazz Combo

    Williams JazzDay directed by Kris Allen Bop Biscuit "Tomorrow’s Destiny" – Woody Shaw Joel Nicholas '23 – piano/keyboard Jonathan Marvel-Zuccola '23 – bass Adithya Vaidhyan '24 – tenor saxophone Presley Smith '26 – trumpet Grace Kaercher '25 – trumpet Rein Vaska '25 – drumset Michael Ma '26 – guitar 7:30pm Chapin Hall Williams College Department of Music November 5, 2022 F110522
    Williams JazzDay directed by Kris Allen Bop Biscuit "Tomorrow’s Destiny" – Woody Shaw Joel Nicholas '23 – piano/keyboard Jonathan Marvel-Zuccola '23 – bass Adithya Vaidhyan '24 – tenor saxophone Presley Smith '26 – trumpet Grace Kaercher '25 – trumpet Rein Vaska '25 – drumset Michael Ma '26 – guitar 7:30pm Chapin Hall Williams College Department of Music November 5, 2022 F110522
  • 6:27

    "Spiritual Companion" Bop Biscuit - Williams Small Jazz Combo

    "Spiritual Companion" Bop Biscuit - Williams Small Jazz Combo

    Williams JazzDay directed by Kris Allen Bop Biscuit performing "Spiritual Companion" – Roy Hargrove Joel Nicholas '23 – piano/keyboard Jonathan Marvel-Zuccola '23 – bass Adithya Vaidhyan '24 – tenor saxophone Presley Smith '26 – trumpet Grace Kaercher '25 – trumpet Rein Vaska '25 – drumset Michael Ma '26 – guitar 7:30pm Chapin Hall Williams College Department of Music November 5, 2022 F110522
    Williams JazzDay directed by Kris Allen Bop Biscuit performing "Spiritual Companion" – Roy Hargrove Joel Nicholas '23 – piano/keyboard Jonathan Marvel-Zuccola '23 – bass Adithya Vaidhyan '24 – tenor saxophone Presley Smith '26 – trumpet Grace Kaercher '25 – trumpet Rein Vaska '25 – drumset Michael Ma '26 – guitar 7:30pm Chapin Hall Williams College Department of Music November 5, 2022 F110522
  • 8:18

    2022 Williams Jazz Festival - Free Cell Block F 'tis Nazi USA – Charles Mingus, arr. Boris Kozlov

    2022 Williams Jazz Festival - Free Cell Block F 'tis Nazi USA – Charles Mingus, arr. Boris Kozlov

    Free Cell Block F 'tis Nazi USA – Charles Mingus, arr. Boris Kozlov Williams Jazz Orchestra featuring guest artist Alexa Tarantino, flute and saxophone Kris Allen, director Sunday, May 8, 2022 Williams Jazz Festival Williams College Williamstown, Massachusetts Saxophones Noah Jacobson '22 Adithya Vaidhyan '24 Rebecca Coyne '22 Elena Lowe '25 Matt Wisotsky '23 Trumpets Joel Bishop ‘25 Andrew Megalaa '25 Grace Kaercher '25 Nico Cavaluzzi '23 Trombones Gwyn Chilcoat '24 (tuba) Jack Murphy '23 Peri Cannavo '24 Rhythm Spencer Spivy '23 Curren Flaherty '23 Hal Olson '22 Josh Lipp '24 S050822 WJO - Free Cell Block F
    Free Cell Block F 'tis Nazi USA – Charles Mingus, arr. Boris Kozlov Williams Jazz Orchestra featuring guest artist Alexa Tarantino, flute and saxophone Kris Allen, director Sunday, May 8, 2022 Williams Jazz Festival Williams College Williamstown, Massachusetts Saxophones Noah Jacobson '22 Adithya Vaidhyan '24 Rebecca Coyne '22 Elena Lowe '25 Matt Wisotsky '23 Trumpets Joel Bishop ‘25 Andrew Megalaa '25 Grace Kaercher '25 Nico Cavaluzzi '23 Trombones Gwyn Chilcoat '24 (tuba) Jack Murphy '23 Peri Cannavo '24 Rhythm Spencer Spivy '23 Curren Flaherty '23 Hal Olson '22 Josh Lipp '24 S050822 WJO - Free Cell Block F
  • 10:14

    2022 Williams Jazz Festival - Soppin' the Biscuit

    2022 Williams Jazz Festival - Soppin' the Biscuit

    Soppin' the Biscuit – Roy Hargrove Biscuit Flavor, coached by Kris Allen Adithya Vaidhyan '24 – tenor saxophone Grace Kaercher '25 – trumpet Peter Duke '22 – piano/keyboard Joel Nicholas '23 – piano/keyboard Hal Olson '22 – drumset Curren Flaherty '23 – bass Josh Lipp '24 – guitar Sunday, May 8, 2022 Williams Jazz Festival Williams College Williamstown, Massachusetts S050722 Jazz Fest - Soppin' the Biscuit
    Soppin' the Biscuit – Roy Hargrove Biscuit Flavor, coached by Kris Allen Adithya Vaidhyan '24 – tenor saxophone Grace Kaercher '25 – trumpet Peter Duke '22 – piano/keyboard Joel Nicholas '23 – piano/keyboard Hal Olson '22 – drumset Curren Flaherty '23 – bass Josh Lipp '24 – guitar Sunday, May 8, 2022 Williams Jazz Festival Williams College Williamstown, Massachusetts S050722 Jazz Fest - Soppin' the Biscuit
  • 1:24

    2022 Williams Jazz Festival

    2022 Williams Jazz Festival

    Williams Jazz Festival presents the college’s active jazz scene all at one place at one time: in and around the Paresky Student Center and Bernhard Music Center of Williams College. During the weekend jazz fans can look forward to enjoying guest stars, talented student groups, faculty ensembles, and the Williams Jazz Orchestra, under the direction of Kris Allen. The 2022 Jazz Fest featured Immanuel Wilkins Quartet, Williams Jazz Orchestra with special guest Alexa Tarantino, Williams Jazz Faculty Ensemble with special guest Jeremy Pelt, and a host of student ensemble performances. Want to learn more about jazz at Williams? https://music.williams.edu/ensembles/jazz-ensemble/
    Williams Jazz Festival presents the college’s active jazz scene all at one place at one time: in and around the Paresky Student Center and Bernhard Music Center of Williams College. During the weekend jazz fans can look forward to enjoying guest stars, talented student groups, faculty ensembles, and the Williams Jazz Orchestra, under the direction of Kris Allen. The 2022 Jazz Fest featured Immanuel Wilkins Quartet, Williams Jazz Orchestra with special guest Alexa Tarantino, Williams Jazz Faculty Ensemble with special guest Jeremy Pelt, and a host of student ensemble performances. Want to learn more about jazz at Williams? https://music.williams.edu/ensembles/jazz-ensemble/
  • 7:09

    Williams JazzDay Combo - First One Up

    Williams JazzDay Combo - First One Up

    First One Up - Darren Barrett Peter Duke '22, piano/keyboard Emmanuelle Monahan '25, piano/keyboard Will Royce '24, bass Josh Lipp '24, guitar Emilio Anamos '24, drumset Adithya Vaidhyan '24, saxophone Jazz Combo, coached by Zaccai Curtis Williams JazzDay - Kris Allen, director November 11, 2021 Williams College Chapin Hall Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA
    First One Up - Darren Barrett Peter Duke '22, piano/keyboard Emmanuelle Monahan '25, piano/keyboard Will Royce '24, bass Josh Lipp '24, guitar Emilio Anamos '24, drumset Adithya Vaidhyan '24, saxophone Jazz Combo, coached by Zaccai Curtis Williams JazzDay - Kris Allen, director November 11, 2021 Williams College Chapin Hall Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA
  • 11:36

    Williams Jazz Orchestra - Smile Please – featuring Bruce Harris, trumpet

    Williams Jazz Orchestra - Smile Please – featuring Bruce Harris, trumpet

    Stevie Wonder - Smile Please arranged by Kris Allen Guest soloist: Bruce Harris, trumpet Williams Jazz Orchestra - Kris Allen, director November 11, 2021 JazzDay Williams College Chapin Hall Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA
    Stevie Wonder - Smile Please arranged by Kris Allen Guest soloist: Bruce Harris, trumpet Williams Jazz Orchestra - Kris Allen, director November 11, 2021 JazzDay Williams College Chapin Hall Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA
  • 5:28

    Williams JazzDay Six - Philadelphia Mambo

    Williams JazzDay Six - Philadelphia Mambo

    Philadelphia Mambo - Cal Tjader Joel Nicholas '23, piano/keyboard Joe Larocca '22, piano/keyboard Max Thierry '22, saxophone Hugo Hua '22, drumset Curren Flaherty '23, bass Charlie Nicholas '25, guitar JazzDay Six, coached by Gregg August Williams JazzDay - Kris Allen, director November 11, 2021 Williams College Chapin Hall Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA
    Philadelphia Mambo - Cal Tjader Joel Nicholas '23, piano/keyboard Joe Larocca '22, piano/keyboard Max Thierry '22, saxophone Hugo Hua '22, drumset Curren Flaherty '23, bass Charlie Nicholas '25, guitar JazzDay Six, coached by Gregg August Williams JazzDay - Kris Allen, director November 11, 2021 Williams College Chapin Hall Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA
  • 5:38

    I Hope in Time A Change Will Come

    I Hope in Time A Change Will Come

    Williams Jazz Ensemble Kris Allen, director
    Williams Jazz Ensemble Kris Allen, director
  • 8:37

    Roy Hargrove

    Roy Hargrove

    Williams Jazz Ensemble Kris Allen, director
    Williams Jazz Ensemble Kris Allen, director
  • 3:30

    Say When, Williams Jazz Ensemble

    Say When, Williams Jazz Ensemble

    Say When – J.J. Johnson Williams Jazz Ensemble Kris Allen, director
    Say When – J.J. Johnson Williams Jazz Ensemble Kris Allen, director
  • 6:49

    Groove Merchant, Williams Jazz Ensemble,

    Groove Merchant, Williams Jazz Ensemble,

    Groove Merchant – Jerome Richardson, arr. Thad Jones Williams Jazz Ensemble Kris Allen, director
    Groove Merchant – Jerome Richardson, arr. Thad Jones Williams Jazz Ensemble Kris Allen, director
  • 8:41

    After the Morning, Williams Jazz Ensemble

    After the Morning, Williams Jazz Ensemble

    After the Morning – John Hicks, arr. David Gibson Williams Jazz Ensemble Kris Allen, director
    After the Morning – John Hicks, arr. David Gibson Williams Jazz Ensemble Kris Allen, director
  • 6:12

    Hear A Rhapsody

    Hear A Rhapsody

    Williams Jazz Ensemble Kris Allen, director
    Williams Jazz Ensemble Kris Allen, director
  • 9:59

    Zhivago

    Zhivago

    Williams Jazz Ensemble Kris Allen, director
    Williams Jazz Ensemble Kris Allen, director