MUSI 193. Yale Jazz Ensembles - Big Band and Combos

MUSI 193 – YALE JAZZ ENSEMBLES, Wayne Escoffery Music Director.

The Yale Jazz Ensembles is comprised of two combos (Legacy Jazz Combo and Modern Jazz Combo) and the Yale Jazz Ensembles Big Band. 

The Legacy Jazz Combo focuses on exploring Jazz from 1945 through the early 1960s (Bebop, Cool and Hard Bop) through the music of Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, Horace Silver, Miles Davis, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, and others. Students will work on building their basic Jazz repertoire and honing their fundamental skills of improvisation and ensemble playing.

The Modern Jazz Combo focuses on Jazz from the 1960s and onward that evolved from the harmonic and rhythmic influences of the Bebop and Hard Bop eras through the music of musicians such as Miles Davis, Jackie McLean, John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Woody Shaw, Mulgrew Miller, and others. Students will work on building their Jazz repertoire from this era and honing their abilities for playing modally, over extended harmonies, odd meters and complex rhythms. Students are also encouraged to bring in original compositions.

The YJE Big Band presents a variety of music from all styles of the genre: from classic pieces from the golden age of the big band to standards — including those from Yale’s Benny Goodman archive — to the newest, most progressive jazz compositions. The YJE has performed in the United States and internationally at such noted venues as New York’s Village Vanguard, Iridium Jazz Club, and Dizzy’s Club; Boston’s Scullers Club, and London’s Ronnie Scott’s. The YJE has played with or opened for the Mingus Big Band, the Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, the Toshiko Akiyoshi/Lew Tabackin Big Band, the World Saxophone Quartet, Jane Ira Bloom, Jimmy Owens, Branford Marsalis, Randy Brecker, George Coleman, and Wayne Escoffery.

The Yale Jazz Ensembles has academic status and all accepted auditionees will need to register for the class (MUSI 193) in the usual way. The class will be a Pass/Fail (No Credit) on a semester basis and will appear on students’ transcripts. Students accepted into the Yale Jazz Ensembles in the fall will not need to reaudition in the spring. There will be auditions for those wishing to join in the spring semester if places are available. 

Registering for MUSI 193.
Yale Jazz Ensembles MUSI 193 is a curricular class. As such, its rehearsal and performance times are protected against other classes scheduling exams and extra sessions during YJE times. You must receive specific permission from the YJE Director if you have a required class that meets during or overlaps with the YJE rehearsal time.

MUSI 193 will appear on student transcripts, which could be beneficial regarding Prizes, graduate school applications, and employment.

Attendance and Responsibilities.
The scheduled meeting times for all YJE rehearsals and performances will be distributed at the beginning of the semester. Students must attend all scheduled events [including both rehearsals and performances.]  Only the YJE Director can issue an excused absence, which would be reserved for force majeures – including illness and family emergencies.

Students will be expected to provide class materials and ensure that their instruments are in good working order. Materials include reeds, mutes, sticks, and valve oil. In some cases, the Bands’ manager can help acquire these things. Students are required to prepare their assigned parts in a timely manner, and/or discuss any issues with the Director.

The Pass grade will be awarded to students who meet these requirements.