SUMMER SESSIONS

Ensembles

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE MUSIC OF ICONIC JAZZ COMPOSERS born in the Roaring ‘20s! Weekly small instrumental ensembles focus on the improvised language they used to create their unique sound, still relevant a century later.

LOUIS ARMSTRONG ENSEMBLE: MUSIC OF WES MONTGOMERY

Mon | 5:30 -7:00 pm | Beginner
Wes Montgomery revolutionized the way the guitar is played. His blues vocabulary and fun compositions bring joy to all who hear them. The compositions selected in this class will be a balance of swing and numerous other rhythms coming out of the hard bop era.

BLUES + ROOTS: MUSIC OF J.J. JOHNSON

Mon | 5:30 -7:15 pm | Intermediate
J.J. Johnson is one of the most iconic trombonists in jazz history. As we celebrate his 100th birthday we also celebrate the musical contributions he brought to both the bebop and hard bop eras.

ORGAN MESSENGERS: MUSIC OF MELBA LISTON

Mon | 5:30 – 7:15 pm | Intermediate
Trombonist, arranger and composer Melba Liston is known for her work with the Count Basie Orchestra and the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band. Her arrangements/compositions were used in numerous genres of music including
swing, bebop, hard bop and even Motown.

M’BOOM PERCUSSION: MUSIC OF MAX ROACH

Mon | 7:30 – 9:00 pm | All levels welcome.
Max Roach is one of the most melodic drummers in jazz history. In the 1970s Roach created a percussion ensemble made up of some of the most in-demand drummers of the time. Join us as we recreate that ensemble with some of the exact arrangements from the 1979 M’Boom album.

MESSENGERS: MUSIC OF SONNY STITT

Tues | 5:30 – 7:15 pm | Intermediate / Advanced
One of the most recorded jazz musicians ever, Sonny Stitt has been featured on over 100 albums. He was an iconic saxophonist with a vocabulary that was comparable to legend Charlie Parker. This class will explore his sound, improv techniques and compositions in honor of his 100th birthday.

AMBASSADORS: MUSIC OF KENNY DORHAM

Tues | 5:30 – 7:15 pm | Intermediate/Advanced
Kenny Dorham, nicknamed K.D., was a powerhouse of a trumpet player during the bebop and hard bop eras. He’s on every trumpet player’s list of top 5 trumpet players of all time. This class will take a deep dive into his solos and compositions, as we celebrate his centennial.

AFRO-LATIN BIG BAND: MUSIC OF TITO PUENTE

Tues | 7:30 – 9:00 pm | Intermediate/Advanced
El Rey de Timbal, Tito Puente is one of the most influential Afro-Latin musicians of all time. The Tito Puente Orchestra brought Afro-Cuban music to mainstream listeners in the 1960s. This ensemble will explore numerous compositions and arrangements from that band and that era.