Jazz Ensemble
Video: My Queen is Albertina Sisulu, performed by the Brandeis Jazz Ensemble in the spring of 2021
Video: Brainville, performed by the Brandeis Jazz Ensemble in the fall of 2020
Jazz at Brandeis
The Brandeis Jazz Ensemble, open to the entire Brandeis community by audition, is composed of 15-20 musicians led by one of Boston's best-known jazz musicians, Professor of the Practice Robert Nieske. The ensemble explores Big Band and smaller group music by historically relevant composers and original compositions by band members and the director.
Interested vocalists, saxophone, brass (including horn, euphonium or tuba), guitar, piano, bass or drum players will be asked to play scales and arpeggios, sight read and play a prepared piece at the audition. Improvising experience is not required, but reading skills are.
Audition Requirements for Jazz Ensemble
Everyone except drums: [this includes all Brass [trumpet, trombone, euphonium], Saxes, Guitar, Piano, Bass.
1- Prepare one medium tempo jazz piece of your choice, [no Ballads]
[pieces by Ellington, Parker, Gershwin, Mingus, Monk, Porter ect.]
Prepare these SCALES IN EIGHT NOTES at quarter note = 60 (Concert pitch)
2- Major scales: B flat and F two octaves if possible
3- minor scales: C and A two octaves if possible
4- Sightread chart chosen by the director
Piano, Guitar and Bass must, in addition, comp/walk over 12 bar blues
Drums: play various tempo swing and latin grooves and sightread a drum part.
Vocalists: In addition to 1-4 Sing various intervals above a given root
Piano, Guitar and Bass must, in addition, comp/walk over 12 bar blues
Vocalists: In addition to 1-4, sing various intervals above a given root
Drums: Play various tempo swing and latin grooves and sightread a drum part