Stefon Harris Ensemble
Stefon Harris has recorded and performed with a range of artists, including Joe Henderson, Wynton Marsalis, Cassandra Wilson, Steve Coleman and Charlie Hunter. In March 2002, he premiered his ambitious 11-movement full-length concert suite, "The Grand Unification Theory," arranged for a 12-piece jazz ensemble. Stefon's recording as a leader include A Cloud of Red Dust (1998) and Black Action Figure (1999), both on Blue Note Records. "If any single young artist is going to be a major star in the next few years, it's Harris." Los Angeles Times. (www.stefonharris.com)
Wayne
Krantz Ensemble
Wayne Krantz has performed with Steely Dan, Michael Brecker, Billy Cobham, Victor Bailey, Carla Bley, and Tania Maria. Also known as a leader, Professor Krantz has developed a unique approach to the guitar and the art of trio playing. His weekly performances at Greenwich Village’s 55 Bar are reaching a legendary status. Since 1991, Professor Krantz made six albums under his own name and is currently touring with saxophonist and fellow NYU Jazz Faculty collegue, Chris Potter and recording with Donald Fagen. (www.waynekrantz.com)
Joe Lovano
Ensemble
NYU Jazz Faculty and Grammy Award winning saxophonist Joe Lovano was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and began playing alto sax as a child. His performance career from the mid 70’s includes work with Lonnie Smith, Brother Jack McDuff, the Woody Herman Thundering Herd, the Mel Lewis Orchestra, the Paul Motian band, John Scofield, Herbie Hancock, Elvin Jones, Charlie Haden, Carla Bley, Bobby Hutcherson, Billy Higgins, Dave Holland, Ed Blackwell, Michel Petrucciani, Lee Konitz, Abbey Lincoln, Tom Harrell, McCoy Tyner, Jim Hall, Bob Brookmeyer and many more. Professor Lovano's is known for a fearless ability to challenge and push the conceptual and thematic paradigms in his quest for new modes of artistic expression and the development of defines the jazz idiom. (www.joelovano.com)
Chris
Potter Ensemble
Chris Potter, renowned saxophonist, received the prestigious "2004 Jazz Critics Award for Tenor Saxophonist of the Year." Finalists for that award included NYU alumnus Wayne Shorter and former NYU faculty member Joe Lovano. Chris is a member of bassist Dave Holland's touring band, leads his own band, and has toured and recorded with Steely Dan. (www.chrispottermusic.com)
John
Scofield Ensembles
Internationally acclaimed NYU Jazz guitar faculty member John Scofield was born in Ohio and raised in suburban Connecticut. At age 11 he began guitar lessons, inspired by both rock and blues players. A local teacher introduced him to Wes Montgomery, Jim Hall and Pat Martino, which sparked a lifelong love of jazz. John played with a wide variety of jazz greats including Charles Mingus, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Joe Henderson, Billy Cobham/George Duke, Gerry Mulligan, McCoy Tyner, Jim Hall, and Gary Burton. In 1982, he began a three-and-a-half-year tour with Miles Davis. John’s compositions and inimitable guitar work appear on three of Davis’ albums. John began recording as a leader in the late 1970s, establishing himself as an influential and innovative player and composer. His recordings-many considered jazz classics-include collaborations with Pat Metheny, Medeski, Martin & Wood, Bill Frisell, Government Mule, and Joe Lovano. (www.johnscofield.com)
Kenny Werner
Ensembles
NYU Jazz piano and composition faculty member Kenny Werner was born in Brooklyn, NY and introduced to music and performing at the age of four when he joined a children’s song and dance group. At the age of eleven, he recorded a single with a fifteen-piece orchestra and appeared on television playing stride piano. In 1970, he began to find his own creative direction when he met his piano teacher, Madame Chaloff. Kenny has performed with jazz greats Charles Mingus, Archie Shepp, Rufus Reid, Jaki Byard, Mel Lewis, Bob Brookmeyer, Ron Carter, Joe Williams, Sonny Fortune, Peter Erskine, John Abercrombie, Bobby McFerrin, Lee Konitz, Marian McPartland, Joe Henderson, Tom Harrell, Gunther Schuller, Ed Blackwell, Paul Motian, (NYU jazz faculty member) John Scofield, Jack DeJohnette, (NYU jazz faculty member) Eddie Gomez, Dave Holland, Charlie Haden, Toots Thielemans and Joe Lovano. (www.kennywerner.com)
Chilcano Ensemble (Gabriel Alegria)
NYU's premier Afro-Peruvian ensemble. This is a working band that will be playing weekly shows in NYC and touring regionally and internationally to Perú. In addition, outreach events will provide experience for students in giving master classes and workshops. Original composition and arrangement within the genre will be encouraged. A CD recording will be completed and released every two years on Saponegro Records. Specific audition dates and instrumentation needs will be posted. (http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/faculty_bios/view/Gabriel_Alegria)
Karachaca Ensemble (Gabriel Alegria)
This is a working band that will be engaged to accompany guest artists, singers, etc. in the Afro-Peruvian genre. Weekly performances will be the norm. Specific audition dates and instrumentation needs will be posted. If appropriate to the ensemble, outreach events will provide experience for students in giving master classes and workshops. (www.gabrielalegria.com)
Ralph Alessi Ensemble
I
Jazz Standards and covers of jazz compositions will be the focus of this ensemble. In the spirit of Sonny Rollins and the Miles Davis quintet of the 60's, the ensemble will use this material as vehicles for exploration.
Ralph Alessi Ensemble II
This ensemble will largely be devoted towards free improvisation exploring the music of such jazz luminaries as Ornette Coleman, Cecil Taylor and the Art Ensemble of Chicago. The group will also compose it's own material as well.
Ralph Alessi Ensemble III
The repertoire for this ensemble will consist of original compositions brought in by both Mr. Alessi as well as the students in the group. (www.ralphalessi.com) (http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/music/jazz/people/faculty/alessi)
Billy Drewes Ensemble I
This ensemble will visit alternate, creative approaches to playing a composition while maintaining it's integrity. Members are encouraged to write original pieces for the group.
Billy Drewes Ensemble II
" The Green Light Ensemble" is an orchestral improvisatory ensemble. Non- jazz department students , particularly from the " classical department "are welcomed. The goal of this group is to play freely in a way that one has never experienced before. It is all about creating in the moment! (www.billydrewes.com)
NYU Jazz Repertory Big Band (Alan Ferber)
Sight reading is the emphasis in this ensemble which plays music from a vast big band library. Classic charts from the bands of Count Basie, Thad Jones, Duke Ellington, Woody Herman, Bill Holman, Bob Brookmeyer, Maria Schneider and others are played along with new contemporary charts from many of today’s best composers. (www.alanferber.com)
Don Friedman Ensemble
This ensemble plays a combination of traditional and jazz standards along original compositions written by students. (www.donfriedman.net) (http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/music/jazz/people/faculty/friedman)
World Percussion
Ensemble (John Hadfield)
This
ensemble will explore the musical traditions of South India and the Middle
East. Students will learn South
Indian compositions and vocalization techniques as well as the frame drum
techniques of the Kanjira, Riq and Darbuka. Participation in this ensemble is determined by the instructor. (http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/music/auditions/world_percussion) (www.jhadfield.com) (http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/music/jazz/people/faculty/hadfield)
Randy Johnston Ensemble
This ensemble will explore Standards and Jazz Originals from the perspectives of working with a jazz group as both a leader and as a sideman. (www.randyjohnston.net) (http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/music/jazz/people/faculty/johnston)
Ralph Lalama Ensembles I & II
These ensembles explore the "jazz sound ideal" through the Great
American Jazz Songbook and its composers as well as encourage students’ own
compositions. Improvisational skills dealing with melody, harmony and rhythm
will be developed. The focus is on learning to play and listen at the same
time. (www.ralphlalama.com) (http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/music/jazz/people/faculty/lalama)
Ron McClure Ensembles I & II
These ensembles perform a variety of music including jazz standards and original arrangements by director Ron McClure who has performed with the bands of Charles Lloyd (w/ Keith Jarrett and Jack DeJohnette), Maynard Ferguson and Buddy Rich. (www.ronmcclure.com) (http:// steinhardt.nyu.edu/music/jazz/people/faculty/mcclure)
Andy Milne Ensemble I
This ensemble will focus on the study of group interaction and dynamics, performing a range of repertoire - student originals, standards, free improvisation, and Andy Milne compositions. (http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/music/jazz/people/faculty/milne)
Andy Milne Ensemble II
This ensemble will focus on performing the music of Andy Milne, Steve Coleman, and other music with specifically notated rhythmic patterns, both in 4/4 and “odd meters”. Some material will be taught strictly “by ear” without notation, so it is important that students have some kind of device to record the class. (www.andymilne.com)
Tony Moreno Ensembles
I & II
These ensembles will work on a wide repertoire of material including original compositions by the instructor, students (2 required), other composers as well as jazz standards. Focus will be on form, harmony, harmonic rhythm, meter, polyrhythms, and mixed meter. (http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/music/jazz/people/faculty/moreno)
Lenny Pickett Block Party Band
This ensemble rehearses and performs repertoire from the Saturday Night Live Band directed by Lenny Pickett. Participation is by special audition. Audition times will be posted at 3rd North. (http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/music/jazz/people/faculty/pickett)
Dave Pietro Ensemble I
This ensemble is directed towards playing a mix of jazz standards and students' original compositions.
The NYU Wayne Shorter Ensemble (Dave Pietro)
This ensemble explores the compositions of Wayne Shorter from the earliest parts of his career (Art Blakey, Blue Note sessions), through his work with Miles Davis and Weather Report up to his more recent bands and projects (Atlantis, Alegria). (www.davepietro.com) (http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/faculty_bios/view/David_Pietro)
Jean-Michel Pilc Ensembles I, II & III
In these ensembles students will practice the art of collective improvisation through spontaneous composition using the forms of jazz standards, student originals and free music. (www.jmpilc.com) (http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/music/jazz/people/faculty/pilc)
The Mingus Ensemble (Mike Richmond)
Charles Mingus' compositions and arrangements provide the foundation for extended improvisation and group interplay. Mike Richmond was the musical director of the original Mingus Dynasty. (www.mikerichmondmusic.com)(http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/music/jazz/people/faculty/richmond)
Brazilian Music Ensemble (Adriano Santos)
This ensemble will perform a large repertoire of music covering the most important composers, styles and regions of Brazil. (www.adrianosantos.com)
Brazilian Percussion Ensemble (Adriano Santos)
This group offers a hands on approach to Brazilian percussion techniques as applied to Samba, Baião, Maracatu, Choro, Afoxé and Partido Alto. In addition to performing, video and audio examples will also be discussed. (www.adrianosantos.com)
NYU Jazz Orchestra
conducted by Rich Shemaria
This group is the flagship ensemble of the NYU Jazz Studies Department and presents public concerts throughout the year. It is dedicated to performing new works by faculty and students. A high level of sight reading, ensemble playing and doubling (for saxes) is required. (www.richshemaria.com)
NYU Composers
Ensemble (Rich Shemaria)
Members of this ensemble compose, arrange and perform all the music themselves and their compositional skills are coached by the instructor. Instrumentation varies depending on student applications. (http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/music/composition/people/faculty/shemaria)
World Music Ensemble
(Brad Shepik)
This ensemble will explore the fusing of various world folk music with jazz improvisation and aesthetics. The group will focus on Balkan styles and use traditional, contemporary and original pieces to gain an understanding of odd meters and melodic and harmonic conventions. Students will be strongly encouraged to produce an original work for the ensemble by the term’s end. (www.bradshepik.com)