Harper College will be closed Wednesday, November 27 through Sunday, December 1 for Thanksgiving Break.
The Jazz Ensemble is Harper's premiere jazz group under the direction of Chicago based jazz trombonist, educator, arranger, and composer Kirby Fellis. The ensemble employs a traditional big band instrumentation consisting of 4–5 trumpets, 4–5 trombones, five saxophones (two altos, two tenors and one baritone), as well as a rhythm section that includes vocals, guitar, piano, bass and drums. Saxophonists are often required to double on other woodwind instruments including soprano sax, flute, clarinet and bass clarinet. Trumpet players are often required to double on flugelhorn.
Open to all Harper students (regardless of major), faculty, staff and community members, the band performs a wide range of jazz music including classic and historical works from composers and arrangers such as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Stan Kenton and Thad Jones to more contemporary works from writers like Bill Holman, John Fedchock and John Clayton.
Each semester, the band performs a concert in the Performing Arts Center, often with a featured guest artist. Jazz Ensemble frequently features guest artists from the Chicago area and also performs off campus, such as their recent appearance at Chicago's famed Jazz Showcase, with Selmer recording artist Mark Colby. The group also performs at Harper's Annual Jazz Invitational held in January. (An audition is required.)
Auditions are held at the first rehearsal of the fall semester. Sight reading at an intermediate to advanced level (High School/Collegiate Jazz Band level) is required. For more information, contact Kirby Fellis at fk05933@harpercollege.edu or call 847.925.6284.
The Harper College Jazz Lab Band is a large combo/“little big band” that performs alongside the Harper College Jazz Ensemble. The group is directed by Chicago based drummer, percussionist, educator and arranger Darren Scorza.
The band explores varied styles of music spanning the history of jazz, funk, latin and beyond. While the band serves as a preparatory band for Harper's Jazz Ensemble, students are encouraged to develop improvisation techniques, composing and arranging skills. The band performs music from a wide range of artists including Miles Davis, Horace Silver, Antonio Carlos Jobim to funk icons the Meters and P-Funk. Student arranging and composing is also encouraged.
The Lab Band is open to all Harper students (regardless of major), faculty, staff and community members. Band members participate in an on-campus concert at the end of each semester. The band also frequently performs “off-campus”. Recent performances include the Elmhurst University Jazz Festival and Chicago’s historic Jazz Showcase.
Requirements and Placement Auditions:
The ensemble is open to all ability levels. Recommended skill competencies include…
1) Intermediate musical staff and jazz rhythm reading.
2) Basic music theory knowledge (major and minor scales, modes) and jazz chord structures.
3) Chordal rhythm section players should have understanding of basic chord structures including Major 7th, Minor 7th, Dominant 7th and Augmented triads.
A placement audition will be held on the first meeting of each semester. For more information contact Darren Scorza at dscorza@harpercollege.edu