Jazz

2018-2019 Jazz Band

Rehearsals are Tuesday and Friday mornings beginning at 7:00 AM.

This page is being edited to make it easier to find what you need!

FOR CURRENT RECORDINGS, go to the Jazz Listening Page!
Subdirectory:

 

MMEA District II Judges’ Comments (3/1/18)

Dr. Oberholtzer

Mr. White

Alligator Boogaloo

Here is an original combo version by the Lou Donaldson Quintet: 
Soloists, some great ideas here!!

Here is OUR version arr. by Mr. White:

Another version (also Lou Donaldson Combo–different personnel, recorded live. Notice the difference in solos.

 

3 AM: http://www.ejazzlines.com/3-am-medium-easy-swing-ballad-jazz-big-band-arrangement-by-paul-baker

Listen to style (laid back swing, always holding back on tempo!); listen to background figures and how they fit!!; remember in the solo section, Luke’s doing the whole thing but backgrounds are as written!!

 

Yardbird Suite:

This is our arrangement! 
I think it might be PJO (Portland Jazz Orchestra) playing it…

This is an original version with Charlie Parker:

 

2016-2017 Listening List:

2017 UNH Jazz Festival Comments and “Clean” Recording:

NICE JOB everyone! We have some work to do, especially on the ballad, before our concert next week. Please take the time to listen carefully to the judges’ comments.

Mr. White

Mr. O’Dell (from Boston Conservatory)

Stereo Recording (no comments)

 

D3 Jazz Comments:

Here are the comments from our D3 Judges! I’m really proud of your performance and your hard work to get to where we are! Go you!!! There are things for us to work on as we prep for UNH! PLEASE listen to both judges with your music in front of you so you can mark things! There are some pretty specific things for various sections: balance, some ideas for drummers to change things up a bit, a few articulation things…
Brass players: BOTH judges commented about bells in stands. We need to fix that!!! 🙂

Mr. Skeffington

Mr. Smith

 

2015-2016 Listening List:

State Jazz Comments:

Mr. Skeffington

Mr. Kennedy

Here you go! UNH comments and a “clean” stereo recording of our performance. Listen to the “clean” recording with your music and mark places where you hear intonation issues/wrong notes/ensemble issues (entrances not together, note endings not together, etc…) If it’s something in YOUR section…or YOU, mark it boldly! If it’s in another section, mark it lightly. We’ll talk about some spots in rehearsal.

Stereo Recording

Judge 1

Judge 2

Here are the comments from our D3 Judges! I’m really proud of your performance and your hard work to get to where we are! Go you!!! There are things for us to work on as we prep for UNH! PLEASE listen to all 3 judges with your music in front of you so you can mark things! You’ll hear some very specific things for sections (wrong notes, balance things, etc…) and some general ensemble things.

Mr. White’s comments

Mr. Skeffington’s comments

Mr. Smith’s comments

(Note: Be patient with Mr. Smith’s comments. It’s harder to hear the band and it almost sounds like there is nothing on the beginning of the recording BUT there are some really helpful comments. Listen to the whole thing!!)

2014-2015 Listening List:

Jazz Residency Program:

1. Mercy, Mercy, Mercy

Here’s the Buddy Rich version for inspiration:

https://youtu.be/N8WAvTmJuKk

Here’s our arrangement:

http://www.jwpepper.com/sheet-music/media-player.jsp?&type=audio&productID=10355608

2. Blues in the Closet

This is a combo arrangement with Stanley Turrentine. It’ll give you a good “feel” for the piece! https://youtu.be/N8WAvTmJuKk

Here’s a big-band arrangement (although not the same arranger that we’re playing). BTW- check out ANYTHING and EVERYTHING by this band! This is a high school group from Japan (all girls!). They are FABULOUS!!!!!

3. Freddie The Freeloader

Here’s Mr. White’s synthesized recording–this is his arrangement so you should be able to pick out your part even though it’s not being played by a band….You can also use this to practice soloing!!

Here’s Miles Davis:

4. The Blues Walk

Here’s the arrangement we’re playing:

Here’s the Clifford Brown combo version:

5. Little Brown Book

Here’s Mr. White’s arrangement. This is what we’re playing!

Here’s the John Coltrane & Duke Ellington version. It’s just beautiful. Listen to how Coltrane (on tenor) “plays” around with the melody 🙂

UNH Videos (thanks Mrs. Duffy!)

BJH
UNH Jazz Ensemble with Bobby Watson and Terell Stafford
Lexington HS Jazz EnsembleBoston Latin HS Jazz Ensemble

UNH Jazz Festival (3/14/15)

Judge 1

Judge 2

Judge 3

MMEA D3 Jazz Festival (2/25/15)

Mr. Priest’s Comments

Mr. Humphrey’s Comments

Paquito’s Revenge

http://alfred-music.com/product_info.php?item_no=36019

Listen carefully to articulations and solos!

Mr. White suggested you listen to this. It’s what Paquito’s Revenge is based on…After you listen to this, do a you tube search for “Paquito D’Rivera” and listen to anything he’s playing on!! 🙂

Topsy

Count Basie’s original version (recorded in 1937!) Listen for style!!

Mellowtime

This recording is NOT played by a band (all synthesized parts)…but it gives you an idea of tempo, etc….