Auditions:
High School Jazz Band (grades 9-12)
The High School Jazz Band, comprising about 20 students with standard big band instrumentation, normally performs at the March festival (check dates to avoid conflicts) Students should prepare and perform the following audition repertoire.
This year's piece is "What is This Thing Called Love": from Vol 112 -Cole Porter which includes an audio track.
Horns (alto/tenor/baritone saxophones, trumpet, trombone)
the assigned solo 3 times in a row with CD accompaniment: the written head, an improvised solo over the chord changes, and the written head
the assigned technical excerpt "Autumn" first four lines from 2nd Chorus from the Jim Snidero Jazz Conception etude book for the respective instrument
a sight-reading example chosen by the adjudicator from big band repertoire
Piano
the assigned solo 4 times in a row with CD accompaniment: the written melody in the right hand preferably with left hand chords (but not required), chordal accompaniment ("comping"), an improvised solo (melodic and chords), and then back to the head
the assigned technical excerpt "Autumn" first four lines from 2nd Chorus from the Jim Snidero Jazz Conception etude book for the piano
a sight-reading example chosen by the adjudicator from big band repertoire: chord changes and/or melodic notation
Guitar
the assigned solo 4 times in a row with CD accompaniment: the written head, chordal accompaniment ("comping"), and an improvised a solo over the chord changes, adn then back to the head
the assigned technical excerpt "Autumn" first four lines from 2nd Chorus from the Jim Snidero Jazz Conception etude book for the guitar
a sight-reading example chosen by the adjudicator from big band repertoire: chord changes and/or melodic notation
Bass
the assigned solo 4 times in a row with CD accompaniment: the written head, the written bassline (posted in the audition rep page linked below) and an improvised a solo over the chord changes, and then back to the head
the assigned technical excerpt "Autumn" first four lines from 2nd Chorus from the Jim Snidero Jazz Conception etude book for the bass
a sight-reading example chosen by the adjudicator from big band repertoire: chord changes and/or melodic notation
Drum Set
the assigned solo "Four" from the Hal Leonard Big Band Play-Along series Vol. 4, Jazz Classics.
-Perform the song with the CD. Your playing does not need to be identical to that of the drummer on the recording. All written kicks should be played, with set-ups at your discretion. When accompanying the solos on the recording, be interactive with the soloist and provide a solid rhythmic foundation.
3 styles to be chosen from: swing, bossa nova, samba (or something closely related), rock, funk, jazz waltz, and brushes on slow-medium swing (stir the soup!)
a sight-reading example chosen by the adjudicator from big band repertoire
Drum Rotation
2023-2024: "Four"
2024-2025: "Straight, No Chaser"
2025-2026: "Blue 'n' Boogie"
2026-2027: "Blue Train" aka "Blue Trane"