Jazz EnsemblesBig Bands, Chamber, and Vocal

Gustavus Jazz Ensemble

Dave Stamps, director

Rehearsals: Tuesday & Thursday 2:30–4:20 PM, Friday 4:30–5:20 PM

The Gustavus Jazz Ensemble is the premier 21-member concert jazz ensemble at Gustavus Adolphus College. In addition to the semester concerts and on-campus events, the group tours annually during either J-Term or Spring Break and often performs at regional jazz festivals. Recent destinations have included Greece, Macedonia, Florida, California, Colorado, and Texas in addition to the Eau Claire and Elmhurst Jazz Festivals.

Adolphus Jazz Ensemble

Masa Ishikawa, director

Rehearsals: Monday and Wednesday, 6:45–8:00 PM

The Adolphus Jazz Ensemble performs traditional and contemporary big band repertoire in concert and at events on campus throughout the academic year.

Combos

Dave Stamps and Masa Ishikawa, instructors

Rehearsals: Monday or Wednesday, 8:00-8:50pm or 8:30-9:20pm

Jazz Combos offer an opportunity for study and performance by students seeking to add experience in a smaller group setting or are interested in learning to improvise. These chamber groups focus on standard jazz literature from the Bebop Era and beyond. The Gustavus Jazztet, the college's top instrumental jazz combo, performs at a variety of on/off campus functions and occasionally tours. Members of this ensemble also frequently compose and arrange their repertoire.

Vocal Jazz Ensemble

Masa Ishikawa, director

Rehearsals: Monday and Wednesday, 2:30-3:20pm

The Vocal Jazz Ensemble is an 8-12 member mixed vocal group focusing on contemporary jazz a cappella as well as repertoire featuring an instrumental soloist with rhythm section. Members of this ensemble perform both as members of the ensemble and as soloists with rhythm section.