MUSI 2326 & MUSI 3386
Director: Kelly Durbin
Email: kpdurbin@utdallas.edu

The UTD Jazz Ensemble, directed by jazz pianist Kelly Durbin, is a large jazz band of students interested in “keeping their chops up” and playing in a jazz band. The UTD Jazz Ensemble repertoire draws from a variety of music in the jazz tradition ranging from early swing music (e.g. Count Basie, Glenn Miller) to bebop and hard bop ( e.g. Horace Silver, Art Blakey, Thelonius Monk, Dizzy Gillespie) to current jazz compositions and arrangements. Players are called upon to play swing, rock, funk, latin, and other styles. In addition to performing in an Arts Festival at the end of each semester, the Jazz Ensemble also collaborates with the Chamber Singers each spring to present a thematic concert (past concerts have included tributes to swing music and Duke Ellington). The Jazz Ensemble has performed for various University functions (e.g. parties for visiting dignitaries), and gives informal concerts around campus.

Students enrolled in the Jazz Ensemble must provide their own instruments (the University provides drum kit, baritone sax, keyboards and amplifiers). To become a member of the Jazz Ensemble, students sign up for either MUSI 2326, Jazz Ensemble I (freshman and sophomores) or MUSI 3386, Jazz Ensemble II (juniors and seniors or by permission of the instructor). Auditions are heard at the beginning of each semester. The Jazz Ensemble is not limited to the traditional brass and woodwinds players normally associated with jazz bands, but is open to any instrumentalist who would like to audition. Jazz improvisation skills are not required, but students are encouraged to develop these skills throughout the semester. The class rehearses twice per week, and is a 3 credit hour course. Students may repeat the course up to 3 times for elective credit towards their degree plan.