FALL 2008 JAZZ AUDITIONS

MU 170/370 - University Jazz Band

MU 171/371 - Jazz Combos

Director of Jazz Studies - Paul Rinzler

(prinzler@calpoly.edu, 756-5792)

 

Everyone auditioning must commit to enrolling and participating for fall quarter 2008.

 

AUDITION SCHEDULE

 

Date

Time

Music Bldg. / Room

Sun. Sept. 21

noon to 4 pm

45/122 (Paul's office)

Mon. Sept. 22

10:10 to 11:00 am

3:30 to 4:30 pm

45/122 (Paul's office)

45/122 (Paul's office)

Tue. Sept. 23

1:00 to 4:00 pm

45/122 (Paul's office)

Wed. Sept. 24

10:10 to 11:00 am

11:10 am to noon (drums/vibes only)

3:10 to 4:00 pm (drums/vibes only)

45/122 (Paul's office)

45/216

45/216

Thu. Sept. 25

1:00 to 3:00 pm

45/122 (Paul's office)

 

NEW: Beginning Sept. 15 you may sign up for an audition time on the door to Paul's office, room 122 in Bldg. 45 (the Music/Theater building).

 

If you cannot make one of the audition times above, contact Paul Rinzler (see above) for an alternate time.

 

Drummers and vibe players should not sign up for a time other than on Wed. Sept. 24 as indicated above.

 

Please arrive early for your audition.  You will need to fill out an audition form at the audition (or, you may download it and bring it with you).

 

Successful auditionees will be placed into either UJB #1 or #2.  Keeping your schedule available for both ensembles will increase your chances of being able to participate in one of them.  Audition results will be emailed on Friday Sept. 26.  Rehearsals begin Monday, Sept. 29.

Rehearsal Times:

UJB 1 - MTWF 11:10 to noon

UJB 2 - MW 3:10 to 4:30 pm

Combos - TBA - Students wishing to play in a combo must fill out a schedule sheet at the audition (or download it and bring it with you) that shows the times that you are NOT available to rehearse for the quarter (if you do not know your entire class schedule, it is important to fill out your schedule as completely as possible).

 

EQUIPMENT TO BRING TO THE AUDITION

Your instrument (except pianists)

Drummers: bring sticks only

Vibe players: bring mallets

Electric bassists and guitarists: An amplifier and instrument cord will be provided for you to use.

 

AUDITION CONTENT

You will be accompanied at the audition by recorded piano, bass, and drums (a Jamey Aebersold play-along recording), except for some sight-reading.

 

Everyone will be asked to do the following:

 

1. Play something you have chosen and prepared, no longer than 1 minute, such as a transcribed solo, a jazz etude, or playing with an Aebersold or accompaniment recording that you bring with you (no live accompaniment provided).  If you need help selecting this piece, please contact Paul (see above);

 

2. Sight-read a section from an easy big band chart;

 

3. Strongly recommended (but not absolutely required): improvise on a blues tune and/or an easy II-V-I tune, such as Take the A Train (except drummers).

 

In addition, the musicians below will be asked to do the following:

 

Bassists:

 

Walk a bass line to a blues tune and/or an easy II-V-I tune.

 

Pianists, Guitarists, and Vibes Players:

 

Play chords to a blues tune and/or an easy II-V-I tune.

 

Drummers:

 

Play time and improvise fills to moderate tempo swing and Latin tunes.

 

Trade fours with piano.

 

Vocalists:

 

Sing one verse of "It's a Great Great Pleasure" a cappella.  You should use the recording by Louis Jordan as a broad stylistic model (although you may interpret the song individually within that broad model: see Paul for further details).  You may change the key from the original to suit your range.

 

Click on the links below for the recording and the sheet music for the one verse of "It's a Great Great Pleasure:"

 

recording

sheet music

 

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Everyone auditioning must confirm that they will be avaible at the times below:

 

UJB 1

Sat. Oct. 25, 1 to 4 pm ­ Parents' Weekend performance, on campus

Sat. Oct. 25, time TBA ­ Jubilee by the Sea, Pismo Beach

Sat. Nov. 8, 1 to 4 pm ­ Homecoming Alumni BBQ and wine tasting, on campus

Fri. Nov. 21, 9 pm to midnight, swing dance, Santa Barbara

Fri. Dec. 5, 8 pm to 10 pm, Fall Jazz concert, on campus

 

UJB 2

Fri. Dec. 5, 8 pm to 10 pm, Fall Jazz concert, on campus