Jazz Improvisational Orchestra

Jazz Improvisational Orchestra is a Humanities, Arts and Cultural Studies course taught by Marty Ehrlich.

Course Description
This is a performance-oriented course, culminating in a concert at the end of the semester. Each student will be challenged to develop his or her skills as an ensemble musician and as a soloist. Our goal is to create a dynamic performance ensemble. Full attendance is crucial to this work. This semester we will be using the compositions of Charlie Parker as our primary material. We will look at this seminal body of music from diverse angles, both in historical context and in contemporary re-imaginings. We will work to meet its technical challenges and to internalize its essence, so crucial to the African-American musical tradition. Each student will make a contract of individual goals to focus on in the context of the Jazz Improvisation Orchestra. Improvisation and composition, re-composition and arranging are all part of the mix. The Jazz Improvisation Orchestra is open to all instruments, including voice. Prerequisite: Jazz Improvisation Seminar I (HACU 0192) or comparable 5 college class. Participation in the ensemble is by permission of the instructor. An audition will be given during the first class session for those students new to the class.