Faculty

Keith Johnson Dave LeFebvre Adam Theis Mark Levine Wayne Wallace Frank Martin Ben Wendel Nate Wood Seward McCain

These hands-on performance ensembles for different levels of ability require an audition or consultation. Please call the Jazzschool at 510.845.5373 to schedule an appointment. Audition requirements may include one or more of the following: laying selected scales; playing and/or improvising over a piece of your choice; improvising over a 12-bar blues; and sight-reading.

JAZZ ENSEMBLES

McCain Ensemble

This applied performance class covers standard and contemporary jazz repertoire with an emphasis on performance techniques and improvisation.

Prerequisite: facility on an instrument and knowledge of major scales.

SECTION I (BEG/INT) Tuesdays 4:30—6 pm - SEWARD MCCAIN - (10 weeks) $360
SECTION II (INT) Tuesdays 6:30—8 pm - SEWARD MCCAIN - (10 weeks) $360
SECTION III (INT/ADV)Tuesdays 8:15—9:45 pm - SEWARD MCCAIN - (10 weeks) $360

Music of the Masters

A class focusing on compositions by jazz masters such as Coltrane, Ellington, Monk, Shorter and others.

SECTION I (INT/ADV) Thursdays 8:15—9:45 pm - GLENN RICHMAN - (10 weeks) $360
SECTION II Saturdays (ADV) 10—1 pm - GLENN RICHMAN - (10 weeks) $720

Bebop Combo

An ensemble focusing on the repertoire and style of the bebop period with emphasis on the music of Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. Provides a foundation for improvising over chord changes in a modern jazz style.

Tuesday 6:30pm - 8pm ANTON SCHWARTZ (10 WEEKS) $360

Pardo Jazz Ensemble

Tuesday 8:15pm - 9:45pm BRIAN PARDO (10 WEEKS) $360

Blues and Groove Workshop

A performance workshop for all instrumentalists focusing on the blues and blues-related styles. Emphasis on "the groove" as demonstrated through recordings of Charlie Christian, (Aaron) T-Bone Walker, Albert Collins, Jack McDuff, Louis Jordan and other "jump" blues and New Orleans masters.

Prerequisite: knowledge of basic 12-bar blues.

Saturday 1:30pm - 3pm DANNY CARON (10 WEEKS) $360

Regrettably, this class has been cancelled

Organ Trio Plus Horns

An ensemble in the traditional organ trio format: organ, drums and electric guitar plus horns focusing on the blues, jazz standards and classic organ tunes by masters including Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff, Dr. Lonnie Smith and Larry Young. Special attention given to developing good bass lines! Open to: 2 organists/ pianists, 2 guitarists, 1 drummer and 2-3 horn players.

Prerequisite: organists/ pianists: ability to play through the blues and several jazz standards. Knowledge of walking bass lines is extremely helpful. Guitarists and horn players: ability to comp/solo through several standards. Drummers: an understanding of form.

Tuesday 4:45pm - 6:15pm WIL BLADES (10 WEEKS) $360

From Baroque to Bebop — Saxophone Ensemble

A saxophone ensemble, led by San Francisco Saxophone Quartet alto saxophonist Bill Aron, exploring ensemble playing by using original pieces, transcriptions and arrangements from the Baroque to the bebop periods

Prerequisite: facility on a saxophone and basic reading skills.

Mondays 8:15 - 9:45 pm BILL ARON (10 weeks) $360

Hard Bop Boot Camp

An ensemble covering the repertoire of Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Woody Shaw, John Coltrane, Art Blakey, Freddie Hubbard, Benny Golson, Joe Henderson, Herbie Hancock, Lee Morgan and others. Class focuses on improvising over these harmonically sophisticated tunes and handling extended forms.

Prerequisite: an intermediate/advanced level understanding of jazz improvisation and the ability to read music at an intermediate level.

Thursdays 6:30 - 8 pm ELLEN SEELING (10 weeks) $360

Modal, Fusion, and Other Post Be-bop Jazz Styles

This intermediate to advanced ensemble explores modal and fusion jazz from the 1960s to the present, such as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter and Eddie Harris

Wednesdays 6:30 - 8 pm STEVE ERQUIAGA (10 weeks) $360

Regrettably, this class has been cancelled

Electric Miles Ensemble

An intermediate/advanced ensemble focusing on the music of Miles Davis from 1969 - 1981

Wednesdays 8:15 - 9:45 pm STEVE ERQUIAGA (10 weeks) $360

Thursday Night Big Band

A 19-piece performance ensemble covering standard jazz and blues repertoire from 1930 to the present. This band has several performance opportunities at the Jazzschool and other venues throughout the Bay Area and serves as a vehicle to preview student compositions/arrangements. Instrumentation: 5 saxes; 5 trumpets; 5 trombones; piano; bass; drums; and guitar. 3 quarter commitment required (fall, winter, spring)

Thursdays 8:15 - 10:15 pm DAVID LEFEBVRE (10 weeks) $250

Saturday Night Big Band

A big band designed for adults seeking to play in a full band on an every-other-week basis. The Saturday Night Big Band is a 19-piece performance ensemble covering standard and contemporary jazz repertoire including music from the libraries of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Thad Jones, Stan Kenton, Charles Mingus and more. The band has several performance opportunities at the Jazzschool and other venues throughout the Bay Area. Instrumentation: 5 saxes; 5 trumpets; 5 trombones; piano; bass; drums; and guitar. A three quarter commitment is required (fall, winter, spring)

Saturdays 5 - 6:45 pm KEITH JOHNSON (5 weeks) $130

The Piano Trio

This hands-on performance class for intermediate to advanced pianists, focuses on how to play most effectively in the traditional jazz piano trio format. Maximum class size: four pianists. Accompaniment by a professional bassist and drummer. Please note: class available on a first come, first served basis.

Prerequisite: ability to play and improvise over a jazz tune in time.

SECTION I, Monday 5:00pm - 6:30pm PETER HORVATH (10 WEEKS) $385
SECTION II. Monday 6:45pm - 8:15pm PETER HORVATH (10 WEEKS) $385
SECTION III, Monday 8:30pm - 10pm PETER HORVATH (10 WEEKS) $385

New Orleans Brass Band

Based on the New Orleans tradition of the marching brass band, this class incorporates the instrumentation of the sousaphone, trumpets, trombones and saxophones to create a sound normally played by guitars and keyboards. Based on the marching tradition, the drums are mobile and divided into a bass drum and snare drum unit.

During the course of the class the band covers many styles of music dating back to as early as the 1900s but also keeps a strong focus on modern groove-based music of more recent times in the tradition of Rebirth Brass Band. Topics covered include:

• arranging and orchestrating "non-brass" music for a brass band (e.g.: 60s soul, 70s rock, 80s electronic, 90s Hip-Hop)
• becoming more familiar with the different instrumental roles in a brass band
• rhythmic improvisation and phrasing
• spontaneously creating riffs, melodies and various parts of songs during performance as a group
• use of hand signals/non-verbal communication on the bandstand
• learning songs by ear

The course is led by Adam Theis (sousaphone/trombone), leader of San Francisco's premiere Brass Band, "Brass Mafia", with guest appearances by other members of Brass Mafia including Mike Olmos (trumpet), Pat Korte (drums) and Joe Cohen (saxophones). All brass/wind instruments are welcome as well as drummers/percussionists.

Saturdays 1:30 - 3 pm ADAM THEIS (10 weeks) $360

Regrettably, this class has been cancelled

Harmonica Ensemble

It is hard to imagine today how incredibly popular the harmonica was at the beginning of the last century through the 1950s. Groups like the original Marine Bands that gave a classic harmonica its name, to Jerry Murad's Harmonicats and the Borrah Minovitch Harmonica Rascals inspired amateur "bands" small and huge, which rehearsed all over the country, learning tunes like "Peg o' My Heart" and "Spanish Eyes", made popular by these famous ensembles. Today, a harmonica community thrives, and although the instrument's popularity has shifted towards more of a solo instrument in the blues, rock and jazz realms, there are still clubs and organizations all over the world where ensembles get together and play. Let's make it happen at the Jazzschool!

Required instruments: Mandatory is a chromatic harmonica, or diatonic harmonicas in several keys. Reading skills preferred; a very good ear and memory can suffice.

Traditional instruments are Bass Harmonica, Chord harmonica and lead chromatic with all harmonicas possible after the core trio. If a student has the desire to take the course and play a Bass or Chord harmonica, but does not own an instrument, arrangements can be made for a instrument loan for use while enrolled. (Cleaning fee will apply)

Saturdays 3:15 - 4:45 pm DAMIEN MASTERSON (10 weeks) $360

BRAZILIAN ENSEMBLES

A 4-8 piece ensemble focusing on Brazilian repertoire by noted composers including Ivan Lins, Dori Caymmi, Toninho Horta, Marcos Silva, Antonio Carlos Jobim and more. Emphasis on listening and performing in the traditional Brazilian style. Vocalists welcome!

Audition/phone consultation required.

SECTION I Thursdays 12:30—2:00 pm - MARCOS SILVA - (10 weeks) $360
SECTION II Tuesdays 6 —7:30 pm - MARCOS SILVA - (10 weeks) $360
SECTION III Tuesdays 7:45 —9:15 pm - MARCOS SILVA - (10 weeks) $360
SECTION IV Wednesdays 6 —7:30 pm - MARCOS SILVA - (10 weeks) $360
SECTION V Wednesdays 7:45 —9:15 pm MARCOS SILVA - (10 weeks) $650
SECTION VI Fridays 10:30 am—12 pm - MARCOS SILVA - (10 weeks) $360
SECTION VII Fridays 1 —2:30 pm - MARCOS SILVA - (10 weeks) $360

The Jazzschool Brazilian Music Program has been made possible by generous gifts from "Jazzschool Angel," Vaughan Johnson, Sherie Friedlander and Mal Raff and Connie Woods.

Salsa Workshop I

This course serves as an introduction to salsa performance techniques for beginning to intermediate players. Emphasis on aspects of Afro-Cuban ensemble performance including clave, pulse, rhythm, phrasing, montuno and tumbao. Horn players and vocalists welcome!

Prerequisite: ability on an instrument and basic reading skills. Pianist: ability to play basic montunos. Bassist: ability to play tumbaos.

Tuesdays 6:30 - 8 pm DAVID BELOVE (10 weeks) $360

Salsa Workshop II

For intermediate to advanced players. Emphasis on fundamentals of clave and rhythm with challenging material. Horn players and vocalists welcome! Previous experience in salsa required.

Prerequisite: intermediate to advanced facility on instrument or voice, and equivalent reading ability required.

Tuesdays 8:15 - 9:45 pm DAVID BELOVE (10 weeks) $360

Afro-Cuban Jazz Ensemble

An ensemble focusing on clave, pulse, dynamics, rhythm and phrasing. Material is drawn from Afro-Cuban and American jazz standards. Students are encouraged to bring music to class.

Prerequisite: facility on an instrument and basic reading skills. Pianist: ability to play basic montunos; Bassist: ability to play basic tumbaos.

Thursdays 8:15 - 9:45 pm PETER BARSHAY & DAVID BELOVE (10 weeks) $360

Nice It Up. Jamaican Popular Music Ensemble

This class is a performance workshop in Jamaican popular music, covering early ska, rocksteady, roots reggae and its evolution. The repertoire is primarily from the Ô60s and Ô70s and draws upon the music of The Skatalites, The Wailers, Count Ossie, The Ethiopians, Jackie Mittoo, The Maytals, Bob Marley, Culture, Burning Spear, King Tubby and more

Wednesdays 8:15 - 9:45 pm NAOMI SIEGEL (10 weeks) $360

Motown Madness / Stax Soul / R&B Band

Students play arrangements of classic Motown/Stax/R&B hits from legendary artists such as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, Sam & Dave, Wilson Pickett, Smokey Robinson, Otis Redding, The Four Tops, and many others, recreating the energy of their original stage shows. All vocalists sing lead as well as harmonies, and everyone is welcome to solo as the class prepares for its final performance.

In addition to chart reading, students learn skills such as voicing horn lines and vocal harmonies and transcribing parts from CDs using chord charts. These abilities are essential for musicians planning to play in R&B bands where charts may be incorrectly notated or even nonexistent. Open to: keyboards, guitar, bass, drums, percussion, trumpet, alto, tenor, baritone, trombone, and up to three vocalists (male vocalists encouraged!)

Prerequisite: intermediate/advanced facility on your instrument and some reading ability.

Wednesdays 6:30 - 8 pm JEAN FINEBERG (10 weeks) $360

The Music of Steely Dan

A hands-on performance ensemble focusing on the innovative repertoire of the pop/jazz group Steely Dan. The group's evolution and compositional style are also explored, highlighting their signature choices of harmonies and lyrics, Vocalists and instrumentalists welcome

Mondays 6:30 - 8 pm WAYNE WALLACE (10 weeks) $360

Master Class with Taylor Eigsti Quartet

Featuring Jazzschool Artist in Residence Taylor Eigsti, piano; Eric Harland, drums; Julian Lage, Guitar; and Reuben Rogers, bass.

Note: Artists are available to schedule private lessons after the master class.

Sunday May 25, 12-2 pm TAYLOR EIGSTI $30