NEC Jazz Ensembles
At NEC, we have 27 small ensembles, 2 large ensembles, and 2 Honors ensembles. The sizes of the NEC small ensembles vary from quintets to septets and the instrumentation is rather diverse and changes from year to year. In addition to vocal and rhythm section ensembles, qualified vocalists can perform in most of the ensembles listed below. The following faculty coach jazz ensembles:
Small ensembles
Jerry Bergonzi Ensembles
Director: Jerry Bergonzi
3 ensembles: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays; 10 to 11:50 am
The ensembles' repertoire varies from year to year depending on the interest of the students. The ensembles perform a diverse amount of music ranging from standards to Bergonzi arrangements and originals. Students are also encouraged to bring in their own music.
Michael Cain Ensemble
Director: Michael Cain
Tuesdays; 10 to 11:50am
Michael Cain coaches an ensemble that performs original works and arrangements by the students, Cain, and various composers from a variety of jazz and contemporary traditions.
Frank Carlberg Ensemble
Director: Frank Carlberg
Tuedays; 10 to 11:50 am
Frank Carlberg coaches an ensemble where he encourages students to compose music for the groups, as well as work on jazz standards.
Frank Carlberg Vocal Ensemble
Director: Frank Carlberg
Mondays; 10 to 11:50 am
This ensemble will focus on performing original vocal music written to texts by various 20th century poets. The instrumentation includes three vocalists and piano, bass, and drums.
Dominique Eade Vocal & Rhythm Section Ensembles
Director: Dominique Eade
2 Ensembles:Tuesdays and Thursdays; 10 to 11:50 am
Dominique Eade emphasizes a group sound rather than a rhythm section playing for singers. The student vocalists select and arrange much of the repertoire, and learn to lead the ensemble in rehearsal and performance. Vocal improvisation is emphasized as well. Rhythm section players have considerable opportunity to play improvised solos and to learn the art of complementing a vocalist in a variety of styles.
Jamey Haddad Ensemble: World Rhythms Studies
Director: Jamey Haddad
Thursdays; 10 am to 11:50 am; FALL SEMESTER ONLY
This ensemble will develop a student´s own inner sense of rhythm and give them a chance to learn the elegant art of frame drumming. The ensemble materials are derived from a variety of world music, North African, Middle Eastern, South Indian and Brazilian. The students will learn many forms of rhythmic puzzles and grooves that will be sung in time and performed on the drum.
George Garzone Ensembles
Director: George Garzone
2 ensembles: Monday Evenings (6 to 8 pm) & Wednesday Mornings (10 to 11:50 am)
The repertoire of the ensembles includes Garzone´s original compositions, standards, student compositions and free jazz. Garzone is focused on teaching his ensembles the standard repertoire of jazz, but also emphasizes the individual's creativity and the essence of free playing.
Jerry Leake West African and Afro-Cuban Drumming Ensemble
Director: Jerry Leake
Thursdays; 10 to 11:50 am; SPRING SEMESTER ONLY
Students will learn to play traditional instruments, and two popular rhythms from the Ewe people of Ghana: Gahu and Agbekor. They will also learn congas and other South American percussion to play Calypso, Plena, Guaguanco, Merengue, Samba. Rhythms will be taught orally, with transcriptions provided at the end of each class.
John Lockwood Ensemble
Director: John Lockwood
Fridays; 10 to 11:50am
This ensemble performs arrangements and compositions of John Lockwood. Students are also encouraged to compose pieces for the ensemble.
Cecil McBee Ensembles
Director: Cecil McBee
2 ensembles: Monday Evenings (6 to 8 pm) & Tuesday Mornings (10 to 11:50 am)
These ensembles play a variety of music including student originals and arrangements, as well as McBee's originals and arrangements. He also stresses the importance of standard repertoire and traditional playing.
John McNeil Ensembles
Director: John McNeil
Tuesdays: 10 to 11:50 am
This ensemble plays McNeil´s own arrangements and compositions as well as standards and student compositions. John brings in a large variety of repertoire, particularly difficult-to-find tunes that he transcribes himself.
Joe Morris Ensembles
Director: Joe Morris
Mondays mornings (10-11:50) amd Monday evenings (6-7:50)
This ensemble features students´ original compositions, standards with a creative approach, and avant-garde pieces. Morris also teaches the students a structured approach to free-playing.
Bob Moses Ensembles
Director: Bob Moses
Wednesdays & Thursdays; 10 to 11:50 am
Bob Moses´ ensemble stresses "heart music" taught by ear. The ensemble is a "freer" ensemble that works collectively to compose music that is of their essence.
Bob Nieske Ensemble
Director: Bob Nieske
Thursdays and Fridays; 10 to 11:50 am
Bob Niekse coaches an ensemble where he encourages students to compose music for the group. The ensemble also performs jazz standards and Bob Nieske originals.
Jazz Composers´ Workshop Ensemble
Director: Ken Schaphorst
Thursdays ; 10 to 11:50 am
This ensemble is designed for jazz composition majors to perform in and write for. Performance majors may be called upon to participate in the ensemble if a certain instrument is required and cannot be provided by jazz composition majors.
Danilo Pérez Ensemble
Director: Danilo Pérez
Tuesdays; 9 am to 11:50 - *unique schedule
This ensemble teaches students an approach to improvisation and composition combining musical elements from Panamerican music and jazz. The ensemble performs Pérez´s music and each member is required to compose at least 1 piece for the group. This ensemble only meets seven times per semester.
Danilo Pérez Piano Trio Ensemble
Director: Danilo Pérez
Wednesdays; 10 to 11:50 am - *unique schedule
This ensemble focuses on piano trio playing and will consist of piano trios. The repertoire of the group includes jazz standards and original compositions. This ensemble only meets four times per semester.
Ben Sher Brazilian Jazz Ensemble
Director: Ben Sher
Mondays; 10 to 11:50 am
An ensemble dedicated to the study of contemporary Brazilian jazz, a genre that draws from many aspects of the rich tradition of Brazilian music, as well as the American jazz vocabulary. The ensemble will cover the styles of samba, baio, partido alto, and chorinhos, and include the compositions of Antonio Carlos Jobim, Jorge Ben, Pixinguinha, Jao Donato, Ary Barroso, Noel Rosa, Egberto Gismonti, Hermeto Pascoal, and originals by Ben Sher.
Oscar Stagnaro Latin Ensemble
Director: Oscar Stagnaro
Fridays; 10 to 11:50 am
This ensemble performs Afro-Cuban jazz. Stagnaro addresses traditional Latin styles such as the guaguanco, guaracha and salsa. The repertoire consists of Latin music by composers such as Ray Barretto, Jim Hartog, Oscar Hernandez and Antonio Carlos Jobim.
Large Ensembles
The NEC Jazz Orchestra meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 6 pm. The NEC Jazz Composers' Workshop Orchestra meets on Tuesdays from 7 to 10 pm.
NEC Jazz Orchestra
Director: Ken Schaphorst
NEC Jazz Orchestra performs classic and contemporary big band music. The band performs under the direction of jazz department chair Ken Schaphorst and such prominent guest conductors as George Russell, Bob Brookmeyer, Gunther Schuller, Jimmy Heath, Teo Macero, Michael Abene, Arturo O'Farrill, Maria Schneider, Marty Ehrlich, and Sam Rivers. The ensemble has won critical acclaim for its recordings and for its performances throughout the country. The Jazz Orchestra is open by audition to all NEC students.
NEC Jazz Composers' Workshop Orchestra
Director: Frank Carlberg
The NEC Jazz Composers' Workshop Orchestra, coached by Frank Carlberg, is a full big band that is devoted to rehearsing and performing the works of NEC Jazz Composers. Frank rehearses, conducts and plays with the ensemble. He also coaches the composers on rehearsing and conducting their own pieces.
Honors Ensemble and Wild Card Ensemble
The Jazz Honors Ensemble and Wild Card Ensemble are chosen by a faculty jury through tape auditions of groups that the students put together themselves. The ensembles receive a stipend for a number of off-campus performances during the year, and have a performance in Jordan Hall. Like regular small ensembles, Honors Ensembles are coached by a faculty member and rehearse on a regular basis. Past coaches have included Danilo Pérez, George Garzone, John Lockwood and Dominique Eade.