Jazz Studies
San Diego State University Jazz Studies
Program is the largest in California, having eight performance ensembles.
The program offers both a Bachelors and Masters degree in Jazz Studies.
At the International Association of Jazz Educators Convention, famed jazz
critic Leonard Feather described the SDSU Jazz Ensemble #1's bristling
set as a yardstick to measure college jazz bands.
The
SDSU Jazz Ensemble #1 has recorded three CD/cassettes that have received
rave reviews. Don't Make Noise
on Discovery Records was a
Grammy nominee, Live at Montreux
, with guest artist Clark
Terry chronicles the band's performance/TV broadcast at the legendary
Swiss Jazz Festival and its most recent recording is entitled Three
Steps Ahead
. The European press writes. The most beautiful
moment of the evening came when the magnificent, tight swing playing of
the SDSU band accompanied one of the masters of the trumpet and flugelhorn.
.
As winners of the National Collegiate Jazz Competition, the band was invited
to perform at Epcot Center in Orlando, Florida with Wynton Marsalis, Pete
Fountain and Louie Bellson.
SDSU's Jazz Ensemble #1 has performed with such legendary jazz musicians as George
Shearing, Dizzy Gillespie, Diane Schuur, Rob McConnell, Charles McPherson,
Conte Candoli, Pete Christlieb, Bobby Shew, Lanny Morgan, Mundell Lowe,
Don Menza, Marv Stamm, Bud Shank, Gabe Baltizar, Tiger Okoshi, Gary Foster,
Kim Richmond, George Roberts, Holly Hofmann, Ernie Watts, Dave Friesen,
Ed Shaughnessey, and Barney Kessel, to name only a few. One of the band's
accomplishments was a ten-day tour of Taiwan, Republic of China, performing
a series of concerts throughout the entire country. Presently, the SDSU
Jazz Ensemble #1 is the house band
for the Hawaii International
Jazz Festival held every July, where they back up world renowned jazz
artists and are one of the featured attractions.
Larry Himmel, San Diego TV personality and jazz aficionado writes, Jazz
is alive and well on campus! Not that yupped-out jazak, jacuzzi jazz,
this is the genuine article. Listen to the SDSU Jazz Ensemble on stage
and
in the tradition
. They are a joy to be heard.
For further information, contact Bill Yeager, Director of Jazz Studies, (619) 594-4680, or via e-mail: yeager1@mail.sdsu.edu