The Jazz Ensemble focuses on the big band sound; it also provides opportunities for student improvisation within an ensemble context, and for students to have their own charts and arrangements read. The ensemble performs several concerts on and off campus each year.

Jazz Ensemble has played with, or been coached by, guest artists who include world-class musicians Milt Hinton (bass), Clark Terry (trumpet), the Mitchell/Ruff Duo (horn, bass, piano), and Joe Williams (vocal).

Current college-wide COVID-19 protocols require that unvaccinated students and employees must be masked at all times. For information about COVID-19 protocols for ensembles that were followed during 2020-2021, see the COVID-19 page.

Jazz Combo

The Combo is a small select band (or bands) made up of members of the larger ensemble. They rehearse under the direction of Prof. Woods, and they also rehearse on their own. They play concerts with the ensemble as well as their own gigs.

Jazz Improvisation

Prof. Woods teaches a partial-credit course each semester in Jazz Improvisation. Students in the ensembles gain more experience with improv, and students who are not yet ready to join the ensembles gain valuable experience and skill in jazz and improv.

Our Director

Michael Woods, Professor of Music, has been playing and performing jazz since the age of eleven. He holds a bachelor's degree in composition, two master's degrees in jazz and composition, and a DMA in Composition from Oklahoma University. Woods has been recognized for his jazz compositions, which have been perormed by the Tulsa Philharmonic, Albany Symphony, and the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble. In 1978 he won a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. As a performer, Doc Woods is a fine soloist on electric bass and has performed widely with his fusion group ZOE.