Jazz Bands
Jazz music is often considered to be the only original American art form. Rooted in the African-American experience of the late 19th and early 20th century, influenced by the cultures of the nation and the historical moments it’s encountered, jazz is a melting pot that tells the American tale of the 1900s. The Council Rock South Jazz Program is proud to offer a comprehensive study of this music, where students not only learn how to perform it, but learn the social and historical elements at work the influenced its development. This program is open to all saxophonists, trumpet players, trombonists, and rhythm section members (piano, guitar, bass, drums, etc.)
Consisting of two groups, a student can work on music that fits their skillset and personal taste.
Swing Band
The first ensemble is the Council Rock South Swing Band, an ensemble dedicated to the study and performance of music from the Golden Age of Jazz. This ensemble performs the classics made famous by the likes of Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and. Education will focus on the foundations of jazz, including introductions to improv, jazz theory, and the history of jazz’s development through the 1940s.
Concert Jazz Band
The second ensemble is the Council Rock South Concert Jazz Band, an ensemble focused on the continuation of jazz music from the 1950s and onwards. Students will learn about the great jazz works of people like Thad Jones, Maynard Ferguson, and many more They learn how jazz theory and improvisation advanced and developed, as well as how jazz influenced all musical genres following it.
Audition material for Jazz is handed out in mid-October, with auditions being held in early November. There are two rehearsals a week for each ensemble from November through May, with several competitions and performances scheduled between February and May. Any active member of the CRS music department is eligible to join.