Concert Band vs. Jazz Band

[RatBatBlues]

I've recently been playing in a community concert band, and have been asked to join the community jazz band. I'm definitely interested, since I listen to jazz much more than the classical, showtunes, and march music I've been playing.

I've never seen the community jazz band, so I'm wondering what their repertoire would be, and if it would be much more difficult than the regular concert band. Is it generally big band, danceable stuff like Duke or Glen Miller, or is there more contemporary material like Mingus or Shorter? Is there any improv involved?

I just have no idea what the jazz band would do.

[Roger Aldridge]

One way to find out is to talk with the Director of the jazz band and learn what you can about the band's style and book. It would also be helpful to attend a band practice just to listen and observe what's going on. Playing in this group could be a really fun and rewarding thing to do.

[RatBatBlues]

Hmm. I should have added that, of course I will talk to the director(s) to get their descriptions of repertoire. I was specifically wondering what people's experiences have been with the community jazz bands.

[synchro]

In my area we have a community program with 6 jazz bands and 6 concert bands. It ranges from beginner level to semi-pro. I am in an intermediate jazz band and am having a great time. Our director gives us challanging music to play. I am going to play in a summer concert band to give that a try.

[Gandalfe]

In our community band there is a new jazz band this year. To play in the jazz band you must participate in the concert band. This year we played stuff like In the Mood, String of Pearls, Harlem Nocturne, American Patrol, Honeysuckle Rose, Fever, etc. It was a blast. You havta read swing. For example two eighth notes are played with a count of three where the eighth notes on the downbeat count as two and on the upbeat they count as one. But once you get the hang of it, the music really swings. :D

Now I wish they had improv classes when I was in high school. That is gonna take me some time to pickup on. My son had those classes in zero hour of high school and he thinks nothing of knocking out a impromptu solo or two.

[RatBatBlues]

Thanks, Gandalfe. That was what I was wondering about. It sounds like big band arrangements with some solos. We've done some Duke Ellington medleys in the concert band, but it's mostly marches and show tunes, which is still fun.

[GaryLee]

When I first started playing again after a 25 year layoff I joined a local community college concert band. The band played some very "symphonic" pieces which were quite challenging as well as an assortment of marches and show tunes.

Last fall I decided switch to a different school that offered a jazz ensemble class. They have an 'A' band and a 'B' band. They had an open spot on bari in the 'B' band so I signed up. Although I could probably play the charts in the 'A' band (at least on bari) my soloing ability is not up to their level. In the 'B' band I had a chance to to solo on a couple of tunes at the last performance and had a great time.

The director also works with several small combo groups including an informal one that meets for an hour before the big band. I started playing with that combo too which has been a lot of fun. We work out of a fake book, the chord progressions are pretty simple and everyone is encouraged to try some solos.

In general I have found the big band charts are easier to play and much more fun to practice than the symphonic works.

I would highly recommend that you give the jazz band a try. Ask if you can "sit in" at one of their rehearsals to check things out.

Of course the original post was a long time ago so you may have already joined. In which case I would like to hear how it went.