Spring 2010 Performances will include:

Big Band Boogie Bash

Auraria Jazz Festival

Jazz-o-Rama

In December students have the opportunity to audition for the CCJA Big Band, which runs from January through April. The band meets for 90 minutes before small group rehearsals at DU and performs at concerts and local jazz festivals. It is directed by mentors who are highly experienced in professional Big Band playing, bringing with them challenging professional repertoire. This group helps highly motivated students focus on big band skills that they can apply individually and take back to their school big bands.

For the last three seasons, the big band has primarily been directed by Greg Gisbert, who is one of the most in-demand big band trumpeters in the world. He went on the road with Buddy Rich when he was 18, and has since played with the Woody Herman Orchestra, Frank Sinatra, Toshiko Akyoshi, John Fedchock New York Big Band, the Vanguard Orchestra, the Maria Schneider Orchestra, Jimmy Heath, the Mingus Epitaph, The Word of Mouth band, The Jazz at the Lincoln Center band, and the Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars, etc.  We are so fortunate to have his extensive talent and experience, as he has usually been part of the bands from which the CCJA big band draws its repertoire.