Instrumental Jazz

Latin jazz

  • Jazz Band I

    Jazz Band I has performed at the Wichita Jazz Festival, Notre Dame Jazz Festival, Elmhurst Jazz Festival, University of Northern Colorado Jazz Festival, Central Illinois Jazz Festival, Western Illinois Jazz Festival, Illinois Collegiate Jazz Festival and the Jazz Education Network National Conference. The band has been selected as an Outstanding Ensemble on several occasions at the Elmhurst Jazz Festival, one of the largest collegiate jazz festivals in the United States. The band’s recordings Easy to Love, Swingin’ Night and Day, Signal Fires and Vera Cruz are available from First Step Records. The band regularly tours regionally and has toured the Dominican Republic on three different occasions. 

  • Jazz Band II

    Jazz Band II focuses on learning big band music from a variety of styles within the jazz idiom. Chosen music is then studied with an emphasis on historical context. All students work on concepts geared towards developing their skills in improvisation and arranging. Several student compositions and arrangements have been featured in performance. Jazz Band II performs both on and off campus and has been featured at several local music venues. 

  • Jazz Combos 

    Jazz Combos focus on the small ensemble side of jazz. With the greater emphasis on improvisation, students explore a variety of concepts and approaches to jazz improvisation. Both ensembles build up their repertoire by learning weekly tunes from the great American song book. In addition, the ensembles study small group arranging techniques. Each ensemble member contributes arrangements and original compositions to the group. Both combos perform on- and off-campus and are featured at the Millikin Jazz Combo Night, simulating a “gig” at a local venue.