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Jazz

JAZZ at El Camino College  

El Camino College Jazz Program offers the following opportunities:

  • Study with world-class and award-winning jazz faculty.
  • Work weekly with top Los Angeles-area musicians in the staff jazz combo.
  • Perform in large jazz ensembles on professional stages at ECC, in Los Angeles-area jazz clubs, and at music and jazz festivals.
  • Access to Guest Artist workshops with world- artists. 
  • Courses are offered to meet the General Education and Associate of Arts Degree requirements. Transferable to 4-year colleges.

Jazz Faculty & Staff

>> See Fine Arts Division Faculty Directory for contact information

Dr. David Moyer, Director of Jazz Studies, saxophone and Concert Jazz Band Director / Ann Patterson, saxophone / Teryn Re, vocals (Applied)  
/ Dean Koba, drums / Drew  Ninmer, trumpet / Jon Hatamiya, trombone / David Sills, saxophone & Studio Jazz Band Director
/ Jake Silverman, keyboaord /Jonathan Kleinhans, guitar / Larry Steen, bass / Matt Greif, guitar
/ Corbin Jones, bass accompanist / Adam Hersh, piano accompanist 

  

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

 

Fall, 2023

  • 8/28/23 (Monday), Jazz Band Auditions, AUD130 Band Room, 6:30pm
  • 11/27/23 (Monday), Studio Jazz Band Spring Concert, Marsee Auditorium, 8pm
  • 12/02/23 (Saturday), Concert Jazz Band Spring Concert, Marsee Auditorium, 8pm

Large Jazz Ensembles

ECC Concert Jazz Band

 

Big Band Jazz  has been a long tradition in the Music Program at El Camino College. We have a growing collection of over 1,100 charts in our library from publication dated in the 1940s to the present  day . ECC currently has two jazz bands that rehearse weekly. Auditions are held on the first Monday of the Fall and Spring semesters. Older adult section is available (Music 567)  

Concert Jazz Band (Music 267) is a large ensemble designed to prepare advanced music students for working in professional musical situations. The ensemble’s central focus is on linking the swinging tradition of the great composers with modern musical styles including hip-hop and rock. The Concert Jazz Band performs concerts on campus and at local jazz clubs, and festivals. Repertoire draws from resources such as: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band, Oliver Nelson, Quincy Jones, Mingus Big Band, Clayton-Hamilton Big Band, John Beasley’s MONKestra, and original compositions and arrangements. Concert Jazz Band meets on Wednesday evenings.  

Studio Jazz Band  (Music 266) This hard swinging ensemble focuses on exploring the standard big band repertoire, section playing, ensemble blend, and developing stylistic jazz interpretation skills. The Studio Jazz Band performs concerts on campus and at local jazz clubs, in addition to competing in festivals. Repertoire draws from resources such as: Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Woody Herman, Fletcher Henderson, Sammy Nestico, Oliver Nelson, and other great composers of the Big Band tradition. 

>>In-Person Auditions for 2023 Spring Semester Jazz Bands will take place on Monday, February 13th at 6:30pm in Marsee Auditorium Room 130 (Band Room). Students should be prepared to sight-read, play a prepared piece, and improvise on a 12-bar blues. Socially distancing and masking will be required. 

 >>Audition Information Form

For inquires, contact Dr. David Moyer ( dmoyer@elcamino.edu ) or  David  Sills ( dsills@elcamino.edu )  

Jazz Courses  

 

Commercial / Jazz Theory (Music 105) 

Knowledge of tonal harmony used in commercial music and jazz. Students develop skills in ear training, writing transcriptions of recorded performances, composition and music manuscript preparation.  

Survey of Jazz (Music 113) 

Fulfills GE arts requirement. From the African predecessors of jazz to jazz-masters of 20th and 21st Centuries, students will discover the styles, musicians, techniques and historical evolution of jazz.  

Applied Music Jazz (Music 190/290)  

Applied Music is a one unit course for the Music Major to further develop musical skills, obtain  an  Associate  of Arts Degree  [link:  http://www.elcamino.edu/academics/finearts/music/ ],  and successfully transfer to a four-year institution for continued music study. The program includes private music lessons, weekly performance class, development of online promotional content, and large ensemble requirements.  

Applied Music students in the Jazz Section can rehearse with the Applied Music House Band every Tuesday before the section meets. The House Band is made up of some of Los Angeles' top jazz talent.

>>  Audition info  
 >> Applied Jazz Promo Video 
>> Dr Moyer & The Applied Music House Band play 'Isfahan' by Billy Strayhorn
>> The Applied Music House Band plays 'Deluge' by Wayne Shorter

Beginning Jazz Improvisation (Music 130)  

A study of basic techniques of jazz improvisation, including scales, chords, patterns, and “licks” used by musicians to create improvisations on tonal, modal, and blues-based songs.