Since Dean McNeill began directing the University of Saskatchewan Jazz Ensemble in 1998, this group has performed throughout Western Canada and recorded five compact disks in their Bumper Crop CD series. Featured guest artists have included Dr. Craig Brenan, Mark DeJong, Gordon Foote (McGill University), Greg Gatien (Brandon University), Dan Haerle (University of North Texas), Steve Haines (Miles Davis Institute, Greensborough), Mike Herriott, Jens Lindemann (U.C.L.A.), Joe Luloff (North Western University), Brian O’Kane, Billy Proutin (Keyano College), David Renter (University of Lethbridge), Dave Robbins, Campbell Ryga (Juno Award Winner), Rob Sommervillie, Brad Turner (Juno Award Winner), Paul Tyanan (St. FX University), Ross Ulmer, Mike Vax, Andre´ White (McGill University), and Bret Zvacek (Crane School of Music, SUNY-Potsdam). The ensemble has also worked in clinics with the likes of Jon Ballantyne (two-time Juno award winner), Hugh Fraser (Juno Award winner), and Slide Hampton plus many of the above guest artists. This group has twice performed in Edmonton’s acclaimed Winspear concert hall at the Cantando Music Festival and in of January 2009, the group toured Montreal visiting McGill University as an invited Student-Ensemble-In-Residence at the Schulich School of Music.

The UofS Jazz Ensemble’s five Bumper Crop CDs have included include: 1) Bumper Crop (released in 2001), 2) Bumper Crop II-Outstanding in their Fields (2003), 3) Bumper Crop III-Prairie Rhythms(2005), 4) Bumper Crop IV-Perceptions (2007), and Bumper Crop V-Water Colors (2010).

Bumper Crop V was released at the jazz ensembles first-ever jazz reunion concert.
Bumper Crop IV features UofS student composer Paul Suchan and guest artist Drummer/Dancer Joseph Ashong as well as many students within the ensemble. Bumper Crop IIIfeatures all-Canadian talent (performers and arrangers alike), two guest artists (i.e. UofS Sessional instructor Mark DeJong-Saxophone and Saskatchewan based musician Ross Ulmer-Trombone), and, original compositions by ensemble director Dean McNeill.

All these CD projects serve to archive the ensemble’s performance activity as well as to raise funds for the jazz area in the Department of Music and to promote the department, college, and university. To purchase one of these CDs or for more information about this ensemble visit http://www.usask.ca/music/ or contact Dean McNeill at 966-6169 (dean.mcneill@usask.ca).

New York based Acclaimed Canadian jazz pianist and two-time Juno Award winner Jon Ballantyne will be presenting a free public lecture-recital at the UofS entitled "Opening up to Improvisation".
Details:
Friday October 21, 2011
Location: Quance Theatre, Education Building, UofS Campus
Time: 12:30 PM
This lecture-recital is presented through a partnership between the UofS Department of Music Jazz Ensemble, Roger & Marie Jolly (i.e. of Yamaha Piano Centre), and, the Saskatoon Jazz Society/The Bassment.
Thanks to all for the support.

To view a full bio of Ballantyne visit: http://www.jonballantyne.com/bio/index.html

Manhattan-based, Canadian born jazz pianist Jon Ballantyne has released 9 albums, won 2 Juno awards (most recently in 2007 for "Avenue Standard") and received 3 Juno nominations as a leader. In 2007-2008, following recent tours of Europe, Israel, Canada and the US with his acclaimed 4tet (which includes Boris Kozlov, Jeff Hirshfield and Douglas Yates), Jon has embarked on a series of solo piano performances to continue his explorations into uncharted musical territory.

Jon's early interest in studying and performing music ultimately led to his collaborations musically (onstage and/or recording) with musicians such as Joe Henderson, Paul Bley, Dewey Redman, Billy Hart, Roy Haynes, Drew Gress, Dave Liebman, Rich Perry, Doug Weiss, Gene Jackson and Phil Dwyer. Over the past several years, he's jammed at jazz festivals or private sessions with players like Joe Lovano, Mark Turner, Bill Carrothers,Seamus Blake and Donny McAslin.

In his formative years, Jon played gigs with Pepper Adams, Woody Herman's Thundering Herd, Terry Clarke,Neil Swainson and Jerry Fuller.

And before that, Jon studied, and in many cases, played, with greats like Cecil Taylor, Ed Blackwell, Kenny Wheeler, Don Thompson, Karl Berger, Elvin Jones, Barry Harris, Joanne Brackeen, Emily Remler and Lee Konitz, to name a few.

An example of Jon's musically diverse career is from an approximately two year period in the early 1990's when Jon performed in completely spontaneous piano duo recordings and concerts with fellow pianist and Canadian Paul Bley, and was also found to be playing raucously swinging, modern jazz in concert and clubs with the late, great American saxophonist Joe Henderson.

Jon has performed in some of the world's finest concert halls (Cremona, Italy Opera House; Kilbourn Hall-Eastman School of Music; Place des Arts-Montreal), institutions (Museum of Modern Art-New York, Stockholm) and jazz clubs (Knitting Factory, Birdland-New York). Whether he's performing his original compositions, which can be knotty and dense, or sometimes quiet, spacey and melodic; two-handed virtuosic atonal improvisations, or reworking the standard jazz repertoire, Jon's openness, originality and inborn creativity always inform his playing, much to the delight of his listeners.

Annual ensemble activities/performance for the 2011-12 year will include:

1. Louis Pub (UofS Campus) concert: October 5, 2011
2. UofS Wind Orchestra/Jazz Ensemble joint tour  fundraiser: October 15, 2011 (location TBA)
3. Bassment jazz club concert: October 21, 2011
4. UofS Wind Orchestra/Jazz Ensemble joint tour: October 27-29th, 2011
5. UofS UNIFEST music festival jazz concert: Thursday November 17, 2011, Quance Theatre
6. Semester-end UofS jazz concert: December 1, 2011, Quance Theatre
7. UofS Wind Orchestra/Jazz Ensemble joint concert: February 3, 2012, Quance Theatre
8. Bassment jazz club concert: March 2, 2012 Concert Poster
9. Semester-end UofS jazz concert: March 24, 2012, Quance Theatre Concert Poster
10. Performance of the UofS Summer Jazz Ensemble is tentatively set for within the 2012 Sask-Tel Jazz Festival dates.

auditions will take place September 6-8, 2011 in room 1054, education building

For information au auditions contact ensemble director Dean McNeill

 

The UofS Department of Music offers an 18 credit unit minor in Jazz Studies. Related courses include Jazz Materials (jazz theory), Jazz Improvisation, Jazz History, Jazz Pedagogy, Jazz Arranging, African Drumming, and Jazz Ensemble.

Course descriptions:

Jazz Ensemble 1 & 2 (either as a zero credit unit or 1 credit unit option): Jazz Ensemble 1 performs traditional and contemporary repertoire including student compositions. This ensemble has released 4 CDs and performs throughout western Canada. Jazz Ensemble 2 performs at the end of each semester along side Jazz Ensemble 1 at Saskatoon’s jazz venue the Bassment. Audition is required for both ensembles (first day of classes, each semester).

Jazz Materials (MUS 184.3): This 100-level course is the prerequisite for Jazz Arranging (MUS 386.3), Jazz Pedagogy (EMUS 337.3), and Jazz Improvisation (MUS 283.3). It is also the suggested pre or co-requisite for Jazz Ensemble 1 and Jazz Ensemble 2. This course introduces students to jazz theory, jazz keyboard skills, jazz ear training, and transcribing skills.

Jazz Improvisation (MUS 283.3): This course focuses on musical skills pertaining to the performance of jazz improvisation. This course assumes little pre-existing knowledge of jazz improvisation, but does presume a significant level of instrumental proficiency. Prerequisite: Jazz Materials (MUSIC 184.3).

Jazz History Survey (MUS 285.3): This course studies the history of the jazz tradition from its origins to the present. Chronologically organized, this course examines the musical environment in the southern United States at the turn of the 19th century then proceeds through the musical styles of ragtime, traditional jazz, stride piano, swing, bebop, post bop, cool jazz, west coast jazz, fusion, funk, R & B, and contemporary jazz. Prerequisite: The successful completion of 24 credit units at the UofS or by permission of the Department.

Jazz Pedagogy (EMUS 337.3) Previously entitled Jazz Ensemble Techniques this course explores the diverse area of jazz pedagogy as taught within a secondary school music program. An excellent addition to any music educator’s résumé. Prerequisites: Jazz Materials (MUS 184.3).

Jazz Arranging (MUS 386.3) In introduction to jazz arranging, this course develops student’s jazz composition and arranging skill set. Topics include the study of advanced chord/scale relationships, ensemble orchestration techniques for large and small jazz ensembles, and the topical score study of specific jazz composers. Prerequisite: Jazz Materials (MUSIC 183.3).

West African Drumming (MUS 298.3-Special Topics): Strongly linked to folklore, myth and proverb this course examines (through performance practice) some of the many musical and culturally-related traditions from west African. There are no prerequisites for this course however registration through permission of the department is required.

For more information regarding any aspect of the jazz offerings, contact jazz area chair Dean McNeill dean.mcneill@usask.ca.

You can listen to the Jazz Ensemble by clicking here.

Click here to order any of the Jazz Ensemble CD's - Order CD

Do you want to see more photos of the Jazz Ensemlbe? Click here.

 

Prof. Raymon Vasquez sitting in with the band during rehearsal.