Michael Rotellini
mrotell1@uwyo.edu
The Jazz Combos at the University at Wyoming is a versatile collection of different students that perform Jazz music both on and off campus.
These students focus on improvisation of the jazz music style and are continually doing different performance in and out of the Laramie community.
Jazz Combo is a class any UW student can register for in order to participate. There are 3-4 Jazz combos every semester and they are student ensembles coached by Ben Markley said Scott Turpin, director of Jazz Studies and professor of music.
“The Jazz Combos perform on and off campus throughout the academic year,” Turpin said. “They will perform at the upcoming UW Jazz Festival which will occur on Mar. 31-Apr. 1 and at the Greeley Jazz Festival in Colorado.”
The Jazz Combos are typically small groups and focus more on a free form style of Jazz. Students in Jazz Combos are guided by faculty coaches and tend to perform their own compositions as individuals as well as an ensemble each semester.
Typically a combo consists of a rhythm section and a combination of horn players, although horn players are not required.
Michael Peterson, saxophone player for Combo One, said the group was picked by the staff in the Jazz Department and that a group usually has had experience playing with one another beforehand or will get to as the semester progresses.
“As a full group we practice twice a week, but we each put in countless hours on our own,” Peterson said. “The group decides what to play, and oftentimes we play original compositions by members of the group.”
Peterson added that the biggest challenge is scheduling rehearsals since everyone is busy it is difficult to find time.
The Jazz Combos are able to find a lot of experiences playing in different places around Laramie and even outside it.
The group has opened for some musicals that have been to UW, played master classes for guest artists, toured the state and entered performance and composition competitions. The group has its next performance on Dec. 3 in the Gardens and both Jazz Combos will be performing at 7 p.m.
After that the next live performance will be at the upcoming UW Jazz festival that will include the Jazz Combos, other University jazz performers, the Wyoming All-State Jazz band and a multitude of guest performers including faculty and other performers.
This event will be taking place Mar. 31 – Apr. 1 on campus.
The Jazz Combo will also be going down to Colorado for the 46th Annual Greeley Jazz Festival. This event is one of the largest in the nation and looks to bring over 250 college performers and other jazz musicians, according to arts.unco.edu.
UW houses many different jazz focuses and groups not to be confused with the Jazz Combos. With a wide array of different focuses in the Jazz department there are groups such as the Jazz Ensemble, Vocal Jazz Ensemble and the University of Wyoming Faculty Jazztet.
Each one of these groups play in the discipline of jazz, but what makes the Jazz Combos truly unique in this area is the stylistic choice and the element of improvisation that help make the sound one of a kind.
Turpin said listening to Jazz as a whole is different, but the key in it is really hearing the difference of the performer.
“Listening is key when playing any sort of chamber music,” Turpin said. “It is especially important when playing jazz music as many aspects of each performance are improvised.”
Kathryn Ekkert, junior studying elementary education, said as the Jazz Combos are winding down for the semester with the final performance at the Gardens, it should be noted that these student bands always look to put on a good show.
“The band programs here always do a fantastic job at preparing the students to put on a great show,” Ekkert said. “I am looking forward to this show at the Gardens and can’t wait to see how they sound.”
