Jazz
Student Ensembles
Studio Jazz Orchestra
The Studio Jazz Orchestra is the School of Music's top jazz ensemble, made up of the finest brass, saxophone/woodwind, and rhythm section musicians at SIUC. SJO performs both classic and cutting-edge repertoire at the local and national level, backs up visiting jazz artists, and records albums of original material in the School of Music's very own state-of-the-art recording studio. SJO is under the direction of Dick Kelley.
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Lab Jazz Orchestra
The Lab Jazz Orchestra is the School of Music's second full jazz ensemble, made up of highly skilled brass, saxophone/woodwind, and rhythm section musicians at SIU Carbondale. LJO focuses on developing the skills necessary to perform both classic big band repertoire and contemporary offerings. The Lab Jazz Orchestra is under the direction of Phil Brown.
Jazz Combos
Jazz Combos (MUS 016) essentially functions as a lab for, and an extension of, Jazz Improvisation (MUS231). While MUS 231 acquaints students with the foundations of jazz improvisation, Jazz Combos provides an interactive, small- group experience in which to utilize those developing skills. Jazz Combos familiarizes students with jazz literature appropriate for the collective skills and experience level of each group. Emphasis also is placed on convention and practice with regard to both jazz improvisation and jazz styles, as well as to presentation. Open by audition or by consent of instructor. Auditions typically occur during the first class meeting of each semester. Prerequisite: at least one semester of Jazz Improvisation (MUS 231) with a grade of C or higher, or consent of the instructor.
Faculty Ensembles
New Arts Jazztet
The New Arts Jazztet has long been regarded as southern Illinois' premier jazz group, regularly presenting a select repertoire—engaging original works as well as choice standards—forged in the energy of neo bop and the eclecticism of contemporary jazz. With its hip, approachable character and sound, the cross-generational group—saxophone, trumpet, guitar, bass, and drums—convincingly helps to sustain jazz in the 21st Century.
The NAJ’s club dates have included Cincinnati’s Blue Wisp, Chicago’s Pops for Champagne, and other nightspots around the Midwest. Its concert, clinic, and festival engagements have comprised a number of universities and other performance venues throughout the Heartland. The group has opened twice for Stanley Jordan, and has shared the stage with numerous other jazz artists, most recently with the iconic Charles McPherson, and with the sensational Eden Atwood. In 2010, the New Arts Jazztet was invited to perform at the inaugural Jazz Education Network Conference in St. Louis. The group has also performed as part of a live statewide television broadcast, Arts Across Illinois: CenterStage at PBS affiliate, WTTW/Channel 11, Chicago.
Rule of Three (a caldera productions, 2025), the most recent release by NAJ bassist, Phil Brown, features the New Arts Jazztet, and is charting nationally. The group has previously enjoyed nationwide radio airplay and attention on Brown's earlier recordings, Arkadia (a caldera productions, 2014) and Bright Side (a caldera productions, 2009). And the New Arts Jazztet, along with the duo, FourOnSix, was featured on Brown's Darkness Into Light (a caldera productions, 2006).
The NAJ is in residence at Southern Illinois University, where all but one of its members are active or retired School of Music faculty. Its current line-up is Dick Kelley, reeds; Bob Allison, trumpet/flugelhorn; Isaac Lausell, guitar; Phil Brown, bass; and Jimmy Beers, drums/percussion. Each fall, the New Arts Jazztet tries to present a formal concert of standards, and each spring, a formal concert of original music. The NAJ also performs monthly for Jazz Vespers at Epiphany on the second Sunday.
Tenured reserve players
- Mel Goot, piano (1995- )
Alumni
- Dan Gruber, drums (1984-1988) Eric Mandat, reeds (1984-1988)
- Frank Stemper, piano (1984-1988) Harold Miller, bass (1984-1991)
- Buddy Rogers, reeds (1988-1989) Michael Kruge, guitar (1988-1995)
- Tom Hensold, drums (1988-2005) Tom Hensold, percussion (2005-2010)
- Todd Rewoldt, reeds (2002-2005) Tyler Kuebler, reeds (2005-2008)
- Ron Coulter, drums (2005-2014) Tim Pitchford, trombone (2007-2011)
History
The group began in 1984 as the New Arts Jazz Ensemble, among four SIU School of Music faculty (Allison, Mandat, Miller, Stemper), and a student drummer (Gruber). For the first four years, the repertoire was almost exclusively avant-garde.
A complete reorganization as the New Arts Jazz Quartet occurred in 1988, with Bob Allison and Harold Miller remaining. New, but non-faculty were Rogers and Hensold, and for the next few years, the repertoire shifted to mainstream jazz.
In 1991, Brown replaced Miller, and the repertoire edged forward to post bop. Mel Goot replaced Kruge in 1995. In 1998, the NAJQ began performing original music by Phil Brown mixed in with its select post bop tunes. Originals from other group members soon followed.
As new members would join or leave, rather than switching the name from quartet to quintet to sextet and back again, the group became the New Arts Jazztet in 2007. By then, the NAJ was performing mostly original music, along with a choice jazz standard or two. The current personnel has been unchanged since 2014.