Dr. Jason Kush
Dr. David Glover
The Slippery Rock University Jazz Ensemble is the premiere jazz group in the Department of Music, and proudly continues a tradition of excellence nearly forty years in the making. Entirely comprised of undergraduate students that are chosen by audition, this group performs music that covers the broad range of traditional to contemporary large jazz ensemble music. Students in this ensemble learn advanced technique in stylistic execution, improvisation, and ensemble building skills.
Throughout its history, the award-winning SRU Jazz Ensemble has performed at jazz festivals, high schools, colleges, and other various concert venues in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. Recently, the group appeared at the Jazz Education Network (JEN) National Conference in Dallas, Texas. In their most recent European Tour, the SRU Jazz Ensemble was featured at the North Sea Jazz Festival (The Netherlands) and the Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland).
In addition to performing a formal on-campus concert each semester, the SRU Jazz Ensemble has had the privilege of performing concerts with world-class jazz legends such as Stanley Turrentine, Rufus Reid, Randy Brecker, Bob Mintzer, Conrad Herwig, Dave Samuels, Gary Smulyan, Wayne Bergeron, Paul McKee, Jerry Bergonzi, Dennis Mackrel, and Michael Davis, among others.
Aside from numerous concerts, the SRU Jazz Ensemble has recorded five albums since 2000.
For more information about the Jazz Ensemble, please contact Dr. Jason Kush at 724-738-2443, or by email at jason.kush@sru.edu.
Jazz Lab Band
The Slippery Rock University Jazz Lab Band is a large jazz ensemble that serves develop core skills in the jazz style and potentially prepare students for entering the Jazz Ensemble. This group, which is comprised of undergraduate students seated by audition, seeks to cover a large volume of jazz ensemble repertoire while focusing on the development of idiomatic fundamentals. The Jazz Lab Band performs a semester concert as well as an occasional community or school function.
For more information about the Jazz Lab Band, please contact Dr. David Glover at 724-738-2442, or by email at david.glover@sru.edu.
