Jazz Ensemble

Through performing in a jazz combo, students explore and perform all styles of jazz from its inception to today; including Dixieland, swing, bebop, cool, hard bop, Latin, modal, free, fusion, and contemporary.  Emphasis is placed on a working knowledge of standard jazz repertoire as well as the development of original compositions. Included is instruction in Jazz Improvisation, Theory, Composition, History, and Styles and Analysis. 

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Student Work: 2018-2019

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Work from Previous Years:

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Meet the Teacher!

Meet Jarrard!
A native of Louisville, Kentucky, saxophonist and educator Jarrard Harris attended the Youth Performing Arts School in high school and attended the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music to further his jazz studies. At CCM he studied with Rick VanMatre, Pat Harbison, and Marc Fields. Upon Graduation from CCM Harris moved to Chicago in 1998 to further his studies at DePaul University where under the tutelage of Bob Lark, Tim Coffman, and Marc Colby he earned his master’s degree in jazz studies. Harris currently lives in Chicago, where he is on the jazz faculty of Northwestern University, Columbia College Chicago and the City Colleges of Chicago. He also serves as the director of jazz studies with the Chicago Public Schools Advanced Arts Education Program at Gallery 37.

He maintains an active private teaching studio in addition to adjudicating and performing at college and high school festivals, giving master classes, and lecturing. He has performed with musicians in the United States and abroad. Jarrard was a founding board member of the Jazz education Network and serves as a current board member for the Jazz Institute of Chicago. Jarrard is also a Vandoren Performing Artist and uses Vandoren reeds and mouthpieces exclusively.