Tarleton Jazz Ensembles

There are two Jazz Ensembles at Tarleton, both directed by Greg Ball Jazz Ensemble I is the premier jazz group on campus and plays music from Ellington and Basie to Schneider and Mintzer. The goal is to perform a wide variety of styles at the professional level. Under Mr. Ball’s direction the band has traveled to England, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland and Kansas. Performances include the Bull’s Head Pub (London), Busker Brown’s (Galway), the Reduta Jazz Club (Prague), the Vienna Jazz Festival, the Montreux Jazz Festival and the Wichita Jazz Festival. The band has also recorded two CD’s, Big Bad Band and Whisper Not.

Jazz Ensemble II was created to give those students developing their jazz skills an opportunity to perform. The ensemble also gives beginning jazz students the opportunity to learn jazz. The music ranges from educational to professional level charts. Many students join the band on a secondary instrument and it is more geared towards music education majors who would like to receive experience rehearsing the band.