University Jazz Orchestra
Trent Kynaston, Director

Jazz Lab Band

Tom Knific, Director

Western Michigan University's JAZZ LAB BAND is directed by Tom Knific, Professor of Music. This 18-member ensemble is a favorite of  younger jazz instrumentalists. The group performs an extraordinarily broad range of repertoire, from the earliest big band works of Ellington and vintage swing era arrangements, to fusion works and music composed by ensemble members. 

Emphasis is placed on the authentic conception of traditional and contemporary swing as well as Brazilian, Afro-Cuban and contemporary genres. The ensemble performs on campus four times a year, including the perennially sold-out "annual swing concert". The Jazz Lab Band also performs regularly at the The Union Cabaret and Grill, the WMU Jazz Studies jazz club partner.

Guest artists appearing with the band range from John Clayton and Billy Hart, to WMU Jazz faculty.

WMU Jazz Octet
Scott Cowan, Director
Western Michigan University's award-winning Jazz Octet is directed by Dr. Scott Cowan. The 8-member ensemble is made up of the premiere jazz studies students from WMU’s jazz studies department. The ensemble’s repertoire of originals and arrangements is composed exclusively by the ensemble members. The Jazz Octet has received the Outstanding Small Ensemble award with all eight members receiving outstanding soloist awards at the annual Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival. The Jazz Octet has performed in Illinois, Indiana, throughout Michigan and was the featured ensemble for Marshall Music Company-2006 Michigan Music Conference as well as The International Association of Jazz Educators in New York City 2007, with guest artists Stefon Harris, Fred Hersch and Billy Hart.

WMU Drum Choir
Keith Hall, Director

WMU Drum Choir, directed by Keith Hall, is a drumset ensemble which performs compositions arranged and composed primarily by the students.  This unique ensemble is an extension of the jazz drumset curriculum and offers a group experience where ideas are exchanged providing a tremendous atmosphere for improvisation and teamwork. The entire history of drumset vocabulary as well as world rhythm concepts are explored. The Drum Choir performs at the WMU Invitational Jazz Festival, as part of jazz ensemble concerts, and for special events.

Created in 1992 by Artist-in-Residence Billy Hart, the drum choir allows students the opportunity to explore the tradition of the drums while incorporating contemporary concepts. The ensemble is required for jazz drumset majors and is open to non-majors.

The WESTERN JAZZ QUARTET is a resident faculty ensemble in the School of Music at Western Michigan University. Formed in 1974, the quartet combines performing and teaching with uncommon success as they promote jazz music and jazz education through a very active schedule of tours, concerts and workshops. Activities range from performances for school children of all ages to concerts, tours and recordings with such artists as Art Farmer, Stefon Harris, Kenny Werner, Billy Hart, Mark Murphy, Randy Brecker, Dave Liebman, Janis Siegel, and Bobby McFerrin.

The Western Jazz Quartet has performed from Boston to Los Angeles, and tours regularly world wide. It has been featured at festivals in Canada, Europe and the U.S., and at a week of performances at La Villa in Paris, France. The group was honored with sponsorship by the Arts America Program and often tours as artistic ambassadors for the US Department of State including Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Poland, Italy and Slovenia. The quartet has also toured Europe four times with pianist Wlodek Pawlik, drum legend Billy Hart, and jazz legend Randy Brecker. The Western Jazz Quartet has released five CDs in the United States: Mayan Myths (2006), Premiere (2005), with trumpeter Scott Cowan; and Sabine’s Dance (2000), Blue Harts (1995) and Firebird (1992) with Billy Hart. Both Firebird and Blue Harts received top reviews in Down Beat magazine, with Firebird being named one of the best CD’s of the 1990s. The group has released several CD’s in Europe with pianist Wlodek Pawlik: Waning Moon (2000) on Universal Mercury Records; Turtles (1996), with Randy Brecker, on Polonia Records; and Live at the Jazz Club Aquarium (1995) with Billy Hart on the Koch International label.

In April of 1996, the quartet was invited to tour Thailand in honor of the 50th anniversary of the king’s accession to the throne. The Western Jazz Quartet has recently been appearing throughout the United States as soloists with symphony orchestras performing Patrick Williams’ “An American Concerto” and other works. As members of the contemporary music ensemble, OPUS 21, the WJQ has premiered over a dozen new works in New York City since 2004.

“…imaginative with brilliant flashes of impeccable technique, and a persistence of serious musical intensity.” -The Chronicle

Visit the Western Jazz Quartet Website for more information.

Jazz Combos

Jazz Combos form the creative heart of the WMU Jazz Studies program, and are coached by the entire faculty and guest artists. Students choose their own band members and musical direction. The resulting eclectic range of styles is inspiring, and has produced groups dedicated to music ranging from the Blue Note tradition to Tango Nuevo, the Brasil Project, and other world music, the avant garde, and everything in between. Over the years, a number of these ensembles have had commercially released CDs.