Big Bands

The URI Jazz Big Band has performed at Lincoln Center, taken first place at the MIT New England Intercollegiate Jazz Festival, and performed at many concerts and events on campus and throughout New England. To accommodate the ever-growing program the University currently supports two jazz big bands reflecting different emphases, the C100 Jazz Big Band, directed by Mark Berney and B101 Jazz Big Band, directed by Joe Parillo, who is also the music department’s Jazz Program director. In addition, there is also the URI Traditional Jazz band directed by Gary Buttery, which encompasses early jazz including Dixie style but also early Ellington, Henderson, and more.

Jazz Ensembles

Traditional Jazz Band with Ellis Marsalis (at the piano)	The ensembles service approximately 100 music majors and minors each semester. The groups include a traditional Dixieland jazz combo, a modem jazz ensemble as well as an experimental jazz group. Audio Sample

A sample listing:

URI Monk & Mingus Ensemble, Directed by Eric Hofbauer
URI Afro-Cuban Ensemble, Directed by Eric Platz
URI Super Sax Ensemble, Directed by Jared Sims
URI Standards Combo, Directed by Dave Zinno
URI Traditional Jazz band, Directed by Gary Buttery

URI Jazz Weeks and Festival

The URI Music Department hosts world-renowned jazz artists at the annual URI Jazz and World Music Festival, in which students are major participants, performing in concert and learning in Master Classes. Past guest performers have included Phil Wilson, Gary Burton, Slide Hampton, Hal Crook, Joanne Brackeen, David Friesen, Jeff Jarvis, Bob Mintzer, the Woody Herman Band, Jay Hoggard, and the Duke Ellington Orchestra.

The Music Department also hosts the Rhode Island Music Educators High School Jazz Festival each year, bringing talented young pre-college musicians to perform and learn in a university environment.

In addition, URI’s big bands and ensembles present a series of concerts during one week each semester to showcase works from their current repertoire.