The jazz ensemble is a standard 17-piece big band (5 saxes, 4 trombones, 4 trumpets, piano, guitar, bass, and drums) that typically performs concert big band music written for this group.
During each concert, the band performs high school to professional level big band charts and there is a conscious effort to include the greatest variety of music for each. This includes medium swing, fast swing, ballad, blues, funk, rock, solo features, mixed metre, contemporary, pop, novelty, jazz waltz, Latin, and pieces for solo voice with jazz ensemble.
Music from the finest jazz ensembles is featured including those directed by Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Maynard Ferguson, Stan Kenton, Thad Jones, Rob McConnell, Bennie Goodman, Les Hooper, Gordon Goodwin, Buddy Rich, Don Ellis, Tom Kubis, Oliver Nelson, and many others.
Musicians must join the Grande Prairie Music Society at a cost of $10/year in order to join the Jazz Band Ensemble.
There is a participant contribution of $125/session for each ensemble. Payments can be made by e-transfer to admin@gpmusicsociety.com, by cash or by cheque made out to Grande Prairie Music Society
Dr. Robert (Bob) Howey is a multi-instrumentalist specializing in clarinet, saxophone, and flute, as well as conducting, singing, and music education. His focus has been performing in and conducting music ensembles such as concert bands, jazz bands, jazz combos, choirs, rock and country bands, orchestras, and pit orchestras. As an educator, he has taught K-12 music, including general music, choir, and concert and jazz bands. His post-secondary teaching includes woodwind, music ensembles, music history, music theory and aural skills.
Dr. Bob’s extensive music education includes B.Mus. (Performance), UAlberta, B.Mus. (Mus. Ed.), USask, MMA and DMA (Instrumental Music Education), ASU. A Grande Prairie native, he currently directs the Grande Prairie Symphony Orchestra, and the Grande Prairie Symphonic Wind and Jazz Ensembles.
