Well-known in college music and jazz circles, students in this program can participate
in the Lamont Jazz Orchestra, Lamont Jazz Ensemble, University Jazz Ensemble, Standards,
Bebop, Hard Bob, Latin, Modal, Contemporary, Fusion, Vocal Jazz, Vocal Repertoire,
and Free Improvisation Combos, which serve as laboratories for jazz and commercial
music composition students.
Lamont jazz faculty coach all these groups. Many graduates of this program have become professional musicians, performing with major touring groups and developing solo careers. Recent guest artists who have performed or presented master classes include Benny Golson, Cyrus Chestnut, Joshua Redman, Christian McBride, Jamey Aebersold, Clark Terry, David Pietro, Mel Martin, Art Lande, Myra Melford, Joseph Jarman, Michael Formanek, Clay Jenkins, Kim Richmond, Richard Boukas, Jovino Santos Neto, Eric Barber, John Fedchock, Jonathan Kreisberg, Kneebody and Frank Mantooth.
