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New UIS Jazz Combo welcomes musicians

January 17, 2006

SPRINGFIELD – The Jazz Combo, a new music group at the University of Illinois at Springfield, will hold tryout sessions for anyone interested in performing in this ensemble. Try-outs are scheduled for Monday evening, January 23, in room 33 of the Communication, Psychology, and Visual Arts Building on the UIS campus. Sessions must be scheduled in advance; other dates are available upon request.

Musicians from all backgrounds, traditional and non-traditional, are encouraged to try out.  Prepared pieces are welcome, but not required. Musicians may also perform scales, exercises, or any other musical material that demonstrates instrumental or vocal range, tone, and technical facility.  

The ensemble will be led by Brian Pryor, local band leader and jazz trumpeter.  “Participants will have the opportunity to perform at a high level, in a small group setting, while learning approaches to contemporary and classic jazz literature,” he noted, adding that the combo will focus on ear training and improvisation through the performance of classic and contemporary jazz compositions, including Latin, cool, swing, and bebop. 

Pryor has performed with many first-call jazz musicians in the region.  He is a graduate of the jazz program at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and completed an M.A. at UIS, where he now teaches as an adjunct faculty member.

Regular meeting time for the Jazz Combo will be 7 to 9 p.m. on Mondays.  Students admitted to study at UIS who would like to earn academic credit should enroll in MUS 305D Instrumental Music Ensemble. Regular UIS tuition and fees will be assessed.