Central Washington University Jazz

05/14/2026

We are proud to announce that CWU Jazz Band I has been selected as the winner of a Downbeat Award for Large Jazz Ensemble! Downbeat Magazine is the largest jazz publication there is, and to be selected for this award is a huge achievement for our students and the CWU music program! This is only the second time that CWU has received an award from Downbeat, and the first in this category! Thank you to all of the students, applied and ensemble faculty, and staff at CWU who contribute to the level of musical excellence at CWU!

09/18/2024

Jazz Audition material has been posted for F2024. Sign up for your audition time now!

Jazz Auditions

09/12/2024

Jazz ensemble audition material will be posted on Wednesday September 18. Audition is below:

Horns:
1. Chromatic scale from the lowest note on the instrument to the highest note
2. A blues head (to be released on September 18)
3. Two improvised choruses of Blues in Bb, Db, Eb, or F
4. Lead Trumpet Excerpt (Lead Trumpet Players Only)
5. Sight Reading

Rhythm Section
1. Up Tempo Swing (Lead Sheet Available on Sep 18)
2. Medium Swing (Lead Sheet Available on Sep 18)
3. Jazz Waltz (Lead Sheet Available on Sep 18)
4. Ballad (Lead Sheet Available on Sep 18)
5. Bossa/Samba (Lead Sheet Available on Sep 18)
6. Sight Reading

Combo Placemet - September 27, 2:00pm
Two Choruses of blues in Bb, Db, Eb, F (Lead Sheet Available on Sep 18)
Two choruses on a standard (Lead Sheet Available on Sep 18)

Audition Times:
Saxophone - Fri Sep 27, 9:00am-11:00am
Trumpet - Thursday, September 26, 1:00pm-3:00pm
Trombone - Wed Sep 25, 1:00pm-3:00pm
Rhythm - Thursday, September 26, 7:00pm

https://www.cwu.edu/academics/music/ensembles/ensemble-auditions/jazz-auditions.php

04/20/2024

Today is CWU's annual Women in Jazz Day! This is a student run festival, funded and organized entirely by the CWU JEN Club! This year's sessions are being streamed via zoom. Here is the link to check it out!

Presented by the CWU JEN Chapter

12/29/2023

Audition materials for W2024 have been posted! This term we will all be learning the bird head “Little Willie Leaps!” Auditions are Jan 4-5! It’s gonna be Swingin!

Jazz Auditions

12/02/2023

The CWU Jazz Ensembles are playing today! We have concert at 4:00 and 7:00! This is your chance to hear Jazz Bands I, II, & III, as well as Vocal Jazz I & II. We will be doing music by Toshiko Akiyoshi, Frank Foster, Neal Hefti, Bill Holman, Thad Jones, Mary Lou Williams, John Clayton, and Keith Karns!

If you can't make it out, here is the link for the live stream:

Afternoon of Jazz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KG3o8p7ATs

Evening of Jazz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCSMQ4Dof7g

11/13/2023

This week we are fortunate enough to welcome the great Steve Treseler to CWU for clinics, lessons, and a jam at the CWU Bistro!

11/01/2023

Tonight is the first jazz performance of the year! Come check out all three CWU Jazz Bands at the CWU Bistro! There will be music by Baise, Thad Jones, Toshiko Akiyoshi, and more!

10/19/2023

Today we are super excited to welcome the great jazz drummer Gary Hobbs to CWU! In addition to being one of the most swingin drummers around (he's played with Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Terry Gibbs, Bobby Shew, Bobby Watson, and a whole bunch of other jazz heavyweights), he is also a CWU alum!

09/12/2023

CWU jazz audition material will be posted on Thursday.