Audition materials

Thank you for your interest in auditioning for the UWL jazz ensembles. This page contains everything you need to know about the audition process.

• Auditions are for placement in Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Orchestra, and combos.
• Auditions take place each Fall during the Sunday and Monday of Labor Day weekend.
• Updated audition materials are posted on August 1 of each year. See posted materials below.

If in doubt...audition

The most essential quality in a member of a jazz group is the willingness to learn and be an enthusiastic ensemble member. Showing up for an audition demonstrates this. The audition is an opportunity to play to the best of your ability and show your musicianship. We want to hear your best! However, if some part of the audition is a stretch for you, we encourage you to come in for an audition regardless. We want to meet you and discover how jazz ensembles can be a part of your musical journey in college.

Vocalists are encouraged to audition for placement in combos and/or to be featured as soloists on occasion with the Jazz Ensemble or Jazz Orchestra

Registration

Please ensure that you have enrolled in the appropriate course in WINGS (most freshmen enroll in MUS 134, Jazz Ensemble, but some may be placed into MUS 130, Jazz Orchestra). If possible, it is recommended that you leave both Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Orchestra times open until the audition results are in.

Rehearsal Schedule

Jazz Ensemble meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 12:05 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Jazz Orchestra meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. and Fridays 3:20 p.m. - 4:20 p.m.
Jazz Combos meet for two one-hour rehearsals per week. The first is a coached rehearsal and will take place for an hour between 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. on Tuesdays. The second is a self-directed rehearsal and will be arranged according to student schedules.

All groups are directed by Professor Jon Ailabouni (jailabouni@uwlax.edu). For assistance with class conflicts, contact Professor Ailabouni.

Rehearsals will begin on Tuesday, September 2, 2025 for the Jazz Orchestra and jazz combos and Wednesday, September 3, 2025 for the Jazz Ensemble

Fall 2025 Jazz Audition Times

All jazz auditions will take place in Lowe Center for the Arts, Room 56 (Band Room)

SUNDAY, August 31, 2025

• 12:00 – 2:30: SAXOPHONES
• 2:30 – 4:30: TROMBONES and VOCALS

MONDAY, September 1, 2025

• 11:00 – 12:30: TRUMPETS
• 12:30 – 4:00: RHYTHM SECTION and ANYONE WITH A PRIOR TIME CONFLICT

Fall 2025 Jazz Audition Materials

Please read the information carefully so you prepare everything you need for the audition. 

Step 1: Fill out and submit the Fall 2025 Jazz Audition form by Wednesday, August 27th.

Step 2: Sign-up for the audition. The audition sheet will be posted on or near the jazz bulletin board outside of rehearsal room 56 in the Lowe Center for the Arts. (This is where the instrumental lockers are in the lower level of the building.) 

Step 3: Prepare for the audition, using the directions below. Except for vocalists, there are three parts to the audition (part four – improvisation – is optional, but recommended):

(Vocalists: Skip parts 1-3 and go down to the section labeled “VOCALISTS.”)

PART 1 – Preparation of a jazz excerpt

1. Download the PDF file below for your instrument. All excerpts - with the exception of guitar - are taken from Count Basie band's recording of "Warm Breeze." The guitar excerpt comes from the piece “Clues Blues”. Brass players should pick the part that corresponds to their range and/or intended chair (for example, lead trumpet, lead trombone or bass trombone).
2. Prepare the music to the best of your ability. Play with a steady tempo in the appropriate style using dynamics and jazz articulations. Performance tempo should be as close as possible to what is indicated in the music. However, good time feel, musical accuracy, and style are more important than strict adherence to the marked tempo. Be sure to count carefully through rests, but if you have rests of two or more measures you may skip over those to the next entrance. Brass, if range is an issue, you may adjust the octave or choose the trombone 3 or trumpet 3 part. Try to play everything as written to the best of your ability.
3. Additional instructions are indicated in the parts.

PART 2 – Scales (horns) or demonstration of musical styles (rhythm section)

BRASS: Play a concert B-flat major scale in eighth notes to demonstrate range. (Begin on concert B-flat and play up to the top comfortable note of your range within the scale and then down to the bottom note of your range within the scale before ending on concert B-flat again.)

SAXES: Play a concert B-flat major scale slurred in eighth notes. (Begin on concert B-flat and play up to the top palm key note within the scale, down to the bottom note within the scale, and then end on concert B-flat again.) Optional - if you play flute or clarinet and have access to an instrument, you are encouraged to play to demonstrate your fluency on those instruments.

PIANO, GUITAR and BASS: Demonstrate the ability to create your part over the following chord progression. Each chord is one measure long, and you should play through the progression two times for each style indicated below. 

Ami7 | D7(b9) | GMA7 | CMA7 | F#mi7(b5) | B7(#5,#9) | Emi(MA7) | E7(b9)|.

Create an idiomatic part for the following common styles:

• Medium swing
• Fast swing (quarter note = 240 or as fast as you can play with control, accuracy, and good time)
• Bossa Nova
• Funk

Note for pianists and guitarists: on the medium and fast swing, you should "comp" - that is, to play in a non-repetitive, syncopated and largely chordal style, the way you would behind a soloist in a combo. For guitarists this means you do not need to play four quarter notes to the bar in a Freddie Green style.

DRUMS: Be prepared to play 16 measures of groove in the following styles:

• Medium Swing
• Bossa Nova
• Funk
• Samba
• Straight eighth ballad with brushes
• Fast swing tempo (quarter note = 240). If that is too fast for you, just play at your top speed where you have control and good time.

If you do not know all of the styles, just play the ones that you can.

PART 3 - Sight-Reading.

A short sight-reading excerpt will be provided at the audition.

PART 4 – Improvisation.

This part of the audition is optional but recommended for anyone who would like to take solos or play a chair that traditionally plays solos (for example, alto 1, tenor 1, trumpet 2 and trombone 1 & 2). Rhythm section members are encouraged, but not required to improvise in the audition. Plan to play on a blues in the key of your choice OR prepare a jazz standard to play.

VOCALISTS: Prepare a medium tempo jazz standard of your choice. Bring a lead sheet (melody and chords) of the tune with you in the key that you will be singing it. Scatting is optional, but most welcome. If you want to scat, it can be done on the chord changes of your prepared piece or a blues in the key of your choice.

Click on your instrument below to download a PDF file of the music.

Brass players select the part that is best for your range. (If you are interested in lead trumpet, be sure to prepare the Trumpet 1 part; if you are interested in bass trombone, please prepare the Trombone 4 part.) Here is a reference recording for the audition piece, “A Warm Breeze” and “Clue’s Blues” (guitar only)

Please contact Professor Jon Ailabouni if you have any questions.

Center for the Arts, Room 240
Office: 608-785-8417
Email: jailabouni@uwlax.edu