Small jazz ensemble playing will join big band adjudication as a spotlight event, with Penn State faculty leading jam sessions for all levels throughout the day Saturday. All events are free, unticketed, open to the public, and hosted at the Penn State School of Music on the University Park campus.
First come first serve high school registrations! Register now using this form to save your spot today!
The Ray Conniff Jazz Ensemble Series
Christine Jensen, director of Eastman Jazz Orchestra
Dave Rivello, director of Eastman New Jazz Orchestra
The Eastman New Jazz Orchestra was established to showcase the finest contemporary music from around the world written for jazz ensemble. Performing repertoire primarily from the last 20 years, the New Jazz Orchestra plays music not often heard or yet recorded, and frequently premieres new works, including those of student writers. In 2009 this ensemble was the Downbeat Student Music Award winner for Best College Big Band. They also hosted Bob Brookmeyer’s 80th birthday celebration, with Bob in attendance, and performed new music from Jim McNeely, Bill Holman, John Hollenbeck, Ryan Truesdell, and Dave Rivello — all works that were commissioned specifically for this special event. They have also performed at the NYS Music Educator’s Conference with guests Denis DiBlasio and Mike Kaupa. Featured guest composers have included Bob Brookmeyer, Bill Holman, Jim McNeely, Fred Sturm, Rich Perry, Dick Oatts, Ralph LaLama, Dave Liebman, Maria Schneider, Ellen Rowe, Joey Sellers, John Hollenbeck, Ryan Truesdell, Mike Kaupa, Nathan Parker Smith, and Jennifer K. Bellor.
Lead by composer Dave Rivello, the New Jazz Orchestra is open to Eastman students by audition only. Like the Eastman Jazz Orchestra, it performs in concert at Eastman at least twice per semester, in addition to occasional outside performances.
Performers
NDR Bigband
Ingrid Jensen trumpet
Christine Jensen saxophone
Kris Davis piano
director Nikki Iles
Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra
featuring Ingrid Jensen
Guest Artist with Seattle Women’s Organization Jazz Orchestra
Celebration of Women in Jazz is a full day of workshops and concerts, designed to encourage and empower developing young jazz musicians. Featuring Eastman Jazz faculty members including Juno winner Christine Jensen and GRAMMY Award® winner Sara Gazarek alongside trumpet phenom Milena Casado, it provides hands-on opportunities for improvisation, interactive learning, and networking.
Schedule for the Day:
8:30am Registration in Wolk Atrium
Attendees should plan to check in for the day between 8:30am-8:55am in Wolk Atrium
9:00am Keynote Address with Terri Lyne Carrington
10:15am Instrument Breakout Sessions
11:30am Faculty Performance
12:30pm Lunch with Moderated Q&A with Faculty Artists
1:30pm Special Topics Masterclasses
2:30pm Improvisation Workshops
3:30pm Open Jam with all Participants & Closing Session
This is a free event, open to students ages 14- 25 of all abilities. Lunch and snacks will be provided.
David Restivo – piano
Christine Jensen – saxophone
Fraser Hollins – bass
Guillaume Pilote – drums
Christine Jensen
Faculty, Big Band Director
SATURDAY AFTERNOON MAINSTAGE CONCERT
McCurdy Pavilion
Saturday, July 26 1:30 p.m
Christine Jensen and the Centrum All Star Big Band Featuring Ingrid Jensen
SUNLIFE UPTOWN WATERLOO JAZZ FESTIVAL
Christine Jensen – saxes
Gary Versace – piano
Adrian Vedady – acoustic bass
Jim Doxas – drums
HALIFAX JAZZ FESTIVAL
Christine Jensen – saxes
Gary Versace – piano
Adrian Vedady – acoustic bass
Jim Doxas – drums
Featuring a performance from the Oscar Peterson Centennial Quartet and the Oscar Peterson Centennial Jazz Orchestra and very special guest director, GRAMMY Award-winning bassist, composer, arranger, and bandleader John Clayton.
LE STUDIO, TD MONTREAL INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL
Christine Jensen – saxes
Gary Versace – piano
Adrian Vedady – acoustic bass
Jim Doxas – drums
TD VICTORIA INTERNATIONAL JAZZFEST
Christine Jensen – saxes
Gary Versace – piano
Adrian Vedady – acoustic bass
Jim Doxas – drums
JAZZYYC SUMMER FESTIVAL
Christine Jensen – saxes
Gary Versace – piano
Adrian Vedady – acoustic bass
Jim Doxas – drums
SASKTEL BASSMENET CLUB
Christine Jensen – saxes
Gary Versace – piano
Adrian Vedady – acoustic bass
Jim Doxas – drums
Edmonton International Jazz Festival
Christine Jensen – saxes
Gary Versace – piano
Adrian Vedady – acoustic bass
Jim Doxas – drums
Regina Jazz Fest
Co-presented with Jazz Bistro
Christine Jensen – saxes
Gary Versace – piano
Adrian Vedady – acoustic bass
Jim Doxas – drums
Special Guest – Donny Kennedy
Toronto Jazz Fest
Co-presented with Jazz Bistro
Christine Jensen – saxes
Gary Versace – piano
Adrian Vedady – acoustic bass
Jim Doxas – drums
Ottawa Jazz Festival
Christine Jensen – saxes
Gary Versace – piano
Adrian Vedady – acoustic bass
Jim Doxas – drums
- May 12-16: Director- Conn-Selmer Centerstage Jazz Band
- May 13: Eastman Jazz Ensemble @ Musicfest Canada
Guest Artist
The Manhattan School of Music Jazz Orchestra
Guest Artist
Concert tickets are available for purchase at uitickets.com
Guest Artist
Guest Artist
The annual UNH jazz festival features guest artists, UNH jazz faculty, the UNH Jazz Band, and high school students from throughout New England. and New York. The UNH jazz faculty enjoyed a long-standing relationship with jazz great, Clark Terry. In his honor and name, the Music Department holds an annual jazz festival. The festival includes adjudicated performances by high school groups, clinics and performances by guest artists and UNH students, and gala concerts by guest artists and the UNH Jazz Band.
Each year, the festival attracts jazz groups from 55-60 high schools throughout New England and New York. Performing groups include high school big bands, jazz combos, jazz choirs, as well as solo vocalists. All groups are adjudicated and given written and recorded comments.
Big band leader, arranger, and soprano saxophonist performs with CapU’s rising jazz stars.
Fee: $35
Christine Jensen – Guest Artist/Conductor
Jazz Ensemble 2
Tickets for Eastman’s Faculty Artist Series are $10 for the general public and free to URID holders. General Admission tickets will be available for purchase at each concert.
JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ANNOUNCES SECOND ANNUAL “THE UNITY JAZZ FESTIVAL”
Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra featuring Ingrid Jensen
After its successful debut in 2024, the Unity Jazz Festival returns to Jazz at Lincoln Center .
Album launch of CODE RED
CODE Quartet is a collective based out of Montreal. Formed four years ago by Christine Jensen on saxophones, Lex French on trumpet, Adrian Vedady on acoustic bass, and Jim Doxas on drums, the group came together with the equal goals of composing and improvising in a chordless-quartet setting.
Concerts & Workshops
Christine Jensen Quartet with Dave Restivo
Phil Dwyer and Friends
Christine Jensen Quintet
Laila Biali (leader) – piano/vocals, Ben Wittman – drums, Jeff Campbell – bass, Christine Jensen – sax
Showtimes
Thu, Jun 27 – 6:00 PM, Montage Music Hall,Club Pass or $30/door
Thu, Jun 27 – 10:00 PM, Montage Music Hall, Club Pass or $30/door
Fri, Jun 28 – 6:15 PM, Max of Eastman Place, Club Pass or $30/door
Fri, Jun 28 – 10:00 PM, Max of Eastman Place, Club Pass or $30/door
The great American pianist and composer, Marc Copland returns to Montreal to perform his unique brand of lyrical jazz pianism. Marc has been busy in 2011 with the release of Crosstalk with Greg Osby, Doug Weiss, and Victor Lewis, and notable week-long engagements at the legendary Village Vanguard (with the Greg Osby group) and Birdland (with Gary Peacock and Victor Lewis.
Marc Copeland – piano
Christine Jensen – saxophone
Adrian Vedady – bass
Kevin Warren – drums
15$ 1 set – 25$ 2 sets
The Canadian jazz musician Christine Jensen is back with her third jazz orchestra album, “Harbour.” She tells Tom about a track called “Fantasy On Blue,” which was inspired by Miles Davis’s famous jazz album “Kind of Blue.”
Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival 2024
Hosted by NEA Jazz Master Dee Dee Bridgewater
features the dynamic post-bop stylings of Ingrid Jensen and the Center Song Project. Led by the award-winning Native American vocalist, Julia Keefe’s Indigenous Big Band joins the lineup to showcase the Indigenous roots of jazz through a groundbreaking 16-piece ensemble of all-star American Indigenous musicians.
Reserve tickets for Sat., May 11 here.
with Ira Coleman & Louis Vincent Hamel
Christine Jensen-saxophones
Steve Amirault-piano
Ira Coleman -contrebasse
Louis-Vincent Hamel-drums
Latest News
Recordings
Harbour – Released June 26, 2024
