JAZZ
Hudson High School is known throughout the area for its excellent Jazz program. The Hudson High School Jazz Ensembles consist of traditional big bands with opportunity for small group (combo) experience. Each ensemble experiences a varied repertoire of jazz styles from 1900 - today including swing, funk, be-bop, latin and rock. All jazz ensembles require an audition prior to the start of each school year. All musicians enrolled in band, choir and orchestra playing saxophone, trombone, trumpet, piano, bass, drum set, guitar and vocals are eligible for membership (with the exception of guitar and piano).
Jazz I is directed by Mr. Roberto Iriarte. Jazz II is directed by Mr. John Burrington.
The Hudson High School Music Association supports the Hudson Jazz program by raising funds which pay for music, equipment, and experiences which enrich our students' jazz education such as master classes, clinics and concerts with national and international jazz artists and participation in local and regional jazz festivals. Annual fundraising includes Tag Day, Concessions, and our Evening of Jazz benefit event. Past events include organizing and administering the Hudson Jazz Fest and other concerts featuring visiting guest artists.
JAZZ ENSEMBLES
Hudson Jazz ensembles are extra-curricular and rehearse after school two or three times each week, from 3:15 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.
- Jazz Ensemble I: This premier performing group places strong emphasis on advanced high school and collegiate repertoire, requiring jazz improvisation from all selected musicians. The musicians enjoy numerous performances per school year throughout Northeast Ohio, including invitational jazz festivals and special performances. Jazz Ensemble I rehearsals are from late September through Memorial Day on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 3:15-4:30 p.m.
- Jazz Ensemble II: This intermediate band performs intermediate literature to develop jazz style and jazz improvisation through the big band experience. The musicians enjoy several performances per school year throughout Northeast Ohio, including invitational jazz festivals and special performances. Jazz Ensemble II rehearses starting with the conclusion of marching band through Memorial Day on Tuesday and Thursday from 3:15-4:30 p.m.
The Jazz directors may modify the weekly rehearsal schedule as needed throughout the year. Students are expected to check their school email regularly to stay updated about rehearsal changes and other important Jazz info.
JAZZ I & JAZZ II EVENTS
- HHS December Holiday Assembly (Jazz I)
- Evening of Jazz Benefit (January)
- Hudson PTO Pancake Breakfast (March)
- Hudson Jazz Spring Awards Concert (May)
- Hudson Summer Music Festival (Memorial Day, May)
Questions? Contact Mr. Iriarte (iriarter at hudson.k12.oh.us)
Jazz Student Organization
The Hudson High School Jazz Ensembles consist of 2 traditional big bands with opportunity for small group (combo) experience. Each ensemble experiences a varied repertoire of jazz styles from 1900 - today including swing, funk, be-bop, latin and rock. All jazz ensembles require an audition. All musicians who are enrolled in a music department ensemble playing saxophone, trombone, trumpet, bass, drums, and vocals are eligible for membership. Any pianists or guitarists are eligible.
More information:
Having a Private Event? Consider the Hudson High School JAZZ COMBO!
Select students from Jazz I may be invited to participate in the Hudson High School Jazz Combo, which performs at school, community and local business events. The combo consists of piano, drums, bass, plus some combination of trumpet, saxophone and/or trombone. They perform a variety of jazz standards. A vocalist can also be included. If you are interested in having the HHS Jazz Combo perform at your event, please email jazzvp.hhsma at gmail.com
Fundraising for Hudson Jazz
Because it is extra-curricular, Hudson Jazz must raise the funds needed to pay for equipment, music, festival fees, guest artists, clinicians, special events and other activities. The Hudson High School Music Association supports Hudson Jazz with a portion of Concessions and Tag Day revenue.
The largest fundraiser of the year is our Evening of Jazz benefit event, which raises funds exclusively for Hudson Jazz. This event is held offsite and features performances by HHS Jazz I, Jazz II and the Hudson Middle School Jazz Band—plus a coffee & dessert buffet, silent auction and raffle. Other, smaller fundraisers to benefit Hudson Jazz may be held during the year as necessary.
If you are interested in serving on the Evening of Jazz benefit committee, please contact the Jazz VP.
Hudson Jazz Fest
Every 2 or 3 years, Hudson Jazz presents a Jazz Festival which usually features a ticketed concert presented by a professional Jazz artist or group. Past festivals have featured the Loud Horns, Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, Conrad Herwig, and Columbus Jazz Orchestra. Keep your eye on the HHSMA calendar for any upcoming scheduled events!
Jazz Band Guest Artists and Clinicians
Each year, Hudson Jazz brings in national and international Jazz clinicians and artists to provide hands-on clinics and master classes with our students. We also take our students to master classes given in other locations.
In 2015, for instance, Jazz I and Jazz II attended a master class and concert presented by world-renowned Jazz Sax artist Chris Potter at BLUJazz+ in Akron. Our Jazz students also worked with local Jazz professionals Jack Schantz (trumpet) and Bobby Selvaggio (Sax) during clinics at Hudson High School.
In 2016 and 2017, Jazz I traveled to the University of Cincinnati Conservatory to participate in the regional Essentially Ellington Festival where they worked with staff members from Jazz at Lincoln Center.
In 2019, Hudson Jazz was invited to host a Tri-C JazzFest Education Day! We also welcomed the University of North Texas One O’Clock Lab Band, plus several visiting high school jazz bands, for a day of adjudicated performances, clinics, master classes and a daytime concert. This was an in-school field trip for all of our Jazz students.
Jazz Band Concert Attire
Concert attire for Hudson Jazz is long-sleeved black shirt, long black pants and black dress shoes, with a Jazz tie that is provided by the Hudson High School Music Association. Students receive their ties before the first concert of the year and can keep them after the year ends.
From the University of North Texas website
Additional Information
The University of North Texas College of Music developed the first jazz studies program in the nation, and it remains one of the top schools for Jazz. The One O’Clock Lab Band is the premier performing ensemble of the University of North Texas jazz studies program. Alan Baylock is director of the One O’Clock Lab Band. With an unprecedented seven Grammy nominations (Lab 2009 received double nominations for "Best Large Jazz Ensemble" and "Best Instrumental Composition" for Ice-Nine composed by Steve Wiest) resulting from the library of over fifty critically acclaimed Lab Band recordings to date, the One O’Clock Lab Band is noted for exceptional individual musicianship and tight ensemble performance. One O’Clock Lab Band concerts feature the Stan Kenton and Maynard Ferguson libraries (both housed exclusively at North Texas), original compositions by Grammy-nominated composers Neil Slater and Steve Wiest, jazz faculty member Rich DeRosa, and the wealth of compositions and arrangements in the UNT jazz library written by current and former North Texas students.
Courtesy of the University of North Texas