The Jazz Ensemble performs under the direction of Mr. Brad Jepson and meets on Mondays/Wednesdays after school from 4:15pm-5:45pm and it is an auditioned ensemble. They regularly perform at the Southern Wesleyan University Jazz Fest, Mauldin Jazz Fest, and the Greer International Festival in Greer Park.
Any Mann Band Student that is interested in auditioning for the Jazz Band is welcome to. Please look at the audition requirements below!
Jazz Band
Jazz Audition Material
1. Prepare the selected audition material for your instrument.
2. Record a video audition of your audition.
3. Upload your video to the Google Drive Folder Here
4. You can also upload your video to YouTube as unlisted and email it to brad.jepson@gmail.com
5. AUDITIONS ARE DUE ON NOVEMBER 6th, 2025 by 11:59PM! (Failure to upload your audition video will result in not participating in the Mann Jazz Band)
What To Play
Wind Instruments (saxophone, trumpet, trombone, etc)
-
One minute (or less) of anything you’d like!
-
Your favorite two major scales on your instrument – you choose how you play it, how many octaves, etc.
-
The melody to the song Tenor Madness below.
-
An improvised solo on the blues progression from Tenor Madness (Bb concert). The chord progression is provided below. Please play with a backing track like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1B0Nzy9dSI&list=RDB1B0Nzy9dSI&start_radio=1 Play it on some sort of speaker and then play your solo over the top of that so that we can hear you and the play-along.
Guitar/Piano/Vibraphone
-
One minute (or less) of anything you’d like!
-
Your favorite two major scales on your instrument – you choose how you play it, how many octaves, etc.
-
The melody to the song Tenor Madness below.
-
An improvised solo on the blues progression from Tenor Madness (Bb concert). The chord progression is provided below. Please play with a backing track like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1B0Nzy9dSI&list=RDB1B0Nzy9dSI&start_radio=1 Play it on some sort of speaker and then play your solo over the top of that so that we can hear you and the play-along.
Bass
-
One minute (or less) of anything you’d like!
-
Your favorite two major scales on your instrument – you choose how you play it, how many octaves, etc.
-
The melody to the song Tenor Madness below.
-
A one chorus walking bass line to Tenor Madness.
-
An improvised solo on the blues progression from Tenor Madness (Bb concert). The chord progression is provided below. Please play with a backing track like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1B0Nzy9dSI&list=RDB1B0Nzy9dSI&start_radio=1 Play it on some sort of speaker and then play your solo over the top of that so that we can hear you and the play-along.
Drums
-
One minute (or less) of anything you’d like!
-
Play 16 measures of each of these grooves:
-
Medium Swing
-
Bossa Nova
-
Your favorite funky groove
-
Tenor Madness Concert Pitch Treble Clef
Tenor Madness Concert Pitch Bass Clef
Tenor Madness Concert Pitch for Bb Instruments (trumpet, tenor saxophone)
Tenor Madness Concert Pitch for Eb Instruments (alto and baritone saxophone)
Blues Progression in Bb concert for concert pitched instruments (including bass and
trombone)
Blues Progression in Bb concert for Bb instruments (trumpet and tenor saxophone)
Blues Progression in Bb concert for Eb instruments (alto and baritone saxophone)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)