Jazz Ensemble & Combo

The Jazz Program at CCSU

CCSU currently offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Jazz Studies. The Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combos have performed often since 1997 including every year (except 2008) at the prestigious Villanova Jazz Festival where they placed third in 2001 and 2005 and second in 2007. In 2007 and 2009 saxophonist Andrew Lefebvre won the outstanding soloist award, the only student in recent history to win this award twice. In 2010 CCSU won best trumpet section, best rhythm section and placed second overall. Alvaro Maldonado (trombone) won the outstanding soloist award marking the fifth time a ccsu student has won this award!

Guest performers have included Andrew Speight, Conrad Herwig, Phil Wise, Denis DiBlasio, Doug Maher, David Santoro, Tom Melito and Larry Gareau. The jazz faculty at CCSU includes Dr. Carl Knox – Jazz Ensemble, saxophone, jazz improvisation and jazz history, Tom Melito - drums and jazz combo, Rich Goldstein- guitar, Larry Gareau - trumpet and jazz history and Noah Baerman - jazz piano.

Jazz Ensemble

The Jazz Ensemble at CCSU is directed by Carl Knox and consists of approximately twenty auditioned musicians majoring in a variety of subjects. This select group rehearses twice weekly and performs at a variety of venues each semester.

Grand Central

This select group consists of six or seven musicians and performs both standard repertoire of jazz small groups as well as original compositions. All arrangements are written by the student members of this group.

Central Station

This group consists of six to ten auditioned musicians and performs standard jazz repertoire as well as original compositions and arrangements written by the members of the group.