It’s hard to imagine an American University without a jazz band, but with Jazz Studies forming a major subject for study in the CSUN Department of Music, few American universities have a Jazz Band to rival that of the CSUN Jazz ‘A’ Band. The CSUN Jazz ‘A’ Band isn’t just a well known and respected jazz band on the College circuits or just in the USA; the CSUN Jazz ‘A’ Band has also toured all over Europe and has even toured in China, the Far East and Australia.

Jazz Studies at CSUN

2008 saw CSUN celebrates its 50th anniversary, when its first cohort of students, numbering just 2500, began their studies in September of that year. Just three years later, in 1961, a music building, Cypress Hall, with a 400 seat theatre had been added and Jazz Studies became firmly established in the universities Department of Music. Jazz Studies now falls under the auspices of the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication. Mike Curb is himself an alumnus of CSUN and lists songwriting, record production and owning his own record company amongst his achievements. Whilst membership of the various Jazz bands at CSUN isn’t restricted to those following a music curriculum at the university, with so many talented jazz musicians enrolled on the Jazz Studies courses it would be particularly difficult to break into the top jazz band at CSUN - the Jazz ‘A’ Band.

Achievements of the CSUN Jazz ‘A’ Band

Regularly performing t at the Reno and Monterey Jazz Festivals - the CSUN Jazz ‘A’ Band is acknowledged and respected as one of the best university jazz bands that could be asked to play at any event. In 2008 the Jazz ‘A’ Band won the 2008 Monterey ‘Next Generation’ Big Band Award and other recent awards include winning the 2005 and 2006 Collegiate Jazz Ensemble competitions. Needless to say the CSUN Jazz ‘A’ Band also performs and competes at various college and university jazz festivals and competitions such as the California Music Educator’s Association and the International Association of Jazz Educators. The renown of this university jazz band can be attested to by the fact that their recordings are played on radio stations around the world. The Jazz ‘A’ Band currently has two recordings released, their CSUN Originals and CSUN Originals II - Rain Song. All of the tracks on both of the releases contain compositions and arrangements by CSUN students and feature guest musicians such as saxophonist Tim Ries.

The CSUN Jazz ‘A’ Band

The Jazz ‘A’ Band itself is, obviously, an off-shoot from the CSUN Jazz Studies Department. The Director of Jazz Studies - Matthew Harris - is also the director and conductor of the Jazz ‘A’ Band. A jazz pianist of some renown himself, before moving into the world of academia Matt has worked and toured with some of the best and greatest jazz and other performers such as; Buddy Rich, Maynard Ferguson, Andy Williams and Tom Jones. Ever keen to retain his links with contemporary jazz and jazz musicians he still performs all over the world and is frequently asked to deliver ‘guest’ lectures and workshops internationally. Needless to say the line-up in the Jazz ‘A’ Band can change from one semester to another. Alumni to have passed through its ranks include: Gordon Goodwin, a pianist and saxophonist who graduated in 1978. Apart from a glittering career as a performer, in 2006 he was awarded the Grammy Golden Gramophone for his arrangement of ‘The Incredits’ for the Pixar film - The Incredibles. He has also received three Emmy awards for his numerous TV and Film projects, which are simply too numerous to mention. Another alumnus of the CSUN Jazz ‘A’ Band is Andrew Surmani; who since leaving CSUN has gone on to establish a successful music publishing business. He is a past President of the CSUN Youth Orchestra and a founding member of the Jazz Education Network. The CSUN Jazz ‘A’ Band also attracts many international stars of jazz to perform with it. Recent guest artists with the Jazz ‘A’ Band include: saxophonist and three times Grammy winner - Brandford Marsalis, pianist Kenny Werner and singer Jeanne Pisano - whose husband, John, teaches guitar in the CSUN Jazz Studies Department.