Jazz Ensemble

The 2025 All-State Jazz Band will be conducted by Mr. Ronald Wilkins, Shires trombone artist and New York musician. Click here to learn more about Mr. Wilkins.

YEAR D Errata to Bass Trombone Part (missing 1st and second endings in some additions)

ATSSB has commissioned a piece for the All-State Jazz Band that will be premiered at the February concert! Details to come!

Directors

To get started in this year’s Jazz auditions:
1) Be sure you are a current active member of ATSSB – click here to join!
2) Visit the following page for forms and rules – click here!
3) Order your copy of the music from Buddy Mattei – click here!
4) Check your region’s page for audition date.
5) Tips and suggestions for students (amp settings, cymbal usage, and more) – click here!
6) Practice loop of the chord changes for the improv audition piece can be found on our YouTube channel. – click here!

The music is designed with small schools in mind! Directors can rehearse each selection with any combination of players since each is written for full ensemble.

There are no changes to Set D since it was last used in 2019-2020. If your Set D is labeled “Edited As of 2019-2020” you have the latest version.

NOTES:
1 – Drum auditions for Area must be performed on an acoustic drumset.
2 – Trumpet players must audition on trumpet, not flugelhorn (yes, the demo on the CD may be a flugelhorn, but we don’t use flugel for the auditions).
3 – Guitar players may use an electric or acoustic guitar. If electric, must not use effects pedals.
4 – Piano players may use an acoustic, digital or electronic piano. If digital/electronic, the patch setting must be grand piano/piano (not organ, jazz organ, etc.)

Here’s the screenshot of the rules page:

Region Coordinators

The AREA audition tracks are HERE. The page’s password will be sent to each region coordinator only.
Here’s a checklist which shows what’s involved in the region and area jazz auditions. Click here to view.

Area Listening Panels

Regions adjudicating the Area auditions on November 10 are:

Alto sax – Region 2 (area North)
Tenor sax and Bari sax – Region 23 (area Central)
Trumpet – Region 6 (area West)
Tenor trombone – Region 3 (area North)
Bass trombone – Region 18 (area Central)
Piano, Guitar, Bass – Region 12 (area South)
Drums – Region 4 (area East)