Troy High Jazz

The Troy High Jazz Ensemble is a small, exclusive group of musicians who practice during fourth hour of the school day. This ensemble consists of two subsections, the horns and the rhythm section. The horns include alto saxophones, two tenor saxophones, two baritone saxophones who make up the sax section, as well as the brass section, made up of four trombones, one bass trombone and three trombones, and four trumpets. Rhythm section, perhaps the most important section, is made up of drums, piano, guitar, upright and electric bass, and possibly vibraphone. Vocalists are also sometimes added as a soloist for vocal arrangements. These two subsections, horns and rhythm, are must combine under the guidance of a director, to produce wavelengths known to an audience as music.

Passionate, dedicated, and accomplished, the students who make up the Troy High Jazz Ensemble have worked years to bring to life the little black marks on paper composers have written down years before. The honking saxs, rich trombones and bellowing trumpets combine with the impeccable timing of the rhythm section to bring new life to each chart played. Improv soloists create flowing, artistic ideas that “form an intricate maze” of notes and rhythms, sounding rousing cheers from any audience. The full forte of the entire ensemble almost the audience from direct contact with their ears. Then the ensemble draws in ears with a quiet, piano section that seems to flow as smoothly as any river. The ensemble is not simply a group of students going to another fourth hour at Troy High School, it is a group of talented musicians compounding their musical knowledge to create a musical experience like no other.