The Jazz Ensemble is one of thirteen student jazz groups
at DePaul University, performing several times throughout the
academic year both on and off campus.
The band performs regurlarly at Chicago's premier jazz
club, Joe and Wayne Segal's Jazz Showcase.
Since Bob Lark's appointment as Director of Jazz Studies and director
of the Jazz Ensemble, the band has appeared at the Midwest Clinic
(2004, 1998, 1994), the International Association for Jazz Education
Conference, the Duke Ellington International Conference, the
National Association of Music Merchants Conference, the Jazz
Party At Sea aboard the S.S. Norwegian Sun, twice aboard the Queen
Elizabeth II ocean liner for their Annual Flooting Jazz Festival, and a
concert tour of Italy.
An annual recording project by the Jazz Ensemble featuring student,
faculty, and commissioned works occurs each spring. These
recordings have produced a number of awards from the Jazz
Educator's Journal, Down Beat and JazzTimes magazines.
Swingchronicity (Jazzed Media) features guest alto saxophone soloist
Phil Woods with the DePaul Jazz Ensemble in live performances at
Chicago's Jazz Showcase.
The DePaul Jazz Ensemble and Slide Hampton features
performances by the band from a 2005 concert tour of Italy and at
Chicago's Jazz Showcase.
The Jazz Ensemble has recorded a number of CD's with legendary jazz
artists, including Phil Woods, Clark Terry, Bob Brookmeyer, Jim
McNeely, Tom Harrell, Louie Bellson, Frank Wess, Slide Hampton and
Bobby Shew, as well as Chicago Symphony Orchestra members
Charles Vernon and John Bruce Yeh.
at DePaul University, performing several times throughout the
academic year both on and off campus.
The band performs regurlarly at Chicago's premier jazz
club, Joe and Wayne Segal's Jazz Showcase.
Since Bob Lark's appointment as Director of Jazz Studies and director
of the Jazz Ensemble, the band has appeared at the Midwest Clinic
(2004, 1998, 1994), the International Association for Jazz Education
Conference, the Duke Ellington International Conference, the
National Association of Music Merchants Conference, the Jazz
Party At Sea aboard the S.S. Norwegian Sun, twice aboard the Queen
Elizabeth II ocean liner for their Annual Flooting Jazz Festival, and a
concert tour of Italy.
An annual recording project by the Jazz Ensemble featuring student,
faculty, and commissioned works occurs each spring. These
recordings have produced a number of awards from the Jazz
Educator's Journal, Down Beat and JazzTimes magazines.
Swingchronicity (Jazzed Media) features guest alto saxophone soloist
Phil Woods with the DePaul Jazz Ensemble in live performances at
Chicago's Jazz Showcase.
The DePaul Jazz Ensemble and Slide Hampton features
performances by the band from a 2005 concert tour of Italy and at
Chicago's Jazz Showcase.
The Jazz Ensemble has recorded a number of CD's with legendary jazz
artists, including Phil Woods, Clark Terry, Bob Brookmeyer, Jim
McNeely, Tom Harrell, Louie Bellson, Frank Wess, Slide Hampton and
Bobby Shew, as well as Chicago Symphony Orchestra members
Charles Vernon and John Bruce Yeh.
"It's one of the best big band programs in the nation producing first
rate players. Bob makes sure the students don't just play the parts.
It isn't just playing ensemble (symphony orchestras do that!).
Improvisation is what it's all about. Bob's band spends equal time on
harmonic knowledge and improvisation skills; it shows what a big
band is about. The solo is the jazz specialty and Bob has some of the
best soloists around."
- Phil Woods
"As you can hear from this recording, Bob Lark has a fine band to be
proud of, full of fine soloists playng wonderful arrangements. This live
recording is a great example of how a jazz band should sound.
My compliments to Bob Lark and the DePaul University Jazz
Ensemble."
- Joe Lovano, commenting on the DePaul University Jazz Ensemble recording
Live At The Jazz Showcase (DPUJE004)
"Playing and working with the DePaul University Jazz Ensemble under
the direction of Bob Lark was really a ball! A fantastic program, a
terrific band with many excellent soloists!"
- Marvin Stamm
"The DePaul University Jazz Ensemble is one of the finest college
bands today. I've played with this wonderful band many times. Director
Bob Lark has assembled a well-balanced unit with excellent soloists
in every section."
- Louie Bellson
"The DePaul University Jazz Ensemble is a fantastic band, a
marvelous band!'
- Clark Terry
"Recently, I had the pleasure of performing with the DePaul University
Jazz Ensemble, and one thing was wonderfully obvious right off the
bat: this band swings...HARD!
They play it all, old or new, swing, rock or Latin, and they play it with a
contemporary sound and mature energy."
- Steve Houghton
"I've had the great pleasure of working with Bob Lark and his student
in the DePaul University Jazz Studies program on a number of
occasions over the last dozen years. One of the many strengths of the
DePaul program is the number and talent of the student arrangers,
and they're well represented on this CD by Darrell Wyatt, Kavin Fort,
Steve Thomas and Ian Torres."
- Jim McNeely, commenting on the DePaul University Jazz Ensemble
recording Woodlands, featuring guest alto saxophone soloist Phil Woods.
"The band has a real working ensemble sound, not at all accademic. It
is not that they don't play with precision or sound well rehearsed; on
the contrary, they do all that and more."
- Tim Ries
"One of the definitive Jazz Masters, trombonist/arranger/composer
Slide Hampton, is a special guest on this stunning outing by the
DePaul University big band, under the superlative talents of
leader/trumpeter Professor Bob Lark (a Master in his own right!)."
- Phil Woods, commenting on the DePaul University Jazz Ensemble
recording The DePaul University Jazz Ensemble with guest artist Slide
Hampton.
"I've been aware of the band since visiting the school and being
treated to a very high level rendition of my own music."
- Kenny Werner
rate players. Bob makes sure the students don't just play the parts.
It isn't just playing ensemble (symphony orchestras do that!).
Improvisation is what it's all about. Bob's band spends equal time on
harmonic knowledge and improvisation skills; it shows what a big
band is about. The solo is the jazz specialty and Bob has some of the
best soloists around."
- Phil Woods
"As you can hear from this recording, Bob Lark has a fine band to be
proud of, full of fine soloists playng wonderful arrangements. This live
recording is a great example of how a jazz band should sound.
My compliments to Bob Lark and the DePaul University Jazz
Ensemble."
- Joe Lovano, commenting on the DePaul University Jazz Ensemble recording
Live At The Jazz Showcase (DPUJE004)
"Playing and working with the DePaul University Jazz Ensemble under
the direction of Bob Lark was really a ball! A fantastic program, a
terrific band with many excellent soloists!"
- Marvin Stamm
"The DePaul University Jazz Ensemble is one of the finest college
bands today. I've played with this wonderful band many times. Director
Bob Lark has assembled a well-balanced unit with excellent soloists
in every section."
- Louie Bellson
"The DePaul University Jazz Ensemble is a fantastic band, a
marvelous band!'
- Clark Terry
"Recently, I had the pleasure of performing with the DePaul University
Jazz Ensemble, and one thing was wonderfully obvious right off the
bat: this band swings...HARD!
They play it all, old or new, swing, rock or Latin, and they play it with a
contemporary sound and mature energy."
- Steve Houghton
"I've had the great pleasure of working with Bob Lark and his student
in the DePaul University Jazz Studies program on a number of
occasions over the last dozen years. One of the many strengths of the
DePaul program is the number and talent of the student arrangers,
and they're well represented on this CD by Darrell Wyatt, Kavin Fort,
Steve Thomas and Ian Torres."
- Jim McNeely, commenting on the DePaul University Jazz Ensemble
recording Woodlands, featuring guest alto saxophone soloist Phil Woods.
"The band has a real working ensemble sound, not at all accademic. It
is not that they don't play with precision or sound well rehearsed; on
the contrary, they do all that and more."
- Tim Ries
"One of the definitive Jazz Masters, trombonist/arranger/composer
Slide Hampton, is a special guest on this stunning outing by the
DePaul University big band, under the superlative talents of
leader/trumpeter Professor Bob Lark (a Master in his own right!)."
- Phil Woods, commenting on the DePaul University Jazz Ensemble
recording The DePaul University Jazz Ensemble with guest artist Slide
Hampton.
"I've been aware of the band since visiting the school and being
treated to a very high level rendition of my own music."
- Kenny Werner
Quotes in support of The DePaul University Jazz Ensemble:
DePaul Jazz Ensemble Schedule
Saturday, February 27th, 7pm
Badger High School, Lake Geneva, WI
concert performance
featuring the Jeff Hamilton Trio
with the DePaul Jaz Ensemble
Thursday, May 20th through Sunday, May 23rd
8pm & 10pm (4pm Sunday matinee in place of
10pm set)
Jazz Showcase, Chicago
guest soloist Ira Sullivan with
the DePaul Jazz Ensemble
Thursday, June 3rd, 8pm
Student Center, DePaul University, Chicago
concert performance
Saturday, February 27th, 7pm
Badger High School, Lake Geneva, WI
concert performance
featuring the Jeff Hamilton Trio
with the DePaul Jaz Ensemble
Thursday, May 20th through Sunday, May 23rd
8pm & 10pm (4pm Sunday matinee in place of
10pm set)
Jazz Showcase, Chicago
guest soloist Ira Sullivan with
the DePaul Jazz Ensemble
Thursday, June 3rd, 8pm
Student Center, DePaul University, Chicago
concert performance
