JAZZ ENSEMBLE

Castle High School has three exciting Jazz Ensembles: Trombone Jazz Ensemble (Jazz Bones and Friends), Tuesday Jazz Ensemble, and our 12 O’Clock Jazz Ensemble that is a part of our curriculum.

The Tuesday Jazz Ensemble and 12 O’Clock Jazz Ensemble are auditioned groups that have the typical Big Band Instrumentation of five saxes, five trombones, five trumpets and piano, guitar, bass, auxiliary percussion, and set.

Jazz Bones is open to all trombone players, piano, guitar, drums, auxiliary percussion, and set.

Tuesday Jazz and Jazz Bones meet after one day a week starting after the marching season.

All Jazz Studies students must be enrolled in one of our band classes.

12 O’Clock Jazz Ensemble is our premier ensemble that meets during the school day. These students get band twice a day! This group studies and performs music of the forties up to cutting edge selections from today’s modern day jazz ensembles like Gordon Goodwin, Tom Kubis, Elliott Deutsch, Doc Severinsen, Don Menza, Airmen of Note, Matt Catingub, Buddy Rich and Louis Bellson to name a few. This group performs the very top arrangements that display advanced technique and knowledge of the styles as well as a good working ability in improvisation.

This group has won many top band awards at Jazz Festival and has been the feature band at the night show of these festivals. In addition, our students in 12 O’Clock have received numerous solo awards and scholarships as a result of their performance. Our sections also have been named top section of the day at Jazz Fests. This Jazz Ensemble is the only band in the state that has been a Jazz Finalist in our ISSMA State Jazz Ensemble Finals since it began.

In 2022, the 12 O’Clock Jazz ensemble was named top band of the state at ISSMA Jazz Finals as well as winner of top soloist awards.

Auditions for this group happen typically in April or May.
Tuesday Jazz Ensemble, which starts after marching band season, meets one day a week and generally performs music from the Group I or II ISSMA list. This group performs music that mixes styles and will feature individual performers or sections. Students will get to perform music from today’s top arrangers.

Auditions for this group are usually in November.
Trombone Jazz Ensemble or better known as Jazz Bones and Friends was inspired by groups like JJ & K, Capitol Bones, The Brass Connection and Urbie Green and the 21 of the World’s Greatest Trombone Players, etc. Castle has a huge library of arrangements for just trombones and rhythm. The trombones function as the whole big band with its wide range of instruments (soprano,alto, tenor and bass trombones) and written ranges.As far as we know, there is no other high school group like this anywhere except at Castle. In addition to playing unique music, we address challenges to playing the trombone.

Audition is not required but open to all trombone players including those somewhat new to the instrument.

Our ensembles study all the facets of the jazz idiom including style, history, the jazz language, jazz theory and jazz improvisation. Our groups all perform not only locally, but in other jazz settings including traveling to University and state sponsored Jazz Festivals. At our state ISSMA Jazz Festivals, our groups have always achieved a Gold Rating, often Gold with Distinction, and many, many solo awards. These groups have also received the distinction of placing as runner ups to our 12 O’Clock Jazz Ensemble at the Indiana State University and University of Louisville Jazz Festivals.