Fall 2026 (3 sections)

RSVP / DETAILS

Develop the repertoire, stylistic fluency, and practical bandstand skills needed for jazz gigs and jam sessions. This ensemble focuses on commonly played standards and the conventions musicians use to navigate them effectively in performance.

Participants will learn primarily through ensemble playing, working in essential jazz styles including swing, bossa nova, jazz waltz, and ballads while developing the ability to interpret lead sheets, shape arrangements, and communicate clearly within an ensemble.

Topics include:

• Core jazz repertoire

• Intros, endings, transitions, and other basic arranging concepts

• Ensemble interaction and musical communication

• Stylistic interpretation across common jazz feels

• Practical bandstand conventions and performance preparation

Sections

Section 1
Tuesdays 6:30–8 pm
9/22–12/1
No class 11/24
Performance: 12/8

Section 2
Wednesdays 6:30–8 pm
9/23–12/2
No class 11/25
Performance: 12/9

Section 3
Saturdays 11:45 am–1:15 pm
9/26–12/5
No class 11/28
Performance: 12/13

Glenn Richman, $475
(in-person)

Prerequisites

• Working knowledge of basic jazz harmony, including major, minor, and dominant chords

• Ability to maintain steady time in an ensemble setting

• Comfort reading and interpreting lead sheets

• Some prior ensemble or combo experience

Ideal for musicians preparing for casual gigs and jam sessions or looking to expand their working knowledge of jazz standards.

Important Notes

• All ensembles culminate in a live, free performance.

• Please confirm you can attend the performance date before registering.

• A placement audition is required for new students.

How to Register

Please complete the online Ensemble Application Form below. Once we’ve received your application and, for new students, your audition recording, we’ll review your information and contact you to confirm placement. Once your placement is confirmed, we’ll send you a link to submit tuition payment. No payment is required until placement is confirmed.

Application form and audition guidelines:
Jazzschool Ensemble Application Form and Audition Guidelines

About Glenn Richman

Glenn Richman is a bassist, arranger, and educator with decades of experience performing with jazz artists including Bobby Hutcherson, Jon Hendricks, Jimmy Heath, Cedar Walton, Slide Hampton, and Chet Baker. From 2007 until Hutcherson’s passing in 2016, Richman was a core member of the Bobby Hutcherson Quartet and appears on Hutcherson’s final album, Wise One (2009).

As an educator, Richman brings extensive practical experience to the classroom. He has taught at Chabot College, the Brubeck Institute, and the California Jazz Conservatory, and currently serves on the faculty at UC Berkeley and the Jazzschool. His teaching focuses on bass performance, jazz theory, harmony, and ensemble training, all rooted in real-world musical experience.