Thursdays 8:15–9:45 pm, 9/24–12/3; No class 11/26; Performance: 12/10

RSVP / DETAILS

Explore groove-based music from Jamaica, Trinidad, Haiti, Cuba, Martinique, Colombia, Brazil, and other Caribbean and Latin American traditions. Styles may include reggae, ska, calypso/soca, son, cumbia, zouk, reggaeton, and others, with repertoire drawn from artists such as Calypso Rose, The Skatalites, Bob Marley, Kassav’, Monsieur Periné, Cimafunk, Bixiga 70, and Lakou Mizik.

Participants will study the cultural context, rhythmic language, and lyrics of each piece while developing the listening and ensemble skills needed to create a strong, stylistically grounded groove. The class emphasizes rhythmic feel, group interaction, and learning how different instrumental and vocal roles work together within each style.

The World Groove Ensemble series also includes the African Ensemble in winter and the New Orleans/Louisiana Ensemble in spring. Students may take each class separately.

Open to vocalists and all instrumentalists.

Prerequisites

Intermediate instrumental proficiency and the ability to read charts and standard notation.

Materials

Provided by instructor.

Thursdays 8:15–9:45 pm
9/24–12/3
No class 11/26
Performance: 12/10
Jennifer Jolly, $475
(in-person)

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 Jennifer Jolly

Jennifer Jolly is a San Francisco Bay Area multi-instrumentalist, composer, bandleader, and educator specializing in roots music styles. She teaches keyboard classes and ensembles in Caribbean, African, New Orleans, blues, and improvisational styles at the Jazzschool, as well as camps, clinics, after-school programs, and in her private studio.

She currently performs on keyboards, melodica, guitar, and vocals with Jennifer Jolly & Friends; Nancy Wenstrom & The Restless Girls; Jean Fineberg’s JAZZphoria; Jean Fineberg’s The Party Monsters; Big B & His Snake Oil Saviors; The Rhinestone Reinhardts; Token Resistance; and Pat Wilder, among others. Jennifer frequently guest-performs with Tom Rigney & Flambeau, Shake It Booty Band, and Creekside Community Church Worship Band, and serves as accompanist for Redwood Day School.

Previous credits include Pamela Rose’s Blues Is a Woman, Kotoja, Zulu Spear, Chelle! and Friends, Barbara Dane, David Gans & The Broken Angels, and Hot Links/Carnival.