The Art of the Jazz Orchestra

Big-band jazz takes center stage as Frost School of Music student musicians explore the color, power and flexibility of the large ensemble at UM Gusman Concert Hall. Presented Wednesday, September 9, as part of Frost Music Live’s 2026-2027 season, the concert is directed by John Daversa and Etienne Charles.

The program highlights the jazz orchestra as both a vehicle for tightly arranged ensemble writing and a setting for improvisation, with Frost’s student artists navigating shifting textures, rhythmic interplay and the broad expressive range of the big-band tradition. Daversa and Charles bring complementary perspectives as performers, composers and bandleaders, shaping an evening centered on ensemble musicianship and contemporary jazz practice.