Jazz students in the School of Music on Parade concert
Director: Miles Osland | Course No: MUC 175/675
Rehearsal Schedule: Jazz Ensembles rehearse four hours per week
Audition Requirements: The audition process consists of performing a prepared piece and sight-reading. Improvising is required for students who wish to perform in a combo or play a solo chair in an ensemble. Auditions are held at the beginning of each semester and are open to the entire university community.
A very active group on the road, the University of Kentucky Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Miles Osland has toured the Mid-West and South including performances in Chicago, Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, Louisville, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Georgia, and invitational performances at the International Association of Jazz Educators Conference and the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. In July 2011 UKJE and the Osland/Dailey Jazztet toured France, Switzerland and the Netherlands, performing at the world’s most prestigious jazz festivals.
The band is also very busy in the recording studio. Five recordings from the Jazz Studies department have been recommended for Grammy nominations and received four-star reviews from DOWNBEAT magazine.
"...the UKJE characterizes the best of today’s college band output." -DOWNBEAT Magazine
"Jazz Studies Director and flutist/saxophonist Miles Osland solos on the last two numbers and if his playing is a fair indication of his pedagogical abilities, then it is easy to see why he has turned out so many good students." -DOWNBEAT Magazine
"You wouldn’t believe these are students! Not only is their sheer technical virtuosity amazing, but they also play authentically and expressively." Jazz Times
"Precision in the ranks, superb soloists, and dramatic use of dynamics make this unit one of the best of its style." -Jazzlz
The UKJE has twice been awarded the Outstanding Jazz Ensemble certificate at Annual Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival and multiple times at the Elmhurst Jazz Festival. Two combos from the jazz studies program (UK JazzCats & UK Mega-Sax I) have received numerous outstanding ratings at the Elmhurst College Jazz Festival. Dozens of students have also been awarded the Outstanding Performer certificate at the festival. The Jazz Ensemble has also received the prestigious DeeBee award in the category of Best Jazz Instrumental Studio Orchestra from DOWNBEAT magazine.
The band has been featured with many national touring artists including: Bill Watrous, David Liebman, Tom Harrell, Doc Severinsen, Louie Bellson, Clark Terry, Mel Torme, Diane Schuur, Phil Woods, Randy Brecker, Bobby Shew, Bob Mintzer, Jamey Aebersold, and many others.
Director: Miles Osland | Course No. MUC 172/570
Rehearsal Schedule: The Mega-Sax ensembles rehearse two hours per week
Audition Requirements: The audition process consists of performing a prepared piece and sight-reading. Improvising is required for students who wish to perform in a combo or play a solo chair in an ensemble. Auditions are held at the beginning of each semester and are open to the entire university community.
"Osland's Mega-Sax Ensembles can compete with any fully professional jazz orchestra anywhere in the world. They're that good." Lynn Rene Bayley, The Art Music Lounge
Miles Osland established the Mega-Sax program at the University of Kentucky in 1989. This creation was inspired by his experience as a member of the SuperSax group led by Lanny Morgan (founding member of the original “Supersax”) at the Los Angeles Jazz Workshop, and Saxology directed by Ramon Ricker at Eastman School of Music.
The program at the University of Kentucky consists of Mega-Sax ensembles performing in quartets and quintets, with and without a rhythm section. It is Professor Osland’s intent to increase the awareness of this musical genre through live performances and recordings by Mega-Sax.The top Mega-Sax group has already made great strides towards this goal with featured performances at the Elmhurst (IL) Jazz Festival, the New England (MA) Saxophone Symposium, and a standing room only concert at CAV Nite Club in Providence, Rhode Island. The group has also been featured with Greg Abate at the Blue Wisp Jazz Club in Cincinnati, Ohio and performed in concert with Sony Latin recording artist Ed Calle.
The ensembles’ debut recording, We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Rhythm Section, was chosen to be featured on the Jazz South Radio Show, which is broadcast on over 250 NPR stations across the globe. The CD was also recommended for a Grammy nomination by Sea Breeze Vista Records, and received a “four-star” review from Downbeat magazine. The group is a three-time winner of the prestigious Downbeat Student Music Awards in both classical and jazz categories.