Jazz and Contemporary Improvisation
At New England Conservatory, jazz runs hot in young musicians' veins. It means the blaze of improvisation and individual creativity, the warmth of interaction in small ensembles. Experimentation is encouraged. And that's cool!
This tradition goes back to 1969, when NEC launched the first fully accredited jazz studies program at a music conservatory. A few years later came the launch of the equally innovative Third Stream program—now known as Contemporary Improvisation.
Upcoming performances
During August, NEC jazz concerts come in two forms: on-campus performances by ensembles enrolled in our summer session, and the new Commonwealth Concerts series on the Boston Common. When the regular academic year resumes in September, many big concerts produced by the jazz and Contemporary Improvisation departments take place in NEC's Jordan Hall—but don't miss the extensive bookings in our jazzy new performance spaces, Pierce Hall, as seen in the video clip on this page.
2010-07-22 SCE jazz ensemble
2010-07-28 SCE jazz ensemble
2010-08-03 SCE jazz ensemble
2010-08-05 SCE jazz ensemble
2010-08-05 SCE jazz ensemble
2010-08-05 Commonwealth Concerts: Jazz + Othello
2010-08-06 Commonwealth Concerts: Jazz + Othello
2010-08-07 SCE jazz ensemble
2010-08-07 Commonwealth Concerts: Jazz + Othello
2010-08-08 Commonwealth Concerts: Jazz + Othello
2010-08-10 Commonwealth Concerts: Jazz + Othello
2010-08-11 SCE jazz ensemble
2010-08-11 Commonwealth Concerts: Jazz + Othello
2010-08-14 Commonwealth Concerts: Jazz + Othello
2010-08-15 Commonwealth Concerts: Jazz + Othello
2010-08-18 SCE jazz ensemble
2010-09-01 Jazz department jam
2010-09-07 Contemporary Improvisation department concert
2010-12-07 NEC Jazz Composers' Workshop Orchestra
2011-02-22 Contemporary Improvisation department concert
More 2010/2011 concert links are coming soon. For updates on NEC's jazz concerts, bookmark this page, signup for NEC e-mail news, follow us at twitter.com/necmusic, or become a fan of facebook.com/necjazz.
Latest news
2010-04-06 - Jerusalem Post review of "Art-i-facts" CD (one of 3 CDs reviewed)
2010-03-31 - review in Examiner.com
"The New England Conservatory: shaping New York's music scene"
2010-03-29 - Pianist Jason Moran joins NEC jazz faculty. Read more.
2010-02-22 - Trombonist Luis Bonilla joins NEC jazz faculty. Read more.
Study jazz at NEC
- Explore College jazz studies at NEC.
- Explore College Contemporary Improvisation studies at NEC.
- Explore Preparatory jazz studies at NEC.
- Explore Continuing Education jazz and Contemporary Improvisation studies at NEC, including Certificate program. Play side by side with professional musicians!
More on jazz and NEC
NEC jazz musicians have received many awards and honors, including Grammy Awards, MacArthur Fellowships, the Rome Prize, and being named NEA Jazz Masters.
Jazz conversation with NEC faculty Ken Schaphorst, David Zoffer, Hankus Netsky.
2010-08-03
FELIX MENDELSSOHN