Jazz & Improvisation

Jazz and
Contemporary Improvisation

At New England Conservatory, jazz runs hot in young musicians' veins, with the blaze of individual creativity, the warmth of group interaction. 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. Our Contemporary Improvisation program has launched new sounds since 1974.

Upcoming performances

2012-05-18 From Route 66 to Blue in Green
2012-05-25 Eyran Katsenelenbogen Trio
2012-05-31 Groovin' High to Round Midnight

2012–2013 season

Concert dates are in, program information will become available over the summer. For updates on NEC's jazz concerts, bookmark this page, signup for NEC e-mail news, follow us at twitter.com/NEC_concerts, or become a fan of facebook.com/necjazz.

2012-09-04 Back-to-School Contemporary Improvisation Concert
2012-09-13 Music of Marty Ehrlich
2012-10-15 Music of Ken Schaphorst
2012-10-18 Tribute to Bob Brookmeyer
2012-10-26 Contemporary Improvisation 40th anniversary concert
2012-10-29 Brando Noir
2012-11-12 Pierce Jazz Series
2012-11-13 Pierce Jazz Series
2012-11-14 Pierce Jazz Series
2012-11-15 Pierce Jazz Series
2012-11-16 Pierce Jazz Series
2012-11-19 NEC Jazz Composers Ensemble
2012-11-20 Pierce Jazz Series
2012-11-26 Pierce Jazz Series
2012-11-27 Pierce Jazz Series
2012-11-28 Pierce Jazz Series
2012-11-29 NEC Jazz Orchestra + Schaphorst
2012-11-30 Pierce Jazz Series
2012-12-03 Pierce Jazz Series
2012-12-04 NEC Jazz Composers' Workshop Orchestra + Carlberg
2012-12-06 Pierce Jazz Series
2012-12-07 Pierce Jazz Series
2012-12-12 NEC Youth Jazz Orchestra + Schaphorst
2012-12-31 First Night
2013-01-28 Jazz Faculty Spotlight
2013-02-19 Contemporary Improvisation student projects
2013-02-22 NEC Jazz Orchestra + Schaphorst
2013-03-12 Fred Hersch
2013-03-14 Music of Dave Holland
2013-04-01 Pierce Jazz Series
2013-04-02 Pierce Jazz Series
2013-04-03 Pierce Jazz Series
2013-04-04 NEC Jazz Composers Ensemble
2013-04-05 Pierce Jazz Series
2013-04-08 Pierce Jazz Series
2013-04-08 Contemporary Improvisation student projects
2013-04-09 Pierce Jazz Series
2013-04-10 Pierce Jazz Series
2013-04-11 Jazz: The Next Generation
2013-04-15 Honors Ensembles: Jazz/Wild Card
2013-04-16 Pierce Jazz Series
2013-04-17 Pierce Jazz Series
2013-04-18 NEC Jazz Orchestra + Schaphorst
2013-04-22 Pierce Jazz Series
2013-04-23 NEC Jazz Composers' Workshop Orchestra + Carlberg
2013-04-25 Pierce Jazz Series
2013-04-29 Pierce Jazz Series
2013-04-30 Pierce Jazz Series
2013-05-15 NEC Youth Jazz Orchestra + Schaphorst
2013-05-18 NEC Commencement Concert

Past performancess

2011-08-31 Jazz Jam Session
2011-09-06 Contemporary Improvisation Concert
2011-09-08 Barn Dance
2011-09-12 Joe Maneri's Microtonality workshop
2011-09-14 Maneri Improvisation Workshop
2011-09-15 The Legacy of Joe Maneri panel discussion
2011-09-15 Joe Maneri tribute
2011-10-13 Schuller conducts music from Ellington, Kenton bands
2011-10-18 Dave Holland: ensembles masterclass
2011-10-19 Dave Holland: big band composition lecture
2011-10-20 Dave Holland: Music for Big Band
2011-10-31 Shadow of a Doubt
2011-11-02 Jazz arrangements of Mahler songs
2011-11-05 Simón Bolívar Big Band Jazz
2011-11-14 Pierce Jazz Series
2011-11-15 Pierce Jazz Series
2011-11-16 Sheila Jordan workshop
2011-11-21 NEC Jazz Composers Ensemble
2011-11-28 Pierce Jazz Series
2011-11-29 Jason Moran masterclass
2011-11-29 Pierce Jazz Series
2011-11-29 Mahler in Chinatown
2011-11-30 Pierce Jazz Series
2011-11-30 Des Knaben Wunderhorn for jazz orchestra and vocalists
2011-12-01 Music of Ken Schaphorst
2011-12-05 Pierce Jazz Series
2011-12-06 Jason Moran masterclass
2011-12-06 NEC Jazz Composers' Workshop Orchestra
2011-12-08 Pierce Jazz Series
2011-12-08 Steve Lacy: Vespers
2011-12-09 Miguel Zenón masterclass
2011-12-12 Pierce Jazz Series
2011-12-13 Pierce Contemporary Improvisation Series
2011-12-14 Pierce Contemporary Improvisation Series
2011-12-15 Pierce Jazz Series
2011-12-16 NEC Youth Jazz Orchestra
2011-12-31 First Night: NEC Youth Jazz Orchestra
2012-01-28 Today's Youth Perform Today's Music improvisation students
2012-01-30 Jazz + Contemporary Improvisation Faculty Spotlight
2012-01-30 Jason Moran: entrepreneurial symposium
2012-01-31 Jason Moran: solo piano masterclass
2012-02-01 Jason Moran: trio masterclass
2012-02-02 Jason Moran: In My Mind
2012-02-03 Han Bennink + Mary Oliver masterclass
2012-02-13 Music of Anthony Coleman
2012-02-21 Orient/Occident
2012-03-02 Butch Morris at ICA/Boston
2012-03-04 Bob Nieske 4
2012-03-08 Music of Jaki Byard
2012-03-26 Dave Holland Musical Language and Discussion
2012-03-27 Dave Holland ensembles masterclass
2012-03-29 Music of Dave Holland
2012-04-02 Pierce Jazz Series
2012-04-03 Pierce Jazz Series
2012-04-04 Pierce Jazz Series
2012-04-09 Pierce Jazz Series
2012-04-09 Beckett Play
2012-04-10 Pierce Jazz Series
2012-04-11 Jazz: The Next Generation
2012-04-12 NEC Jazz Composers Ensemble
2012-04-15 Walking between the Worlds with Eden MacAdam-Somer
2012-04-15 Barn Dance with Eden MacAdam-Somer
2012-04-16 Couples' Therapy + Dr. Special honors ensembles
2012-04-17 Pierce Jazz Series
2012-04-18 Pierce Jazz Series
2012-04-19 El Visionario: Music of Bob Moses
2012-04-23 Pierce Jazz Series
2012-04-24 NEC Jazz Composers' Workshop Orchestra
2012-04-25 Pierce Jazz Series
2012-04-26 Fred Hersch: Leaves of Grass
2012-04-30 Pierce Contemporary Improvisation Series
2012-05-01 Pierce Contemporary Improvisation Series
2012-05-02 Pierce Jazz + Contemporary Improvisation Series
2012-05-08 David Devoe Vocal Ensemble
2012-05-09 John Zorn: Cobra
2012-05-16 NEC Youth Jazz Orchestra + Schaphorst

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.

2012-05-17