Under the direction of Kris Tiner, the Bakersfield College Jazz Ensemble performs several times each semester both on campus and at local concert venues. The concert repertoire spans the entire history of large ensemble jazz composition, from classic works by Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, Thad Jones, Stan Kenton, and Oliver Nelson, to premieres of original works by visiting artists and BC student composers. Guest artists who have performed with the BC Jazz Ensemble include multiple-woodwind master Vinny Golia, trombonist Michael Vlatkovich, Canadian trumpeter Paul Tynan, electric guitarist Noah Phillips, and former Tower of Power saxophonist Paul Perez. In addition to the large ensemble, advanced jazz students have the opportunity to perform at our small group concerts or in the Funk and Afro-Beat Band which provides music for a number of BC events.

Each semester the BC Jazz Ensemble hosts a Jazz Workshop series where music students have a chance to collaborate and interact with renowned creative musicians from around the world. Recent Jazz Workshop guest artists have included Vinny Golia, Paul Tynan, percussionist Tatsuya Nakatani, New York guitarist Mike Baggetta, Bay Area saxophonist Phillip Greenlief, LA saxophonist Damon Zick, San Diego percussionist-composer-instrument builder Nathan Hubbard, LA jazz poet Dottie Grossman, New York drummer Harris Eisenstadt, "Industrial Jazz" composer Andrew Durkin, and German pianist Achim Kaufmann.

The Jazz Ensemble is open to everyone who wishes to play. The Jazz Ensemble is a transferable 1.0 unit course (MUSIC B13) which is offered in both the Spring and Fall semesters each year. The class meets in the band room from 3:00 pm - 4:25 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more information contact director Kris Tiner at krtiner@bakersfieldcollege.edu or visit our MySpace page at www.myspace.com/bakersfieldcollegejazz