Jazz Orchestra
SUJO is Southampton University's auditioned big band! We are a Jazz group made up of 21 talented musicians who perform regular gigs across campus and around Southampton. Our recent highlights include being live with BBC Radio Solent, playing at the Concorde Club in Eastleigh and hosting a workshop with renowned saxophonist Richard Exall! Drop us an email... sujo1@soton.ac.uk
We run a rehearsal each week on a Tuesday evening from 6:45-9:30pm (with a break in the middle) and then at least one gig per term but are hopefully offering a wider range of opportunities this year! Repertoire is decided by committee, however we are open to suggestions, and tries to cover a variety of styles to suit everyone's taste throughout the year.
The main focus is to have an enjoyable and fun time whilst also playing charts to a high standard (and cooking like there's no tomorrow!😎). There will be a few main socials throughout the year and smaller ones more regularly to keep that band spirit alive. It is all student led and at the end of the year, anyone has the opportunity to go for an elected role on the committee.
Auditions will be on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th September and will take the format of:
1. 10 minutes before in a practice room to unpack and warm up
2. Playing the head(tune) of a piece chosen from an email sent 2 weeks before auditions with a live rhythm section (unless you are a rhythm section instrument where you will have a horn playing the head instead)
3. Soloing over the solo section wherever that may be in your piece
4. Playing the rest of the piece and cuing the end
5. Sightread a short extract from a jazz piece
6. Have a quick chat about why you and jazz get on!
Sign ups for auditions https://forms.gle/VKSrBBfrcQh6JmMD9
Audition charts for instrumentalists/rhythm are:
Anthropology
Birks works
Groove merchant
My little suede shoes
Nardis
Straight no chaser
Take five
Wave
(If you are auditioning for bass and would like to do either Groove merchant or Birks works send me an email and I will try and source parts)
And vocalists:
All of me
Don’t get around much anymore
Fly me to the moon
Misty
Exactly how you perform them is up to you, but a recommended structure could be once round the piece, solo once or twice round the head then play the last section out – cuing the rhythm section (or horn if you are rhythm) as clearly as you can! There are different style recordings out there but definitely have a listen to the original to get a feel for the piece.
The format of the auditions for each section will be as follows:
Saxes, trombones, trumpets
You will play through the piece of your choice, including soloing, with the rhythm section backing
You will then have a melody line to sightread with a minute to look through and try it out before playing unaccompanied
We will have a chat about what you know and some of the things you told about us – all informal!
Keys, guitar and bass
You will play through the piece of your choice once, including soloing, with the rest of the rhythm section. Then go through the head again accompanying a horn and finally both play the head out to finish - as long as you cue it, it will be fine if it’s a bit different!
You will then have a notated melody line (not chords) to sightread with a minute to look through and try it out before playing unaccompanied
We will have a chat about what you know and some of the things you told about us – all informal!
Drums
You will play through the piece of your choice with a horn playing the melody, then trade 4s with keys or horn over the solo section. The rest of the rhythm section will play with you so make sure to lead cues to them!
You will then be asked to show us some rudiments(e.g. paradiddles, double strokes, triplets)
You will then have notated hits to sightread with a minute to look through and try it out before playing unaccompanied
We will have a chat about what you know and some of the things you told about us – all informal!
Singers
You will be expected to sing your chosen piece, including a scat solo, with the rhythm section backing and cue the cut off at the end
You will then have a range test with some scales
We will have a chat about what you know and some of the things you told about us – all informal!
Music will be provided on the day along with a music stand and a Google Drive folder is attached with them all in - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/16C9PS-nhPMhqbDL3wfQF8p5QElY5AxGb?usp=sharing
Come to our Bunfight stall on Thursday 26th September to talk to us and find out more!
Keep in updated here:
https://www.youtube.com/user/sujosoton
https://www.instagram.com/sujosoton
Listen to our 2024 Rep on Spotify... https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5OqQaK3vezYYYxn4f4szb7?si=cb0d6f4dbbd84cdf
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The Committee
All clubs and societies within the Students' Union are run entirely by students. The student committee for Jazz Orchestra this year are:
Librarian
Musical Director
President
Publicity/Social Media Officer
Secretary
Social Secretary
Tour Secretary
Treasurer
Welfare Officer
Membership Information
These are the current membership fees offered by Jazz Orchestra, although many clubs and societies offer a free period for new members to try out their activities.
Name | Cost | Valid Period | Details | |
---|---|---|---|---|
SUJO Standard Membership (YEAR) | £25.00 | 30/09/2024 - 30/06/2025 | Membership allows and obliges an individual to partake in all the band's activities. This includes rehearsals and gigs for the year. The member is expected to attend all of these unless a valid reason is given with an appropriate notice period. Membership fees go towards paying sound technicians, using a PA, buying music and subsidising socials, merch etc | |
SUJO Vocalist Membership (YEAR) | £15.00 | 30/09/2024 - 30/06/2025 | This membership is reduced to reflect that singers are not expected to attend every rehearsal and will participate less often. Membership allows and obliges an individual to partake in all the band's activities. This includes rehearsals and gigs for the year. The member is expected to attend all of these unless a valid reason is given with an appropriate notice period. Membership fees go towards hiring instruments and PA, buying music and subsidising socials, merch etc | |
Sound technician | FREE | 30/09/2024 - 30/06/2025 | The individual who will setup sound equipment for concerts and be in charge of operating them. Brings panda and any other special equipment. |
Constitution
All SUSU clubs & societies must have a Constitution which governs how they run
Download ConstitutionHealth & Safety
All clubs & societies are required to risk assess their activity to ensure it is carried out in a safe manner for members. Current risk assessments for Jazz Orchestra are available to view below
Upcoming Events
Check out our upcoming events below: