Jazz Articles

University of Toronto 10 O'Clock Jazz Orchestra: Awakening

by Jack Bowers
January 11, 2007

Here's today's trivia question: How can one separate Canada's A-level university jazz ensembles from their working professional counterparts? The answer: One can't. At least, not if said undergrad ensembles are from Montreal's McGill University or the University of Toronto, either of which readily bears comparison to that country's (or any country's) more seasoned play-for-pay bands.

Awakening, the third album I've heard by UT's splendid 10 O'Clock Jazz Orchestra (I presume that's am, not pm), clearly proves the point (again). Director ...

The University of Toronto 10 O'Clock Jazz Orchestra: Off the Cuff

by Jack Bowers
June 1, 2002

The second recording by the University of Toronto's well·upholstered 10 O'Clock Jazz Orchestra is an uncommonly bright and burnished two·disc symposium, the first half of which is devoted entirely to the music of composer / arranger / pianist Jim McNeely. When one considers that the university's Jazz Performance Degree was established little more than a decade ago and that there are no more than sixty full·time students in its Jazz Studies program, Off the Cuff represents a truly remarkable achievement. ...

The University of Texas Jazz Orchestra: Sixth Floor Jazz

by Jack Bowers
June 1, 2000

This is the second recording I’ve heard by the UT Jazz Orchestra. The first, Loose Ends, encompassed a five–year period during which UT’s Jazz Studies program housed a number of remarkable players including saxophonists Jeff Benedict and Charlie Richard, trumpeters Steve Hawk and Tom Tallman, trombonist Gary Smith, guitarist Dave Burdick and drummer Roger Schupp. Sixth Floor Jazz redeems the promise shown in that earlier scrapbook. For that, the recording engineer should be applauded almost as earnestly as the ensemble ...