sisters in jazz information
Applications must be received by October 15th, 11:59pm.
All applicants must be:
- A full-time college student, concurrently taking a minimum of 12 undergraduate hours or six graduate hours
- A JEN Full Individual or eJEN Member
All applicants must submit the following by October 15th:
1.An application form
2. Recording Submission: Preferred format mp3 (M4A or wav files also accepted)
Four individual audio recording files of your best playing, total recording time not to exceed 25 minutes. (Video recordings not accepted.):
- a ballad
- a medium-tempo blues (swing)
- an up-tempo rhythm changes tune (swing)
- a straight eighth tune (Latin, rock, funk, or original composition)
Vocalists and horn players: play the head, take several choruses of solo and take the head out.
Pianists, bassists and guitarists: comp the changes or walk a chorus before soloing if not also accompanying a horn or vocal soloist and demonstrating those abilities. Using an existing recording that is not specifically in this format will be also be accepted, however.
Drummers: Everyone should play “Now’s the Time” as the blues selection and play the melody orchestrated around the set on the head in and out. Blues and rhythm changes should include trading 4s or full chorus solos. One tune, either blues or rhythm changes should include time playing with brushes as well as sticks. If some individual tracks are longer and include several soloists, indicate on the application at what time trading or solo choruses begin on those tracks.
3. One letter of recommendation
- You will submit the email address of one recommender in your application.
- Upon submission of the application, they will receive an email with a link to upload the letter on your behalf to Acceptd.
4. A bio, resume, or CV listing pertinent musical experiences.
5. A copy of college transcript or other proof of concurrent full-time enrollment in an accredited college, university, or conservatory (a minimum of 12 undergraduate or six graduate hours)
2021
JORDYN DAVIS
Jordyn Davis is a bassist, composer, songwriter, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist from Inkster, MI. In May 2019, Davis became the first African-American woman to receive a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Composition from Michigan State University, and the first Michigan State student to receive a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Composition and Jazz Studies concurrently. She has composed & arranged over 20 works for film, various contemporary classical chamber ensembles, symphony orchestra, wind ensemble, as well as various jazz ensembles including octet, and big band.
Jordyn’s works have been performed at the Detroit Institute of Art, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Guarneri Hall in Chicago, the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and more. Additionally, she is the founder of an indie rock/neo-soul project called “Composetheway” and is currently pursuing a Masters in Jazz Studies at Michigan State University.
MINNIE JORDAN
Minnie Jordan is a violinist and composer currently splitting her time between Massachusetts and Texas. Although currently primarily studying Jazz at the Berklee Global Jazz Institute, she has years of experience playing Bluegrass, Western Swing, Classic Country, New Acoustic, and Classical music.
In 2019 she graduated summa cum laude from Berklee College of Music and was accepted on full scholarship into the Berklee Global Jazz Institute, where she is pursuing her Master’s degree.
Minnie has studied with some of music’s most gifted contemporary teachers and players, including John Patitucci, Danilo Perez, Terri Lyne Carrington, Joe Lovano, Billy Contreras, and Buddy Spicher, among others.
Minnie has performed and/or taught clinics at the Dominican Republic Jazz Festival, Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, FreshGrass, Southwest Pickers Bluegrass Festival, and other festivals and venues across the country. She has performed with renowned musicians across many genres, including Luciana Souza, Chico Pinheiro, Rushad Eggleston, Tony Trischka, and Roy “Futureman” Wooten, and as part of the BGJI Big Band featuring Joe Lovano, Danilo Perez, Ben Street, and Bill Dobbins.
In addition to being a talented musician, Minnie is a passionate educator, dedicated to sharing her love of music, art, history, and literature with the younger generation.
MEGHAN LOCK
Meghan Lock is a professional drummer who, at 18 years of age, has traveled the country participating in workshops and festivals. She has received scholarships to participate in the Telluride Jazz All-Stars, The Brubeck Summer Jazz Colony, The Berklee Global Jazz Institute at the Newport Jazz Festival, and Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Summer Jazz Academy. In August of 2020, Meg joined the Bosphorus Cymbals family as an Endorsed Artist.
As a Freshman studying Jazz Studies at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance, Meg aspires to create a career geared around Jazz education and performance, where she can carve her own unique path with her sticks.
ALEXANDRA RIDOUT
Alexandra Ridout is from London, England. She began playing the trumpet at age 9. At 14 she began studying at The Royal Academy of Music Junior department. In 2015 she was one of only two UK students to be chosen to attend the Brubeck Institute’s Summer Jazz Colony at UOP in Stockton, CA.
Alexandra has received many awards including The BBC Young Musician Jazz Award 2016, the British Jazz Awards ‘Rising Star’ 2018, and was a nominee for the Parliamentary Jazz Awards in 2020.
She performs nationally with many bands including her own Quintet and has recently released her own EP of original duo music with guitar called ‘Remote duets’.
Alexandra is featured on a few albums including The Clark Tracey Quintet ‘No Doubt’, Yazz Ahmed ‘Polyhymnia’, Snow Patrol ‘Wildness’ , Patchwork Jazz Orchestra ‘The light that shines’ and Tom Ridout ‘No Excuses’.
Alexandra currently studies jazz performance at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
YVONNE ROGERS
Yvonne Rogers is a pianist and composer from Penobscot, Maine. She is a senior at the Eastman School of Music, studying Jazz Performance in the studio of Gary Versace. Concurrently, she is pursing a degree in African and African American Studies at the University of Rochester.
During her college career, Yvonne has made Dean’s list every semester. She has performed at the Rochester International Jazz Festival as a winner of the Rochester International Jazz Festival Scholarship. She has performed with various ensembles at Eastman, as well as regularly performing her original music for trio and quartet. In 2018, Yvonne was selected as a mentee for the Women in Jazz Organization’s Mentorship Program, during which she worked with Rachel Z Hakim. She has also been selected to participate in the 2020 season WIJO Mentors. In February, Yvonne was honored to be awarded the prestigious Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award. Additionally, she was thrilled to be accepted to the 2020 Banff International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music.
SAMANTHA SPEAR
Sam Spear is a Boston-based saxophonist, composer, and educator. She is pursuing a master’s degree in Jazz Performance at New England Conservatory and earned a bachelor’s degree from Berklee College of Music in Performance and Jazz Composition. Spear studied composition with Frank Carlberg, Ken Schaphorst, and Ayn Inserto.
