Ben Markley
2023 NOCO Honor Jazz Band Conductor

Ben Markley, a jazz pianist, has performed with Brian Lynch, Greg Osby, Eddie Henderson, Terell Stafford, George Garzone, and John Fedchock. Markley's latest recording project is Clockwise: The Music of Cedar Walton (OA2 records).  Markley, along with special guest trumpeter Terell Stafford, celebrates one of the more influential and beloved figures in jazz through this unique project, showcasing many of the late pianist and composer Cedar Walton's most revered tunes through new arrangements for big band. Performing iconic compositions such as 'Hindsight,' 'Bolivia,' and 'Holy Land,' Markley brings together fellow faculty members from the University of Wyoming and top-flight Denver-area musicians to produce an honest and swinging recording that honors Cedar Walton while presenting his music in a bright new light. The album received great critical acclaim and was selected as one of the best 4 star rated albums of 2017 by DownBeat magazine

Markley is active as a composer and arranger with many big band and vocal jazz charts published through UNC Jazz Press. Recent arranging commissions include the Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia and Wyoming Jazz Educators All-State Jazz Band. Compositions from Markleyʼs first two albums have earned him ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Awards. Markley was selected to participate in the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead program held at the Kennedy Center.
Markley’s book A Practical Approach to Improvisation - The David Hazeltine Method was published by Jamey Aebersold Jazz in December of 2014. It documents David Hazeltine’s process of creating etudes from transcriptions. 
Markley is an active performer in the Denver-metropolitan area and along the front range. He can be seen regularly at in Ft. Collins as part of the Subterranean jazz trio at Ace Gillett's Lounge.
Markley currently serves as Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Wyoming where he directs and coaches the Wyoming Jazz Ensemble, and combos. He also teaches applied jazz piano, improvisation and is the director of the UW Jazz Festival. ​

NoCo Honor Jazz Band Dates

Thursday, April 6 - rehearsal 5:00 to 9:00 @ Timnath MHS
Friday, April 14 - rehearsal 4:30 to 8:30 @ Timnath MHS
Saturday, April 15 - Rehearsal 8:00 to noon @ Timnath MHS
Saturday, April 15 - 2:00 Concert @ Timnath MHS

NoCo Honor Jazz Band Audition Form & Instructions

NoCo Audition Form -
Please click the above link and fill this out prior to submitting your audition(s) 
Horns:

• Chromatic Scale, full range of your instrument, ascending and descending.
• Play the indicated excerpt for your instrument at the indicated metronome marking (metronome should be audible on your recording).
  • Only students interested in playing lead trumpet should record the lead trumpet excerpt.
• Two 12 bar choruses of blues in F or blues in Bb (see your director for play-along recording).
• Optional: Play the head then improvise up to 2 choruses on "Song for My Father” (see your director for play along recording).
  • Play along recordings for the F/Bb Blues and “Song for My Father” can be found on Aebersold Vol. 54 “Maiden Voyage.”

Guitar, Piano, Bass, Vibes:

• Play the indicated excerpt for your instrument at the indicated metronome marking (metronome should be audible on your recording).
• Comp 2 choruses of blues (in F or Bb) and solo 2 choruses (see your director for play along recording.)
• Optional: Play the head then improvise up to 2 choruses on “Song for My Father” (see your director for play along recording).
  • Play along recordings for the F/Bb Blues and “Song for My Father” can be found on Aebersold Vol. 54 “Maiden Voyage.”

Drum Set: 

• Play the indicated excerpts for your instrument at the indicated metronome marking (metronome should be audible on your recording).
• Play 32 bars of Samba at Half note = 100 (example pattern follows the main excerpt) in the following manner:
  • 4 bars of time/4 bars of solo fill, 4 bars of time/4 bars of solo fill, 4 bars of time/4 bars of solo fill, 4 bars of time/4 bars of solo fill… for a total of 32 bars.
• Play 64 bars of Up-tempo swing at Quarter note = 220 in the following manner:
  • 8 bars of time/8 bars solo fill, 8 bars of time/8 bars of solo fill, 8 bars of time/8 bars solo fill, 8 bars of time/8 bars of solo fill… for a total of 64 bars.

NoCo Honor Jazz Band Audition Excerpts

Please click this link to download NoCo Honor Jazz Band Audition Materials.