Paul McKee
2020 NOCO Honor Jazz Band Conductor

Paul McKee, newly appointed Associate Professor of Jazz Trombone and Arranging/Composition at the University of Colorado at Boulder, received a BME from the University of Northern Iowa and an MM in Composition from the University of Texas at Austin. In 1984 he joined Woody Herman’s Thundering Herd and appeared on several Grammy-nominated recordings. Over the years Paul has served on the jazz faculty at schools including DePaul University, Youngstown State University, Northern Illinois University, the University of Missouri at Kansas City and Florida State University. Paul maintains a busy schedule as a clinician and guest artist, and his arrangements and compositions have been performed and recorded by professional and academic jazz ensembles worldwide.  His recording Gallery was released to critical acclaim and features performances by Carl Fontana, Bobby Shew, Tim Ries and Ron Stout. Paul recently appeared on the recording Back When It Was Fun with 7 on 7, a group comprised of musician/educators from colleges across the nation. Additional recent recordings include big band projects by Dan Gailey (University of Kansas) and Steve Owen (University of Oregon). Paul is a clinician for the Conn-Selmer company and plays King trombones exclusively.

NoCo Honor Jazz Band Dates

Auditions are due (to your band director) Friday, October 8 by 5:00 pm.  

• ​Submit online audition form HERE
• Monday, November 8, 5:00 to 8:00 pm - Sax/Trumpet/Rhythm Sectional Rehearsals at Poudre H.S.
• Friday November 12, 5:00 to 9:00 pm - Full rehearsal (pizza provided) at Poudre H.S.
• Saturday November 13, 10:00 am to Noon - Dress Rehearsal/Sound Check at Poudre H.S. 
• Saturday November 13, 2:30 pm - Performance at Poudre H.S. 

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 "Summertime” (see your director for play along recording).
  • Play along recordings for the F/Bb Blues and “Summertime” 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 “Summertime” see your director for play along recording).
  • Play along recordings for the F/Bb Blues and “Summertime” 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.