Latin Jazz Ensemble
2013-2014
About the Ensemble
Rhumba, mambo, cha-cha-cha, Afro Cuban 6/8 and more!
Designed for serious middle and high school percussionists, the Latin Jazz Percussion Ensemble gives its
members the hands-on opportunity to develop understanding of the many Afro Cuban rhythms heard in Latin
Jazz. Ensemble members will work with traditional instruments like conga, bongo, timbale, clave and guiro and
learn about the evolution of the drum set and its role in the percussion section. In addition, students will
explore concepts of Latin Jazz harmony, voicing, bass function, and improvisation through the study of music
for mallet instruments. This ensemble rehearses weekly (24 sessions over the course of the year) and performs
music written by masters of the genre, including Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Cal Tjader, Eddie Palmieri
and Hilton Ruiz.
Leadership
Since 1995, Ed Fast has been involved in a variety of musical projects throughout CT, NY and around the
world. Most recently, Ed was the drummer on the national tour of Chicago and he recently performed with
Chita Rivera on the national tour of A Dancer's Life. In New York, he performed on Broadway as the drummer
for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at Radio City Music Hall and a sub for Chicago. Ed also performed with Broadway
touring shows in Moscow, China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan. He was Music Director of the Hartford-based
youth group, Latin Flavor at the Havana International Festival of Jazz (Cuba).
In the Hartford area, Ed has performed with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra and at the Mohegan Sun Casino
with such stars as Aretha Franklin, Charo, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Paul Anka and Martin Short. Ed has performed at
the Bushnell with many national Broadway tours including Wicked, ShowBoat, Music Man and West Side Story.
Ed is the leader and founder of Conga-Bop, a latin jazz ensemble.
Ed studied with Alexander Lepak and holds a BM and MM from the Hartt School of Music.
Membership
This ensemble is for the serious Middle and High School students seeking to explore Latin Jazz through the
study and performance of classic Latin Jazz repertoire. Participants must have at least two years of playing
experience.
Rehearsals
Rehearsals will take place on Tuesday from 4:30 to 5:30pm or from 5:30 to 6:30pm at the Hartt School. Please
see the calendar on page 3 as the ensemble meets 24 times a year, and not every week.
Performances for the Latin Jazz Percussion Ensemble
The Latin Jazz Percussion Ensemble is required to perform at least once per semester on campus at a Hartt
Community Division event. Chamber Music Recitals are the preferred performance opportunity for this
ensemble, see the dates below. The ensemble will select a consensual date. Other acceptable school
performance venues include All-School Recitals, Studio Recitals, and specially scheduled Recitals.
1|Page
Communication
Coaches should maintain good communication with both students and parents, in the areas of both scheduling
and progress. Students under the age of 18 are still supported financially by their parents and are still maturing
towards making good decisions, and parents need to be kept aware of all circumstances in their study, both
positive and negative.
Student Absences
Student absences affect the quality of rehearsal for the entire ensemble. However, they do not dictate the
cancellation of the coaching for the rest of the group. Coaching sessions will occur as scheduled. It is the
coach’s responsibility to be present and instruct at any scheduled session, and to contact each student
immediately after an absence to find out the reason for absence and ensure viable rehearsals with everyone
present. Student absences do not merit a make-up coaching session, and the absent student does not receive a
refund for that session.
Expectations for Students
1. Instrumentalists who have been accepted into the Latin Jazz Ensemble must submit a Registration
form with appropriate tuition and fee payments.
2. Members of the Latin Jazz Ensemble are expected to attend all designated rehearsal and performances.
Attendance and active participation is crucial to the success of the ensemble. It is expected that all
members will demonstrate responsibility, punctuality, and dependability as part of their commitment
to the organization. Commitment to an organization often includes making choices that are
difficult. If a member knows that he/she will have to be absent from rehearsals or a performance
because of their commitments such as school, athletic, or family commitments, he/she should
inform their coach in advance.
3. Members are responsible for all music or supplies checked out to them and must pay for anything that
is lost or damaged.
4. Members are expected to demonstrate a high level of self-discipline, maturity, and professionalism at
all times. They are expected to be courteous, polite, and respectful of other instrumentalists and
adults. Members should plan to be in place and ready to begin with all the music and materials at the
designated time for each rehearsal, and are responsible for knowing assigned music when they come
to a rehearsal.
5. For performances, players should plan on being in place at the designated time, and wear the designated
attire.
6. Attendance at agreed-upon performances is mandatory.
7. Those students who cannot fulfill these expectations may be dismissed from the ensemble with no
tuition refund. Dismissals must be managed and implemented by the coach in direct consultation with
the appropriate Community Division administrators.
2|Page
Latin Jazz Ensemble 2013-2014 Calendar
Coach: Ed Fast, edfastdrums@aol.com
Rehearsals are scheduled for the following dates from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. Rehearsals will take place on the listed dates
UNLESS all members cancel in advance. Please notify the coach of an absence in advance.
The group will perform on the dates below. Chamber Music Recitals will be held in Berkman Auditorium
Tuesday, January 7, 7:30pm
Tuesday, June 3, 7:30 pm
IMPORTANT: The success of a chamber ensemble relies on the full participation of all its members. Students who do
not maintain a consistent attendance record maybe dismissed from the program at the discretion of the coach with no
tuition refund.
October 1, 2013
October 8, 2013
October 15, 2013
October 22, 2013
October 29, 2013
November 5, 2013
November 12, 2013
November 19, 2013
November 26, 2013
December 3, 2013
December 10, 2013
December 17, 2013
December 24, 2013-January 2, 2014
January 7, 2014
January 7, 2014
January 14-January 21
January 28, 2014
February 4, 2014
February 11, 2014
February 18, 2014
February 25, 2014
March 4, 2014
March 11, 2014
March 18, 2014
March 25, 2014
April 1, 2014
April 8, 2014
April 15, 2014
April 22, 2014
April 29, 2014
May 6
May 13
May 20
May 27
June 3
Coaching
Coaching
Coaching
Coaching
Coaching
Coaching
NO REHEARSAL
Coaching
THANKSGIVING BREAK
Coaching
Coaching
Coaching
WINTER BREAK
Coaching
Performance- Concert at 7:30pm
NO REHEARSAL
Coaching
Coaching
Coaching
FEBRUARY BREAK
Coaching
Coaching
Coaching
Coaching
MARCH BREAK
Coaching
Coaching
APRIL BREAK
Coaching
Coaching
Coaching
Optional Make-Up Rehearsal
Coaching
Coaching
Performance
Room 131
Room 131
Room 131
Room 131
Room 131
Room 131
Room 131
Room 131
Room 131
Room 131
Room 131
Berkman Auditorium
Room 131
Room 131
Room 131
Room 131
Room 131
Room 131
Room 131
Room 131
Room 131
Room 131
Room 131
Room 131
Room 131
Room 131
Room 131
Berkman Auditorium
3|Page