Concert Program
Large Ensemble Concert Series
NIU Jazz Ensemble and NIU Jazz Orchestra
Rodrigo Villanueva Conroy, Jazz Ensemble Dinner
Dr. Roosevelt Griffin III, Jazz Orchestra Director
Thursday, October 8, 2026
7:00 p.m.
Boutell Memorial Concert Hall
NIU Jazz Ensemble
| Again and Again | Benny Carter |
| Featuring Amare Bigham on alto saxophone; Wilson Kierce on piano; Brett Dougherty on acoustic bass | |
| Isfahan | Duke Ellington arr. Frank Mantooth |
| FFeaturing Wilson Kierce on piano; Clark Bennett on trombone, Brett Dougherty on acoustic bass; Amare Bigham on alto saxophone | |
| The Peacocks | Jimmy Rowles arr. Bill Holman |
| Featuring Frederick Melki on baritone saxophone; Wilson Kierce on piano | |
| Big Swing Face | Bill Potts |
| Featuring Wilson Kierce on piano; Amare Bigham on alto saxophone; Brett Dougherty on acoustic bass; Bashiru Green on trumpet; Jonathan Arroyo on Guitar; Cameron Neis on drums | |
NIU Jazz Orchestra
| September in the Rain | Harry Warren, composer Al Dubin, lyricist arr. Roy Hargrove |
| Featuring Carlos Sims on trumpet | |
| Easy as it Goes | Melton Mustafa |
| Featuring Samuel Caiola on piano; Carlos Sims on Ttumpet; Malcolm Lile on bass | |
| Brooks Bossa | Walter Booker and Cedar Walton arr. Marquis Hill |
| Featuring the NIU Jazztet | |
| Airegin | Sonny Rollins arr. Bill Holman |
| Featuring Isaac Potempa on tenor saxophone; Carlos Sims on trumpet | |
| 3 in 1 Blues | Melton Mustafa |
| Featuring Devin Mencera on alto saxophone; Daisuke Kamiuchi on alto saxophone; Leni Glenn-McKenny on baritone saxophone; Adam Wilkerson on trombone; Masahiro Suzuki on guitar | |
Rosters
NIU Jazz Ensemble
Saxophones:
Alto 1: Amare Bigham
Alto 2: Dylan Preston
Tenor 1: Jovany López
Tenor 2: Diego Arroyo
Bari: Fred Melki
Trumpets:
1- Justin Palad
2- Duke Allen
3- Fernando Garduno-Cadena
4- Bashiru Green
Trombones:
1- Clark Bennett
2- Kennedy Randolph
3-Jeremy Fort
4- Diego Garcia
Rhythm:
Piano: Wilson Kierce
Guitar: Jonathan Arroyo
Bass: Brett Dougherty
Drums: Caleb Haynes
Percussion/Drums: Cameron Neis
NIU Jazz Orchestra
Saxophones:
Alto 1: Daisuke Kamiuchi*+
Alto 2: Devin Mancera
Tenor 1: Isaac Potempa
Tenor 2: Ryan Dresser
Bari: Leni Glenn
Trumpets:
1- Carlos Martinez/Adrew Clark
2- Carlos Sims+
3- Jarred Forrest
4- Jacob Adrich
5- Carlos Martinez/Adrew Clark
Trombones:
1- Chris Merina-Dominguez
2- Brian Dailey
3- Adam Wilkerson
4- Aiden Ledbetter
5- Rosemary McClure
Rhythm:
Piano: Samuel Caiola
Guitar: Masahiro Suzuki+
Bass: Malcolm Lile+
Percussion/Drums: Joseph Cooper/ Paris Catura*+
(*) Denotes Graduate Assistant
(+) Denotes Jazztet
Jazztet also includes: Jesse Jefferis on piano; Joshua Hale on vibraphone