Featuring pieces like Groove Merchant, Foe Destroyer, Cubano Chant, and The Woogie, the Jazz bands’ upcoming concert repertoire contains variation.

Three jazz groups will perform in the PAC this Thursday evening in their concert that lasts from 7:30 to 9pm. Jazz ensemble, lab, and combo will each play a few pieces. Every concert is good preparation for other concerts, according to Josh Thompson, band director.

“Two days later, we go to the Rolling Meadows jazz festival, Jazz in the Meadows,” Thompson said. “These two kind [concerts] of work together as far as getting us prepared for each other. The Jazz ensemble is just coming off of a very successful evening called Jazz By The Lake in the beginning of February, so they’re really ready to go.”

Preparation for the concert breaks down the pieces into manageable sections, according to Anna Johnson, sophomore.

“Thompson really likes to pick out the specific parts that we struggle with,” Johnson said. “We do sectionals, so it helps so you can work on it as a smaller group so it’s not overwhelming.”

But practicing sheet music can only do so much. Jazz is a different, complicated sort of music, according to Thompson.

“Lots of solos, lots of improvised solos…That’s one of the things that sets jazz apart from most other musics,” Thompson said. “Also one of the hardest things to do in music is to make music up on the spot based on the chord changes underneath you. It takes a lot of practice, a lot of effort, and a lot of time.”