By Jonathan Heath
Explore the rich history of the Eastman Jazz Ensemble and you’ll find it shaped by the guidance of a flugelhorn player, a pianist, two trombonists, but not yet a saxophone player.
Until recently.
In 2022, leadership of the group transitioned to the acclaimed alto and soprano saxophonist Christine Jensen. In those two years under her direction, the ensemble has achieved remarkable success, earning consecutive Outstanding Large Ensemble honors at the prestigious DownBeat Magazine Student Music Awards in 2023 and 2024.
“The ensemble’s history and award-winning tradition create a very high standard,” Jensen says. “Each year brings a different group of students, and I’m inspired by their talent and enthusiasm.”
This February 11, the ensemble will return to Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre to give their first performance of 2025. Guided by Jensen’s vision, the ensemble’s repertoire balances the strengths of individual players with the demands of a challenging program. Historically Jensen has drawn from a rich “tree of history,” gathering timeless arrangements by jazz masters like Duke Ellington and Count Basie, complementing them with pieces tailored to the ensemble’s instrumentation by Thad Jones, Bob Brookmeyer, or Bill Holman, and rounding out the program with additional modern works by Ed Neumeister and Eastman alumna Maria Schneider ’85E (MM). From classics to modern masters, the February program will feature tunes by Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Frank Foster, Omar Thomas and Ayn Inserto, as well as original compositions by Eastman students.
“An Eastman Jazz Ensemble concert always spans the full range of the genre, which is thrilling for both the ensemble and the listener,” said Allison Young, a first-year saxophone student. “One thing I enjoy about Jensen as a director is her programming—there is consistent diversity among composers, styles, and periods. You can expect classic big band charts and some brand-new pieces, often by Eastman students or Jensen herself.”
Ahead of the ensemble’s performance, Jensen will take to the stage for her Faculty Artist Series debut on February 5 in Hatch Recital Hall. Generously supported by Patricia Ward-Baker, the series allows Eastman’s celebrated faculty to showcase their exceptional talent and artistry.
“Performing at Eastman is special,” Jensen states. “Hatch Hall offers an intimate acoustic environment perfect for a quartet. While classical venues aren’t always ideal for jazz, this one comes close. These are hallowed halls steeped in history, where legends watch whenever you step on stage. It’s an honor to share my music in such a magical space.”
Jensen will present selections from her 2023 album, Day Moon, a deeply introspective project crafted for jazz quartet. Joining her onstage will be Eastman faculty member Gary Versace on piano, and special guests from New York City; Alex Boneham on bass and Colin Stranahan on drums. Featuring Jensen’s original compositions, the album reflects on the Covid pandemic era during which it was created. “Day Moon is very intimate and personal,” Jensen shares. Through its music, she explores the emotional arc of the pandemic—navigating themes of isolation while embracing the enduring drive to collaborate with trusted friends and colleagues.
Day Moon is just one of many studio albums in Jensen’s impressive catalog. Over the past 25 years, she has cemented her reputation as a trailblazing musician, earning widespread acclaim and numerous accolades for both her compositions and her performances, including a JUNO award for Jazz Album of the Year for Day Moon. Jensen’s latest album, Harbour (2024), marks the third release showcasing her dynamic Montreal-based jazz orchestra. Across seven evocative tracks, the album threads together themes of home, flight, adventure, and what Jensen calls “a landing place where you can keep pushing forward,” creating a soaring and immersive musical journey.
Originally from the port town of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island’s eastern shore (uniquely known as ‘The Harbour City’), Jensen grew up in a musical household. “My mother was a piano teacher, a wonderful performer, and a lover of all music,” Jensen recalls. “She really nurtured us musically from the womb.”
Jensen had a gift for the piano and briefly considered following in the footsteps of jazz pioneers like Oscar Peterson and Bill Evans. “I was fascinated by the mechanics of the piano— working through classical music and experiencing the interplay of two voices coming together,” Jensen said. “It felt mathematical, though I’m not great at math! The independence of the hands and the experience of making music dance drew me in.”
Joining the Nanaimo school band, Jensen took up the saxophone at 11—a decision that set her on a path eastward across Canada to McGill University. Drawn by the vibrant jazz scenes of Montreal and New York City, as well as the rising career of her older sister, jazz trumpet player Ingrid Jensen, she found inspiration to pursue jazz professionally and develop her own compositional style.
In her 30s and 40s, Jensen’s style evolved quickly with each new project, marked by her innovative approach and willingness to collaborate. Today, she continues to refine her artistry, finding harmony both in exploration and in familiarity. “Sometimes it feels like I’m reaching a pinnacle, only to carve out a new path,” she reflects. “There’s always research and development, and I balance familiar approaches with challenging ideas.”
Throughout her career, Jensen has repeatedly encountered Eastman’s stellar reputation, at times studying with alumni and meeting many graduates scattered across the globe. “Eastman fosters a very structured, high level of musicianship,” she observes, admitting she initially wondered if her affinity for pop, jazz, and free expression would fit the mold. “But I found the position they offered was a rare opportunity that aligned perfectly with my skills in jazz composition.” In 2022, Jensen joined Eastman’s faculty as Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies & Contemporary Media.
Hearing the Eastman Jazz Ensemble helped solidify her decision. “I remember hearing the band and just going ‘Wow!’ Listening to the students at Eastman, and all the things that they can do and the sounds they can make, I knew I would love to be in this high-intensity environment. Now I get to curate a studio of some of the top jazz composers in the world that seek Eastman out and seek out my expertise.”
“One of the things I’ve learned throughout my career,” Jensen concludes, “is you don’t have to be perfect, and that’s one of the things I hope to instill at Eastman. You just need to get out there and really explore with the tools that are given to you as a way of finding your own voice in this music.”
Faculty Artist Series: Christine Jensen
Jazz Composition and Saxophone
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
7:30 p.m. | Hatch Recital Hall
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
7:30 p.m. | Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre