The DePaul Jazz Ensemble—the highly regarded student big band from DePaul’s School of Music—will participate in an unusual “study abroad” performance this fall. The band has been asked to play in JazzTimes’ Second Annual “Jazz Party at Sea,” a floating jazz festival aboard the S.S. Norwegian Sun that will cruise the ports and islands of the Caribbean Sea from Oct. 26 to Nov. 2.

During the weeklong cruise to the Grand Cayman Islands, Belize City and Cozumel, the Jazz Ensemble will play with legendary drummer Louis Bellson. With trumpeter Jon Faddis, the band will present a tribute to the late jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, and perform with saxophonist David “Fathead” Newman as well as vocalists Everett Greene and Deborah Brown.

“The DePaul Jazz Ensemble is the only collegiate band invited to perform on the cruise,” said bandleader Bob Lark, jazz studies chair at DePaul. “It will be a great experience for the them to play with, and learn from, the jazz headliners involved.” Joe Segal of the Jazz Showcase, where the ensemble regularly plays, arranged for the band to participate in the jazz cruise.

The Jazz Ensemble recently released a CD, “American Express,” that captures their critically acclaimed May 2001 concert with composer/trombonist Bob Brookmeyer at the Jazz Showcase.

Those who can’t book the cruise can hear the DePaul Jazz Ensemble at the following local concerts during the 2002-2003 season:

Nov. 12: The DePaul Jazz Ensemble will present a free concert in conjunction with the Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Workshop big bands at 8 p.m. in DePaul’s Student Center, 2250 N. Sheffield Avenue. For more information, call the DePaul School of Music at (773) 325-7664.

Feb. 23, 2003: The DePaul Jazz Ensemble with special guest pianist Ken Werner will perform a free concert at 7 p.m. in DePaul’s Student Center, 2250 N. Sheffield Avenue. For more information, call the DePaul School of Music at (773) 325-7664.

The concert will follow a 5 p.m. workshop for musicians, “Effortless Mastery,” presented by Werner, who will discuss performance anxiety, the subject of his critically acclaimed book and video. For registration and information about the workshop, call the DePaul School of Music at (773) 325-7664.

May 6 to 11, 2002: The DePaul Jazz Ensemble will perform 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. shows with guest trumpeter Bobby Shew at the Jazz Showcase, 59 W. Grand Ave. For admission and ticket information, call the Jazz Showcase at (312) 670-2473.