Clash of the College Bands Tourney Champion – DePaul University

Congratulations to the winner of the First Annual Clash of the College Bands Tournament Winner, the DePaul University Jazz Ensemble 1, who beat the mighty University of North Texas One O’ Clock Lab Band with 58% of the vote!

I have to say, the DePaul fans came out in droves, and I was shocked to see how many people voted in this final round. We received 1,726 votes in a week, with DePaul receiving 1,001 votes.

To see the final bracket, click here.

The final standings from the tournament are:

1. DePaul University Jazz Ensemble 1

2. University of North Texas One O’ Clock Lab Band

3. University of Northern Iowa Jazz Band 1

4. Whitworth University Jazz Ensemble 1

5. University of Miami Concert Jazz Band

6. University of North Texas Two O’ Clock Lab Band

7. BYU Synthesis Big Band

8. University of Northern Colorado Jazz Enesmble

9. Willamette University Jazz Collective

10. Princeton University Big Band

11. Michigan State University Jazz Orchestra 1

12. University of North Florida Jazz Ensemble

We also received a ton of comments, especially in the last week, so I figure I will take the time to respond to a few of them.

First, there was a comment or two about music and competition. It is important to say that this tournament was entirely just for fun. It is also worth mentioning that musicians and bands participate in competitions all the time. Bands from middle school on up head to festivals (like the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival) all the time to go head to head.

Other comments were curious how the audio for each band was selected. In some cases, listeners sent me CD’s, and I pulled a song from that. In other cases, listeners emailed me a link to a page where  I could access audio of the band. And in a few cases, it was a overwhelming manhunt to find even the tiniest clip of a nominated band, so what I found was the best I could find.

The bands were nominated by readers of this blog, so if you were wondering why your college or university big band wasn’t in this tournament, it was because you didn’t nominate it.

And finally, I enjoyed the many comments about the talent of these musicians, from all bands, and how fun it was to listen to them. I couldn’t agree more. It was a lot of fun getting to hear each of these bands (and I must say, the two bands from UNT for me were particularly mind blowing), and allowing you the opportunity to hear them too. Radio stations don’t play a lot of “amateur” big band music, and it can be difficult to track down a CD of these bands, so the opportunity to hear them isn’t always there.

This was a fun little project, and if you would like me to do it again next year, feel free to leave a comment saying so. Also feel free to nominate college or university bands all year long in the comment box, and I will be sure to include them if we do this again.

And one more time, for your listening pleasure, the Clash of the College Bands Tournament Champion, DePaul University (click the link to listen):

DePaul University Jazz Ensemble I – Don’t Even Ask (courtesy of CD That Being Said by the DePaul University Jazz Ensemble 1)

———-

Clash of the College Bands Tournament – The Finals!

Clash of the College Bands Tourney – Week 10

Clash of the College Bands Tourney – Week 9

Clash of the College Bands Tourney – Week 8 (quarterfinals): University of North Texas Two O’ Clock Lab Band vs the DePaul University Jazz Ensemble 1

Clash of the College Bands Tourney – Week 7 (quarterfinals): University of North Texas One O’ Clock Lab Band vs the BYU Synthesis Big Band

Clash of the College Bands Tourney – Week 6 (quarterfinals): University of Northern Colorado Jazz Lab Band I vs Whitworth University Jazz Ensemble I

Clash of the College Bands Tourney – Week 5 (quarterfinals): University of Miami Concert Jazz Band vs. University of Northern Iowa Jazz Band I

Clash of the College Bands Tourney – Week 4: Michigan State University Jazz Ensemble I vs. University of North Texas Two O’ Clock Lab Band

Clash of the College Bands Tourney – Week 3: University of North Florida Jazz Ensemble vs. BYU Synthesis Big Band

Clash of the College Bands Tourney – Week 2: Willamette University Jazz Collective vs. University of Northern Colorado Jazz Lab Band 1

Clash of the College Bands Tourney Begins Now! Week 1: University of Miami Concert Jazz Band vs. Princeton University Big Band

Clash of the College Bands