(Level III) Contemporary medium swing chart sounds hip without being overly difficult. Solos over diatonic changes staying close to one key signature. Experienced players can stretch, but creative noodling in key center will help improvisers sound good. 8 Brass

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BERT LIGON is USC's director of Jazz studies. He received his Bachelor of Music and his Master of Music in jazz piano performance and arranging from the University of North Texas. With his jazz band, Bert Ligon on Condor, he has received many awards including national PBS awards, a KATIE, a SECA, and an Emmy nomination Many of his jazz band compositions are published by UNC Jazz Press. Several have been featured on CD's recorded by the University of North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band. Ligon's book, Connecting Chords with Linear Harmony, is published by Houston Publishing, Inc. He toured with the Maynard Ferguson Orchestra, and has performed with Randy Brecker, Mel Torme, Diane Schuur, Dianne Reeves and others. Before coming to Carolina, he taught at the University of North Texas. Ligon is president-elect of the South Carolina chapter of the International Association of Jazz Educators. At USC, Ligon coordinates the jazz combos, teaches jazz theory, arranging, commercial music electronics, and applied jazz lessons.