The Tennessee Tech Jazz Ensembles, the Troubadours and Trouveres, were formed in 1948 by the Chair of Department of Music, Col. Maurice Haste. This early foundation serves to distinguish Tennessee Tech as having one of the longest-running jazz programs in the colleges of the Southeast. Only one other University may have a program with a longer tradition.
Starting in the 1950's, the Troubadours was highly involved in student activities and played regularly at dances both on and off campus. Possessing a long history of building leadership and teaching skills through the use of student leaders, many Troubadour alumni are now prominent educators and performers. The Boots Randolph Band, Disneyland and Disney World, The Jack Daniel's Silver Cornet band, recording studio ensembles coast-to-coast, and the premiere jazz ensembles in the United States military organizations in Washington, D.C., are just a few of the groups that contain Troubadour Alumni.
Today the band continues to serve Tennessee Tech's campus and students and performs throughout the region. In recent years, the Troubadours have made appearances at the conventions of the Tennessee Music Educators Association and serve the Upper Cumberland with special concerts for communities and arts events. In addition the band hosts the annual TTU Jazz Festival, an event which invites area high school jazz ensembles for adjudication and clinics. Featuring some of the finest names in jazz, the Troubadours' past guests have included Allen Vizzutti, Louie Bellson, Dan Hearle, Buddy Baker, Roger Pemberton, Bob Mintzer, Dominic Spera, David Baker, Jeff Haskell, Tom Ervin, Jerry Tachoir, Jamey Aebersold, Frank Mantooth, and others. The TTU Troubadours have appeared on "Sunday Morning" with the late Charles Kurault, as part of a story on jazz great, Louie Bellson.
The Troubadours and Trouveres are just a part of a jazz ensembles program at Tennessee Tech that features two big bands and combos of varying instrumentation which are lead by students. Lead by Jazz Studies Director, Chris McCormick, the bands perform music from classic jazz and music of the big band era, as well as modern jazz. Many new works for jazz ensemble are premiered each semester. An audition is held each semester and membership in the jazz ensembles is open to all students.
