BSU Community Jazz Ensemble

• Dr. Clarence E. Knight, Jr., Director
• Dr. Gilbert E. Pryor, Jr., Co-Director

The Bowie State University Community Jazz Ensemble (BSUCJE) has been a vehicle for the preservation and education of jazz and big band music. BSUCJE was organized in 1990 by the past chairman of the Bowie State University Department of Fine and Performing Arts, Dr. Clarence E. Knight, Jr.

The Ensemble began as a method to build the music program at Bowie State and invited community members to rehearse and perform with the students who took jazz band as an elective. One of those community members was Dr. Gilbert E. Pryor, Jr. who later became part of the music faculty and currently serves as co-director of this Ensemble.

Today, the BSUCJE consists of 21 community members who come together to perfect the music of the likes of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway and others. The membership includes public school teachers, accountants, lawyers, practicing musicians and several selected students in the music department.

The Ensemble’s mission is to preserve and educate the community about jazz and black music art forms. Members of the ensemble have been backup musicians for many national artists including, Aretha Franklin, Stephanie Jordan, Barry White, Lou Rawls, Lena Horne, Gladys Knight, the O’Jays, the Temptations and countless others. Members also perform annually at the Phoenix Awards Dinner held by the Congressional Black Caucus at the Walter Washington Convention in Washington, DC.

The Bowie State University Community Jazz Ensemble is honored to perform at events that provide scholarship opportunities and benefit students in the music program at Bowie State University.