Winter Session 2025
If you are interested in joining one of our classes, please use our chat feature, or email us.
Jazz Combo Classes
Directed by Charles Blenzig
Led by NYC jazz pianist Charles Blenzig, the Harmony House Jazz Ensemble is an advanced, semi-professional adult ensemble delving into compositions from across jazz history—including Modal, Be-Bop, Electric Jazz, and more.
The ensemble’s instrumentation will be tailored to its members, with custom arrangements crafted to highlight each participant’s unique sound. This class emphasizes improvisation, with exercises and demonstrations designed to enhance soloing skills. The focus goes beyond playing complex melodies—it's about developing thoughtful, expressive solos, a skill that requires both creativity and technical knowledge.
Rehearsals take place once a week for 90 minutes, with approximately 9-12 sessions per term, culminating in a live performance at a notable venue. Join us to expand your jazz artistry and share your talent on stage!
Possible Instrumentation:
Guitar
Keyboard/Piano
Bass
Drum Set
Percussion
Woodwind/Brass Lead Instruments
Vocalist
Non-traditional jazz instruments will be considered based on directors approval
Time: (Session 1, Mondays 5:30 - 7:00) (Session 2, Mondays 7:30 - 9:00)
Duration: 10 week session (January 6 - March 10)
Public performance: TBD
Cost: $50 per class, plus a one time $20 musical arrangements fee. Registration total $520
If you are interested in the class please email us , prior to registering, to confirm that there is space.
Please contact us, or use our chat feature.
About Charles Blenzig
Charles Blenzig is a renowned pianist, composer, arranger, and producer, known for seamlessly navigating diverse musical styles while maintaining his distinct sound. Originally from the Bronx, Charles developed his jazz skills the classic way—by ear, frequenting New York City’s legendary jazz clubs and learning from the icons he admired.
For over 35 years, Charles has been a prominent figure in the NYC jazz scene, performing at iconic venues like The Blue Note, Birdland, The 55 Bar, Sweet Basil, Fat Tuesdays, Smalls, and Mezzrow. His breakthrough came with the Gil Evans Orchestra, where he performed weekly at Sweet Basil Jazz Club, gaining invaluable experience alongside world-class musicians such as Lou Soloff, Hiram Bullock, Mark Egan, Alex Foster, and many more.
Charles’s collaborations span a wide range of jazz luminaries, including Michael Brecker, Gato Barbieri, Marcus Miller, Mike Stern, Will Lee, Larry Coryell, and Roy Ayers. In the late 1990s, he also hosted The Late Night Session at the iconic Blue Note Jazz Club, a popular jam session that became a hub for both seasoned and emerging musicians.
As the musical director for singer/songwriter Michael Franks for over 30 years, Charles has toured extensively, performing in Africa, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Russia, and Thailand. His impressive discography includes over 100 recordings and four solo albums, including Charles Blenzig (1988), Say What You Mean (1998), Certain Standards, and It’s About Time.
Recently, Charles relocated from Astoria, Queens to Longmont, Colorado, where he formed a new trio, Simple Math, featuring prodigy drummer J.J. Mazza and bassist Hunter Roberts. Together, they’ve crafted a genre-defying sound and have just released an album, Pop Time, which reimagines contemporary songs in an innovative style.