The South Carolina State University Jazz Ensemble consists of approximately 30 members. It tours the Southeast performing a variety of traditional and contemporary jazz music. The ensemble in past years has been fortunate to perform with such outstanding professional jazz musicians as Clark Terry, Joe Sample, Kenny Barrell, "Dizzy" Gillespie, Max Roach, Johnny Williams, Horace Ott, and many others.

In the jazz ensemble, students are exposed to various styles of jazz music and are required to imitate these styles through performance. Students also learn the importance of communicating through music and are encouraged to hone their own communication skills via listening, ensemble participation, and solo improvisation.

The ensemble is currently under the direction of Jonovan Cooper and consists of an instrumental “Big Band,” a small jazz combo, and vocal jazz ensemble. Students from various majors make up the ensembles. Students are selected via an audition process which determines the placement of each student.